On Friday 18 March 2005 10:31, H.J.Bathoorn wrote:
> On Friday 18 March 2005 09:47, SnapafunFrank wrote:
> > Mikkel L. Ellertson wrote:
> > > Kaj Haulrich wrote:
> > >> I've just got my hands on a 160 GB external USB hard disk.
> > >> Now, this thing comes preformatted with a FAT32 (vfat) file
> > >> system. When I unmount the thing I can't reformat the drive
> > >> with a decent file system like ReiserFS, JFS, ext2 or ext3
> > >> from be it the MCC or by hand. I can't even re-partition it
> > >> with FAT32 ?
> > >>
> > >> So here it goes : will this FAT32 file system become
> > >> fragmented over time like any other Windows file system ?
> > >>
> > >> If yes, how to defrag it ?
> > >>
> > >> Or, will I have to move the FS to another drive
> > >> back-and-forth in order to defrag ?
> > >>
> > >> TIA
> > >>
> > >> Kaj Haulrich.
> > >
> > > I deleted the wrong message, so this is not a direct reply to
> > > this message, but to one later in the thread... :-(
> > >
> > > When you were trying to work with the drive, what device were
> > > you giving fdisk? If you unmount the FAT partition first, you
> > > should be able to use something like "fdisk /dev/sda" to get
> > > at the partition table. If you can, then it is simple to
> > > change the drive to another file system. If you are happy
> > > with it being one large partition, then change the type (t)
> > > to 83 (ext2/3) and save (w) the updated partition table.
> > > Then run "mke2fs -j /dev/sda1" to create an ext3 file system.
> > >
> > > If you have any data on the drive you want to keep, BACK IT
> > > UP before starting this.
> > >
> > > Please keep in mind that the drive may not be /dev/sda and
> > > the partition may not be /dev/sda1 - it depends on your
> > > system, and how the drive was partitioned.
> > >
> > > Mikkel
> >
> > Just a newbie thought : Can you do as root :
> >
> > # cat /etc/fstab | grep sd
> >
> > And post it back here............. Be sure the device is
> > plugged in first.
> >
> > TIA
>
> Even easier: "cat /dev/sd" on the CML and hit <TAB>...that way
> you'll see what's there.
> When inserting/plugging the device the specific /dev/sd* file
> gets made and ....also gets removed when unplugging.
>
> Repeat after me:
> <TAB> is my best on the command line..........!;)
OK Harm, the device is there as /dev/sda1. But it is "untouchable"
by any attempt to create a real file system. It works with FAT32
and that is that....
Kaj Haulrich.
--
*Sent from a 100 % Microsoft-free workstation*
*Running Linux Mandrake 10.1*
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