> And repeating the command > /sbin/fdisk /dev/sda as root, still gives the same error msg > Cannot open /dev/sda
How have you confirmed thst the usb thingy is in fact showing up as sda? What does /proc/scsi/scsi say? Or fdisk -l without further arguments as root? Once you have confirmed what the device should be, use dd to verify you can actually read from the device in the first place (I recently posted the details). So far these are all necessary preconditions for the thing to work, a failure up to this point means your system doesn't hack the usb device. Try Nick's suggestions to perhaps find out why. Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is possibly list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
