cannot format extended partion as ext3

morad_dba · 11-23-2010, 04:07 AM

Dear all,
Today I add hard disk and tried to make partion tion as extended. but i could not format it as ext3. and I could not also access the drive
using fidsk /dev/sdb1. It rerurns error as: /dev/sdb1 unable to read .
Please help me.

Regards,
Morad_dba

alfredo10 · 11-23-2010, 04:12 AM

Hi!
To help we need some information:
Your distribution, your desktop, your partitions.
Please post the output of a terminal:

Code:

lsb_release -rd

If you have Gnome:

Code:

gnome-about

and as a root:

Code:

fdisk -l

"l" like list
alfredo

eSelix · 11-23-2010, 04:17 AM

fdisk works with drives not partitions:

Code:

fdisk /dev/sdb

And for formating is mkfs.ext3, but first check fdisk -l as suggest alfredo10.

catkin · 11-23-2010, 04:46 AM

It would be very helpful if you retry the command you used to "format it as ext3" then copy the command and the output into a post in this thread (the fdisk -l /dev/sdb output would be useful too, as already mentioned).

alfredo10 · 11-23-2010, 05:04 AM

Hi!
Maybe the OP tries to format an extended partition?
That's not possible; the extended partition is a container for logical partitions.
@ Morad_dba:
On the hard disk of your computer you only can have 4 primary or 3 primary and 1 extended partition, which can include 12 (or more - depends on the hardware) logical partitions; these you can format as ext3, ext4,...
alfredo

morad_dba · 11-23-2010, 10:51 PM

Dear all,

I solved the problem. Actually I wrongly used the command fdisk /dev/sdb1. That's why It returns /dev/sdb1 unable to read. Finally I typed fdisk /dev/sdb. and I delete the extended partition and make it as primary. and mount it in a mountpoint.

Thanks everybody.

Regards,
Morad.

catkin · 11-23-2010, 11:12 PM

Glad you solved it. In case you want more than 4 partitions it is a good idea to have an extended partition. Threads can be marked SOLVED via the Thread Tools menu.