creating a new volume undestructively? (with Disk Utility)

Horea · Horea #1 (**permalink**)

08-23-2008, 07:08 PM

Hello everyone,

I have an external 250 GB HDD which has a 120Gb Mac OS Extended Journaled partition, the rest being free space. I'd like to create a second volume out of the free space which exists, using the Disk Utility. What I'd like to know is whether this would erase the data I already have on the existing partition (the first volume) or will leave the existing partition unaffected?
I know in Windows this wouldn't affect the existing partition, but with Disk Utility I'm a little worried, as after I choose the partition type and name for the partition to be created and I click on the "Partition" button, a warning dialogue opens saying:

"Partitioning a disk will destroy all the information on volume of the disk

The disk has 1 volume
"Name_of_my_existing_volume"

Are you sure you wish to partition the disk?"

Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
Horea

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

08-23-2008, 07:14 PM

As long as you ONLY create and format the partition that's shown as free space you are in no danger of overwriting your OS X partition. Disk Utility more or less does the same thing as the Disk Administrator does in Windows XP.

However, in order to stay one step ahead of Mr. Murphy, make a verified backup of your entire hard drive before proceeding.

Regards.

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creating a new volume undestructively? (with Disk Utility)

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Horea #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 23, 2008 Posts: 1	08-23-2008, 07:08 PM Hello everyone, I have an external 250 GB HDD which has a 120Gb Mac OS Extended Journaled partition, the rest being free space. I'd like to create a second volume out of the free space which exists, using the Disk Utility. What I'd like to know is whether this would erase the data I already have on the existing partition (the first volume) or will leave the existing partition unaffected? I know in Windows this wouldn't affect the existing partition, but with Disk Utility I'm a little worried, as after I choose the partition type and name for the partition to be created and I click on the "Partition" button, a warning dialogue opens saying: "Partitioning a disk will destroy all the information on volume of the disk The disk has 1 volume "Name_of_my_existing_volume" Are you sure you wish to partition the disk?" Thank you in advance, Cheers, Horea
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,986 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	08-23-2008, 07:14 PM As long as you ONLY create and format the partition that's shown as free space you are in no danger of overwriting your OS X partition. Disk Utility more or less does the same thing as the Disk Administrator does in Windows XP. However, in order to stay one step ahead of Mr. Murphy, make a verified backup of your entire hard drive before proceeding. Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

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