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I've read that, with recent versions of OS X, it is possible to add a partition to your startup drive without losing data, assuming there is enough space. The instructions I saw said to back up (duh), to ensure against accidental data loss, but that it works. Has anyone done this? Were there any unforeseen problems? I'd certainly like to have a text partition on my main drive rather than an external drive, but I'm not willing to go through a total reinstall and authorization exercise.

I have done it.
It was a little nerve wracking, but iPartition handled it beautifully and elegantly.

There were no problems at all, but I strongly suggest you backup before. Just make a clone, or something (definitely worth the extra minutes it would take).

What I don't remember is if you need a 3rd party app, or you can do it with SL. There was something that needed an external app, but it could've been not for adding, but for just resizing existing partitions.

Check the Disk Utility to see if it will let you do so.

What I read was an article showing how to add a partition just using Disk Utility. What bothers me is Apple site info that says you cannot resize a Master Boot Record Partition, without any explanation.

This link shows fairly detailed instructions on how to do it.

http://macs.about.com/od/applications/s ... tysize.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wouldn't on a boot partition since there are likely a few invisible authorizations you could loose as well as other invisible OS stuff.

bayswater wrote:What I read was an article showing how to add a partition just using Disk Utility. What bothers me is Apple site info that says you cannot resize a Master Boot Record Partition, without any explanation.

This link shows fairly detailed instructions on how to do it.

http://macs.about.com/od/applications/s ... tysize.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But you are using GUID Partition Table, right? If you are adding a Partition it should work.

Those invisible files MLC mentioned should be "repositioned" in the original partition if the software is smart. I did it and it worked fine with iPartition.

Guess I'll try it first on a Mac Mini that has a complete time machine backup and no authorizations, and see what happens. It's all too nerve wracking.

You could clone your drive to an external, erase/re-partition the internal, then transfer back.

No mater what, for safety's sake, clone before you moan.

Yes, I thought about that, but when I tried that before, very few of my authorizations survived the return trip. I might have done something wrong, but I can't find any verification that it will work. Do you know differently?

If you clone back to the same drive and computer from which everything originated, authorizations that are linked to the HD or computer may work. It has been a while since I had to do what you are trying to do, so I can't give you any solid info.

You could try starting up from the external clone to see how the clone works prior to taking a shot on reformatting your internal drive...

Although the new iMacs rock, drive management is definitely a bigger challenge than it is with a Mac Pro. Good luck!

Thanks. I have a full bootable clone now, so I can try that out.