I Deleted Macintosh HD in Disk Utility: A Cautionary Tale

When you're setting up a brand new computer and trying to transfer your data from an old one, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the process. However, I learned the hard way that rushing into things without double-checking can have disastrous consequences.

In my case, I was upgrading to a shiny new MacBook Air running Catalina and wanted to migrate my files and settings from my old Mac. I thought I knew what I was doing, but unfortunately, I deleted the Macintosh HD partition in Disk Utility before realizing my mistake.

I had tried reinstalling the OS on my old computer, but it wouldn't let me do so because the partition was still in use. In a moment of recklessness, I decided to wipe the data and start from scratch. Big mistake.

Deleting the Macintosh HD partition not only caused problems with Migration Assistant, which would regularly freeze during the transfer process, but also left my old computer unusable. No matter whether I connected it via WiFi, Ethernet, or even used a Time Capsule, the results were the same – nothing worked as expected.

In hindsight, I should have taken more time to understand the implications of deleting the partition and instead explored alternative options for transferring my data. As it stands, I'm left with the daunting task of trying to recover my files from backup or re-purchasing the data that was lost in the deletion process.

If you're facing a similar situation, take heed of my cautionary tale: think twice before deleting partitions or making sweeping changes without fully understanding the consequences. Your data will thank you.

I deleted macintosh hd in disk utility