OSX w/Boot Camp and an Extra HFS Partition


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I'd like to run OS X with an extra HFS partition for document, music, etc. storage and also run boot camp with Windows 7. I already have my OS X partition and the extra storage HFS partition, but in trying to run Boot Camp, it won't let me run it. I've also heard that if I delete my extra partition, install Boot Camp, and then make the extra partition, Boot Camp will no longer work. I'd like a solution to get this working, would be the best setup as far as I can see.

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Well i Used iPartition and not bootcamp (i still installed the bootcamp drivers in windows tho)

all you have to do is create an NTFS partition with a GUID partition map, then insert your Windows install disc and hold the option key when you power on your mac and select the Windows DVD from the options you see on screen.

The Windows Installer will force you to reformat the partition (I dont know why) so make sure you select the CORRECT partition then reformat it and install Windows.

Now untill you have the bootcamp drivers installed in windows you will have to hold the option key at boot time in order to switch from Mac OS X to Windows and back again ( or from within Mac go to system preferences > Startup Disk > select your Windows HDD Partition but you will have to hold option key when you want to boot Mac OS X ) (( or you can skip all that and always use the option key like me lol ))

i hope that helps you?

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I think I get it. Going to give it a try. Is that the best setup in your opinion? Or maybe a shared FAT32 partition would be better? It seems the FAT32 partition would be the only way to get read/write from both OSes right?

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I think I get it. Going to give it a try. Is that the best setup in your opinion? Or maybe a shared FAT32 partition would be better? It seems the FAT32 partition would be the only way to get read/write from both OSes right?

well there are a couple ways to get NTFS write capability under Mac OS X, the free way is Click Here for NTFS-3G

there is also Paragon NTFS for Mac which depending on the version you buy has a HFS+ driver for windows so it can read Mac HDD's

both of those have an anoying bug tho, those drivers under Mac OS X are not completely integrated into the OS and the function under System Preferences > Starup Disk, where you can normally see your windows partition as a startup selection disapears so while you have the driver active the only way to boot Windows After you have been using OS X is to hold the option key while booting.

also a Fat32 drive can not hold any single file larger than 4GB.

and no my setup is not the best way but it works for me

I do apologize if thats hard to follow, i sometimes "try to hard" to explain things

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I assume you'd like to backup your documents and media. I suggest using HFS+ as you'll be able to use Time Machine for backing up. Under Windows MacDrive can help you read the drive. 10.6 will add an official driver to read it without any extra applications. I'd avoid FAT32 if you can.

As for making the partitions, you can just launch Disk Utility, click the drive (not volume) and go to the Partition tab, select the partition map (large vertical box) and add you extra partition. Then launch Boot Camp assistant. It will ask you to make ur next partition and let you resize the other 2 accordingly. Then when your done that it will auto start the installation process.

Like Phantom said, holding option on your apple keyboard, alt on your windows keyboard will bring up the boot menu, press and hold it after you hear the chime at the start and wait until the icons appear. You can also use the Startup Disk from System Preferences to manually select the boot device thus avoiding having to hold option.

I'd rather keep my media on the mac side of things then on its own partition but it doesn't really matter, just depends how you like to organize things. I do highly suggest backing your stuff up though, I've lost years of work and personal photos/videos/music ect. It's not something you worry about until you lose it all.

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