Merge two partitions without losing data ?

OU812 · 16-12-2014 10:06PM #1

Running a late 2012 (actually bought in 2013) iMac with 24gb RAM & a 1TB hard drive which is partitioned into two.

Is there any way to merge the two partitions without losing data or running into issues such as shortcuts breaking etc?

Also, I have a 3TB drive attached for time machine, I'm assuming that it's backups would be divided also, will this right itself?

Stuxnet · 17-12-2014 08:02PM

I could be wrong, but I dont think you can "merge" them as you say.

Normally what you would do, is delete the partition on the right hand side, that turns into "free space" then you extend and the left hand side partition using the free space. Turning it into one large partition.

It looks like your OS partition is contained within the smaller of the partitions. I would suggest you copy everything on the storage partition to an external device. Delete the storage partition,...then enlarge partition OSX to consume the "Free space" , ...and re-copy your data back over from external device.

You could use Disk Utility, but I prefer a Gparted live cd for this type of stuff.

triggermortis · 17-12-2014 08:05PM

I have merged 2 partitions on my mac but I don't remember how now. I do remember it was quite painless and easy though

Boskowski · 27-12-2014 11:09PM

From my windows days I remember Partition Magic does such stuff easily. Surely there must be something like that for Macs.

27-12-2014 11:13PM

Any partition actions carry a possibility of corruption. Doing a partition merge without a backup is a bad idea. Always assume you can lose all data

Merge two partitions without losing data ?

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