Ubuntu
util-linux package

Getting my external disk back.

Asked by Chris Els

I have a Samsung 320GB external USB hard disk, which was previously formatted with FAT32 format.
I want to backup data on my internal hard disk to this disk, and install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on the internal HD.
I tried to install to the external disk first, but something went wrong, and the external HD is no longer accessable from
the computer. When I do lsusb; sudo fdisk -l, I get the following output:

Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 04e8:6032 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 19d2:0063 ONDA Communication S.p.A.
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 5986:0241 Acer, Inc BisonCam, NB Pro
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
[sudo] password for chris:

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000f30aa

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 59272 476097536 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 59272 60802 12285952+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 59272 60802 12285952 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 1977 MB, 1977614336 bytes
61 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1021 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 3782 * 512 = 1936384 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000c72bc

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

Disk /dev/sdc: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0002eba1

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 38913 312568641 83 Linux

How do I get the external HD back, and get it formatted so I can make backups to it please?
I currently have Ubuntu 10.10 on a Mecer Solo Notebook.

TIA,
Chri

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N1ck 7h0m4d4k15 (nicktux) said : 		#1

Hi ,

if disk has nothing inside then format it to NTFS. Why FAT32 ? FAT32 is for USb-flash . 320GB with FAT32 is waste of time.
FAT32 is so deprecated filesystem.

Try to use Gparted or Disk Utility to format again the drive.

Thanks

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