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Erasing Free Space Fails
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OP
Joined: Aug 2009
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In preparation for Mt. Lion, I thought I would Erase Free Space. But I am unable to do so.
After launching Disk Utilities and initiating the requisite action, I am always advised that the erase could not be done because: “Some information was unavailable during an internal lookup.â€
This happens on all internal and external volumes.
I thought that maybe some third-party app/plugin was at play, so I attempted same while in in Safe Boot. Again, no joy.
Now I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions?
Harv 27" i7 iMac (10.13.6), iPhone Xs Max (12.1)
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
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Re: Erasing Free Space Fails
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16 |
Google turned up this Apple Discussions thread suggesting it is a permissions issue.
If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?
— Albert Einstein
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Re: Erasing Free Space Fails
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OP
Joined: Aug 2009
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Many thanks, JoeMike.
But alas, I remain confused. My "System" is already Read & Write". Must I also change the "Wheel" and "Everyone"?
Harv 27" i7 iMac (10.13.6), iPhone Xs Max (12.1)
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
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Re: Erasing Free Space Fails
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16 |
The few answers found on the Apple Discussions seemed to focus on permission issues, but I didn't see any reported successes in response to suggestions to fix permissions — which may or may not mean anything one way or the other. With that as a starting point, I would try running Permission Repair as a first pass attempt at a fix. However the fact this is occurring on more than one volume would tend to eliminate that as a problem source. Still it cannot hurt.
If that fails, in an attempt to narrow the solution space, I would resort to the standard troubleshooting step of booting from a clean test account and see if Erase Free Space works from there.
If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?
— Albert Einstein
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Re: Erasing Free Space Fails
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OP
Joined: Aug 2009
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I thought your idea of logging in to the guest account and then attempting to erase the free space was a capital idea. But alas, no joy.
After booting back to my main account, I then repaired permissions and, without quitting DU, immediately attempted to erase the free space. Bingo! Voilà ! Success!
Always, my thanks.
Harv 27" i7 iMac (10.13.6), iPhone Xs Max (12.1)
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
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