Dave - I recieved this response and I am not sure what the next step should be: [root at 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: 1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO) 2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs (e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK) Command (m for help): [root at centos5 todd]# Todd On 10/5/2011 4:08 PM, David C. Miller wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Todd Cary"<todd at aristesoftware.com> >> To: "CentOS mailing list"<centos at 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 >> >> http://www.aristesoftware.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> CentOS mailing list >> CentOS at 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 at centos.org > http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos > > -- Ariste Software Petaluma, CA 94952 http://www.aristesoftware.com