fdisk question

endezeichen · 11-23-2003, 08:23 PM

I made a vfat partition with Partition magic so i can swap files between Linux and Windows. Ive been told to use the fdisk -l command to check my partition table. When I type it in the command line it says command does not exist, and when i type /sbin/fdisk -l it says cannot open dev/hda. Is it meant to be typed in Windows?
Also, I have to use the mount -t vfat /dev/hdaX /mnt/shared command. Will someone plz explain to me what "dev" is? Im pretty sure its device, but what does that mean?

Tinkster · 11-23-2003, 08:33 PM

Nope, in a linux terminal, however you
should be root to run it, normal users don't
have access rights for raw devices usually.

Try a
su -c "fdisk -l /dev/hda"
it will prompt you for root's password.

Basically in Unix (and thus in linux)
everything is a "file" (or a stream).
All "devices" live in /dev ...

Cheers,
Tink

michaelk · 11-23-2003, 08:34 PM

You need to be logged in as root to use the fdisk utility.

/dev is the directory name where the device files are located. Open up Konqueror or some file broswer and go to the top of the directory tree i.e. /. One of the directories will be /dev.

fancypiper · 11-23-2003, 08:34 PM

That command is meant to be run in Linux. Open an x terminal, become root and give the command:

Code:

Sun Nov 23 06:23pm fancy@tinwhistle ~$ su -                                     
Password: 
Sun Nov 23 09:31pm root@tinwhistle ~ # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes

   Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1   *         1      1217   9772056    c  Win95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2   *      1217      1229     99855   83  Linux
/dev/hda3          1230      1656   3429877+  83  Linux
/dev/hda4          1657      4865  25776292+   5  Extended
/dev/hda5          1657      1719    506016   82  Linux swap
/dev/hda6          1720      2146   3429846   83  Linux
/dev/hda7          2147      2573   3429846   83  Linux
/dev/hda8          2574      3719   9205213+  83  Linux
/dev/hda9          3720      4865   9205213+  83  Linux

Disk /dev/hdb: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes

   Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hdb1   *         1       973   7815591   83  Linux
/dev/hdb2           974      1946   7815622+  83  Linux
/dev/hdb3          1947      2919   7815622+  83  Linux
/dev/hdb4          2920      9729  54701325   83  Linux

device, ide drive connected to ide1 master, partition number X
# Managing drives
LNAG - Accessing my drives
Rute - Device Mounting

Tinkster · 11-23-2003, 08:38 PM

Here's a link to a quite concise introduction :)

http://tille.soti.org/training/tldp/

Cheers,
Tink

endezeichen · 11-23-2003, 08:39 PM

ok heres my problem--
When i log in as root and type fdisk -l It says command fdisk not found. And i am using (L) and logged in as root

Tinkster · 11-23-2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by endezeichen
ok heres my problem--
When i log in as root and type fdisk -l It says command fdisk not found. And i am using (L) and logged in as root

That's weird ... it should be in root's path.
Which distro/version are you using?
Did you login as root, or su?
And what happens when you prefix it
with /sbin as root?

Cheers,
Tink

fancypiper · 11-23-2003, 08:53 PM

Is it installed?

whereis fdisk

Code:

Sun Nov 23 09:31pm root@tinwhistle ~ # whereis fdisk
fdisk: /sbin/fdisk /usr/share/man/man8/fdisk.8.gz

trickykid · 11-23-2003, 09:04 PM

Please do not post the same thread in more than one forum. Picking the most relevant forum and posting it once there makes it easier for other members to help you and keeps the discussion all in one place.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/rules.php

The other thread can be found here where you asked the same question yesterday and you replied after I gave you a concise answer: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=119002