Problems preparing Macbook Pro for new user

[PhillT]

Hi all. I'm moving jobs, so have been reinstalling OS X onto my work Macbook Pro to make sure all my personal stuff is gone before I hand it back to the office.

Following online instructions from Apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14243), I erased the Mac HD section using Disk Utility on start up - it said it would take 12 hours, so I left it plugged in overnight to do its thing.

This morning, it had turned itself off, so I rebooted and went to Reinstall OS X Mavericks as instructed. But when it comes to select the disk to install it to, I only have one option - Recovery HD, which is only 650Mb and is locked so can't be selected. I can't go any further. The Macbook has a 750GB hard drive.

When I go back to Disk Utility now, the Mac HD partition within the overall drive is now gone, replaced by an unmounted partition called disk0s2.

What's happened and how can I fix it?

Thanks in advance.

[mmm-five]

Sounds like you've done a secure erase on that partition and removed the partition (that's why it's taken 12 hours). A normal erase & partition takes minutes.

Anyway, you now have to use Disk Utility to create a new, blank partition...
1) select the top level disk (the level above the unmounted partition)
2) click the partition tab
3) click 'partition layout' and select 'one partition'
4) give it a name & format in the boxes to the right of the partition structure
5) click apply

Then install the operating system.

[PhillT]

Thanks kindly for the help. However, when I click Apply at the end of your instructions, it asks me if I'm sure (and warns me that I'll erase disk0s2). When I click Partition, I get the following error message:

Partition Failed
Partition failed with the error:
Couldn't unmount disk.

Help!

[mmm-five]

That sounds like it's saying the drive is still in use.

Are you running Disk Utility from the recovery partition, or from the Mavericks install DVD?

[PhillT]

From wherever it runs by default on the hard drive, there was no DVD.

[mattley]

PhillT said:

Thanks kindly for the help. However, when I click Apply at the end of your instructions, it asks me if I'm sure (and warns me that I'll erase disk0s2).

You are actually confirming that you're sure at this stage?

[Leithen]

Make sure you are in disk utility via reboot and Command-R?

[PhillT]

It asks me if I'm sure and gives me the option of Cancel or Partition. And yes, definitely in Disk Utility.

[PhillT]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Voila.



I don't appear to have an unmount button... Mount or Eject?

[Leithen]

Have a look at this. It looks like you may need to create a bootable usb drive and attempt repair/partition from there.

[BlueMR2]

Can you click on disk0s2 and take another picture.

[PhillT]

BlueMR2 said:

Can you click on disk0s2 and take another picture.

Here we go.



Thanks Leithen, I'll have a look at that link.

[BlueMR2]

Does it mount that partition if you click mount on the top bar?

[BlueMR2]

That disk1 base system seems to be a remote version on the web, so your hdd is probably completely empty.

[PhillT]

Leithen said:

Have a look at this. It looks like you may need to create a bootable usb drive and attempt repair/partition from there.

Trying this now, but how do I create a bootable USB drive if I already have Mavericks installed? The instructions seem to suggest I should done it when installing...

[PhillT]

BlueMR2 said:

Does it mount that partition if you click mount on the top bar?

No, nothing happens.

[PhillT]

BlueMR2 said:

That disk1 base system seems to be a remote version on the web, so your hdd is probably completely empty.

Forgive my lack of technical knowledge - is that good or not?

[Leithen]

PhillT said:

Leithen said:

Have a look at this. It looks like you may need to create a bootable usb drive and attempt repair/partition from there.

Trying this now, but how do I create a bootable USB drive if I already have Mavericks installed? The instructions seem to suggest I should done it when installing...

The article links to various methods, that all appear to presume that you can access the app store and download the Mavericks installer. If you are unable to do so because of your predicament, can you access another mac to try to do the same?

[bishbash]

My advice, hand it back at the last minute (preferably after you've been paid) and run!

[BlueMR2]

Can you get a terminal window to open and run the command

diskutil list

and show what it says.