format 2nd hard drive?

I suggest that you install gparted (just sudo apt-get install gparted) and format your partitions by using it (type gksudo gparted and create new ext3-partitions and remove the old ones).

Then you have to add these partitions to your /etc/fstab-file so that Ubuntu can mount these when it starts. Just type gksudo gedit /etc/fstab and add this kind of line to every partition you want to mount:
/dev/hdXY /some/path ext3 defaults 0 0

Replace hdXY with the name of the partition (gparted tells these names).

if i knew what all that meant i could probably have answered my own question (lol), i've installed gparted, i'll poke around and see what happens. thanks for your help but i guess i need the rookie version.

hello dadio!

you can do it graphically in ubuntu (if it's easier for you)...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2094099&postcount=6

good luck!

ok leo, i'm definitely in over my head from a computer literacy standpoint but i'll be damned if i'm going to give ms 2 cents for a copy win anything. i'm going to figure this thing out or die tryin'. thanks for your help.

LeoGomez <email address hidden> wrote: Your support request #3929 on yelp in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/yelp/+ticket/3929

    Status: Open => Answered

LeoGomez proposed the following answer:
hello dadio!

you can do it graphically in ubuntu (if it's easier for you)...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2094099&postcount=6

good luck!

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hi dadio!

Here is a step-by-step guide for on how to format a new hard disk using the console:

http://www.smorgasbord.net/node/11502/print

If you need further help, please let me know.

Leo

leo, i thought i was just about there, and then i got .....

dadio@coolbreeze:~$ umount -l /dev/hdb
umount: /dev/hdb is not mounted (according to mtab)
dadio@coolbreeze:~$ sudo fdisk /dev/hdb

The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 2482.
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): d
Selected partition 1

Command (m for help): n
Command action
   e extended
   p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-2482, default 1):
Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-2482, default 2482):
Using default value 2482

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.
dadio@coolbreeze:~$ sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/hdb
mke2fs 1.38 (30-Jun-2005)
/dev/hdb is entire device, not just one partition!
Proceed anyway? (y,n) y
/dev/hdb is apparently in use by the system; will not make a filesystem here!
dadio@coolbreeze:~$

..............................................................................................

dohh!!! now i'm stuck again, any help would be appreciated

thanks
john

LeoGomez <email address hidden> wrote: Your support request #3929 on yelp in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/yelp/+ticket/3929

    Status: Open => Answered

LeoGomez proposed the following answer:
hi dadio!

Here is a step-by-step guide for on how to format a new hard disk using
the console:

http://www.smorgasbord.net/node/11502/print

If you need further help, please let me know.

Leo

_______________________________________________________________________
If this answers your request, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/yelp/+ticket/3929/+confirm?answer_id=4

If you still need support, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/yelp/+ticket/3929

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hi again!

try to make the filesystem:

sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/hdb1

then try to mount it:

sudo mount /dev/hdb1

I'm having similar problems here is what happens:

kahuuna@lbx:/dev$ sudo mkfs.ext3 -L FTP /dev/hda
mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006)
/dev/hda is entire device, not just one partition!
Proceed anyway? (y,n) y
/dev/hda is apparently in use by the system; will not make a filesystem here!
kahuuna@lbx:/dev$ sudo mkfs.ext3 -L FTP /dev/hda1
mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006)
/dev/hda1: Invalid argument passed to ext2 library while setting up superblock
kahuuna@lbx:/dev$

kahuuna, can you please create a new support ticket rather than comment on someone elses, it makes it difficult to track tickets this way.

You need to be careful. /dev/hda is likely to be the disk containing Ubuntu as it is the first hard disk in your computer. You really probably dont want to format that.

Open a ticket with what you want to achive and details about your current setup, and we will have a look at it.

User confirmed that the request is solved.