Can't delete partitions.

[jakkbear]

Yesterday, I attempted to install Ubuntu 9.10 on my MacBook, running Snow Leopard. After the install froze at about 50% and left me with a corrupt partition. I then retried it, and of course, it froze at about 50% again. When I went into Boot Camp to delete the partition it gave me a message saying "You must update your system software before using this setup assistant." After trying that, I put in the Mac OS X install disk and tried to remove the partitions using Disk Utility and I got the error message "Disk Utility has lost its connection with the Disk Management Tool and cannot continue. Please quit and relaunch Disk Utility." Is there any way I can remove the partitions? The Ubuntu disk just sits at a blank screen whenever I boot from it.

(Sorry if this belongs in "Windows, Classic, Linux, and Other OS", I thought this would be more relevant.)

 

[chscag]

Before I can recommend a method of removal.... are you able to boot to Snow Leopard?

Post back and let me know.

Regards.

 

[jakkbear]

Yes, I can boot into Mac OS X.

 

[jakkbear]

Bumping this back up, since it fell off the front page.

 

[6string]

You need to boot off the OS X install disc holding down C when the chime sounds, select language and then go to utilities>disk utilities in the menu, and go from there.
Then quit utilities, quit installer and reboot.
Is this what you tried?

 

[jakkbear]

Yes, I tried doing that but I just got the same error message while trying to partition off the OS X disk.

 

[jakkbear]

Sorry to bumo my thread again, it's just that I really need help.

 

[6string]

Have you tried repairing permissions and repairing disk?

 

[chscag]

Sorry to bumo my thread again, it's just that I really need help.

I thought at first that you might have corrupted your boot sector with the Ubuntu installation attempt. That happens quite frequently and when it does, it will stop OS X from being able to boot.

The usual solution to that problem is boot with the SL DVD and use Disk Utility to move the partition boundary down and then back up in order to restore the boot sector.

However, your problem is different. Somehow, the partition table has become corrupt and possibly the boot sector also. But if you can boot to Snow Leopard, that means the boot sector is working. A real head scratcher! ;P

The only thing I can suggest at this point is backup your Snow Leopard installation with Time Machine and completely reinstall Snow Leopard. Wipe the disk and start over.

Regards.