----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Cary" todd@aristesoftware.com To: centos@centos.org Sent: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 6:43:10 PM Subject: Re: [CentOS] Formatting an external USB drive
Dave -
I recieved this response and I am not sure what the next step should be:
[root@centos5 todd]# /sbin/fdisk /dev/sda1
The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 30514. There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024, and could in certain setups cause problems with:
- software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
- booting and partitioning software from other OSs (e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)
Command (m for help): [root@centos5 todd]#
Todd
You are trying to run fdisk on the first partition of /dev/sda. Unless you are using an old PATA drive for booting your USB drive should not be /dev/sda. Before you go any further do the following commands and report back with the output.
fdisk -l
df -h
David.
On 10/5/2011 4:08 PM, David C. Miller wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Cary"todd@aristesoftware.com To: "CentOS mailing list"centos@centos.org Sent: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 3:34:54 PM Subject: [CentOS] Formatting an external USB drive
I have an external USB drive that was formatted with NTFS and I want to use it to backup some files from my Centos 5.5 system.
When I check my documentation, I am not certain of the best way to do the formatting.
Suggestions welcomed....
Todd
-- Ariste Software Petaluma, CA 94952
CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Use fdisk as root. Before plugging the drive in type "fdisk -l" to get a listing of drives already attached. Plug the drive in and after a minute type "fdisk -l" to see the new drive listed. It will be something like /dev/sdX where X is the next letter in the order. to set the drive up type "fdisk /dev/sdX". To clear the partition table type o and hit return and then type w and hit return. Now type "fdisk /dev/sdX" again. Type n and hit return. Type p and hit return. Type 1 and hit return. Hit return twice more to use the whole disk. Type w and hit return to finish. To format it type "mkfs.ext3 -L usb-disk /dev/sdX1" and hit return to format the partition as ext3. Create a directory to mount the disk to "mkdir /backup-disk" and then mount it "mount LABEL=usb-disk /backup-disk". To have it auto mount at boot edit the /etc/fstab file and add.
LABEL=usb-disk /backup-disk ext3 defaults 0 0
David. _______________________________________________ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
-- Ariste Software Petaluma, CA 94952
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