Disk utility can be used with OS X 10.5, to create , delete, and resize partitions without first erasing the hard drive.
The version of Disk Utility bundled with OS X 10.5 has a few exciting new features, specifically, the ability to add, delete, and resize hard drive partitions without first erasing the hard drive. If you need a larger partition, or you like to split a drive into multiple partitions, you can do it with Disk Utility, without any loss of data which is currently stored on the drive.
Resizing volumes or adding new partitions with Disk Utility is fairly straightforward, but you must know the limitations of both options.
In this guide, we’ll look at resizing an existing volume, as well as creating and deleting partitions, in many cases without losing existing data.
If you want to partition and create volumes on a hard drive that doesn’t contain any data, or you’re willing to erase the hard drive during the partitioning process, see the Disk Utility - Partition Your Hard Drive With Disk Utility guide.
Before we proceed further its very necessary to know the basic terms used in this technology. You should know the difference between volume, partition, Erase and format.
Resizing volumes or adding new partitions with Disk Utility is fairly straightforward, but you must know the limitations of both options.
In this guide, we’ll look at resizing an existing volume, as well as creating and deleting partitions, in many cases without losing existing data.
If you want to partition and create volumes on a hard drive that doesn’t contain any data, or you’re willing to erase the hard drive during the partitioning process, see the Disk Utility - Partition Your Hard Drive With Disk Utility guide.
Before we proceed further its very necessary to know the basic terms used in this technology. You should know the difference between volume, partition, Erase and format.
Disk Utility makes it easy to erase, format, partition, and create volumes, and to make RAID sets. Understanding the difference between erasing and formatting, and between partitions and volumes, will help you keep the processes straight.
Definitions
- Volume. Before we go for resizing volume of Mac its good to know more about Mac volume. A volume is a storage container that has been formatted with a file system your computer (in this case, a Mac) can recognize. Volumes are logical constructs; they’re not the same as partitions or physical hard drives. Volumes are most often made up of a single hard drive partition that contains a Mac file system. But it’s also possible for a volume to be made up of multiple partitions, something we won’t address here.
- Partition. The term ‘partition’ is both a verb and a noun. When you partition a hard drive, you physically create separate sections on the hard drive; each of these sections is called a partition. A partition defines a specific area of a hard drive.
- Erase. Erasing is the process of removing all data from a specific volume or hard drive. Data can be erased in multiple ways. The default method on the Mac deletes the data table entries for the location of the file, but does not actually remove the file itself from the hard drive or volume. The practical effect of this is that your Mac no longer sees the file, and the space it uses is now marked as available free space. You can also specify optional erase options that will completely remove the data.
- Format. Formatting a hard drive defines how the hard drive’s media will be laid out to store the computer data. Your Mac can use five different types of formats: Mac OS Extended (Journaled); Mac OS Extended; Mac OS Extended (Case-Sensitive, Journaled); Mac OS Extended (Case-Sensitive); and MS-DOS.
resource: http://macs.about.com/od/applications/ss/diskutilitypart_2.htm
8:15 PM - By Stuart Bell
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