USB memory stick issue

nomko · 07-12-2016, 01:42 AM

Hi all,

I've been using Linux Lite (LL) for a while which did not fully satisfied me. But when i used LL i create some bootable USB memory sticks with other distro's installed on the stick.

But now i'm using Deepin Linux and i want to use the memory sticks but now i run to some issues like i can't format my USB sticks, for some reason i have no root access to my sticks. Under Windows it happened that i was able to format a stick, install a distro (Elementary OS) using unetbootin (version unetbootin-windows-625) but at home it did not booted into Elementary but Linux Lite (very strange).

If i use Gparted, i cannot remove or edit any partition written on the USB memory stick. Gparted even shows that there are no partitions written and that i should create one although the USB stick has been written on and does have a partition?????

So, what is going on here? I have 4 USB memory sticks, different brands/models and they appear to have the same issues.

Any help/advise/hint will be very much appreciated!
Thanks!
nomko

business_kid · 07-12-2016, 01:58 AM

On your own system you should have root or sudo set up.
Users can write on dish disks they mount if

The usb disk has a line in fstab and is mounted with the user(s) option
The user may also need appropriate group membership

Are those conditions met? Man fstab & man group add are your friends

beachboy2 · 07-12-2016, 11:01 AM

nomko,

An alternative route is as follows.

Assuming that you have the .iso files for the 4 Linux distros on your Desktop (or you can download them there).

Run the below commands to format each USB drive to FAT32 file system from terminal,

Code:

sudo su
fdisk -l

This helps to discover your USB drive, which MAY be /dev/sdc (example only).

Then unmount the device:

Code:

umount /dev/sdc

Format device to FAT32:

Code:

mkdosfs -F 32 -I /dev/sdc

This example uses the .iso file for Linux Mint 18 MATE 64 bit.

Create a bootable USB flash drive.

Code:

cd Desktop

sudo dd if=/home/nomko/Desktop/linuxmint-18-mate-64bit.iso of=/dev/sdc oflag=direct bs=1048576

If all goes well, you should after a few minutes, see output similar to this:

Code:

1557+1 records in 
1557+1 records out 
1632927744 bytes (1.6 GB) copied, 396.237 s, 4.1 MB/s

This article on how to format a USB drive may be helpful:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/22381...sb-flash-drive

nomko · 07-12-2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

On your own system you should have root or sudo set up.

I have root/sudo access but not sure how to use it on my usb stick.

Quote:

[*]The user may also need appropriate group membership

how to check this?

nomko · 07-12-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

nomko,

An alternative route is as follows.

(.........)

Heee beachboy, this might work:

root@MSI-GE70-2PE:/home/nomko# sudo dd if=/home/nomko/Bureaublad/linuxmint-18-cinnamon-64bit.iso of=/dev/sdd oflag=direct bs=1048576
1619+1 records gelezen
1619+1 records geschreven
1697906688 bytes (1,7 GB, 1,6 GiB) copied, 350,608 s, 4,8 MB/s

Now rebooting with the USB stick connected.

nomko · 07-12-2016, 04:20 PM

Beachboy, your instruction worked!

Just 1 thing: i ran the command umount /dev/sdd (in my case it is /dev/sdd) but i got a message in return saying that the drive was already unmounted (???)
Weird but okay, everything else worked!

Thanks!

beachboy2 · 07-12-2016, 05:11 PM

nomko,

Glad to hear that you have fixed things.

Sometimes the drive is already unmounted, but you need to use the umount command just to make certain.

The subsequent commands above will not work on a mounted drive.

Please go to your original post, click on the Thread Tools tab at the top and then click on Mark this thread as solved.

business_kid · 07-13-2016, 12:49 AM

To use root, simply type 'su' and the system prompts for the root password. Then simply type root commands in that shell. Alternatively 'su -'gives a shell as if you log in as root.

'exit' returns to the user.

Sudo is lazier if set up. Simply precede your command needing privileges with sudo, e.g.

Code:

sudo fdisk - l

lists partitions on visible drives.

For group membership, run

Code:

cat /etc/group | grep <username>

On most distros there is a disk group, and your user should be in that. To add him, use

Code:

usermod  -aG <groupname> <username>

nomko · 07-17-2016, 07:12 AM

Okay,

i made a very hugh mistake here.

I accidentally formatted AND installed elementary Loki Beta on my 500 GiB external disc which should not be happen/done!!

HOW CAN I REVERT THIS CHANGE? I NOW MISS IMPORTANT FILES!!!

thanks!

beachboy2 · 07-17-2016, 09:04 AM

nomko,

Quote:

I made a very huge mistake here.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you and this is why there are so many regular warnings posted on LQ forums to BACKUP YOUR DATA.

I think your data is non-recoverable since you have not only formatted the drive but also installed Elementary OS.

Shutdown your computer and have a close look at this:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery

Create an image of the 500GB hard drive and then disconnect that drive.
Make a copy of this image file to another drive of sufficient size.
Only work on the copy. Do NOT touch the original 500GB drive.

Gnu ddrescue may be able to help, but I think it is very unlikely:
https://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html

Differences:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/21157...-and-dd-rescue

nomko · 07-17-2016, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

Create an image of the 500GB hard drive and then disconnect that drive.

How can i create an imgae of the 500 GB drive?

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

Make a copy of this image file to another drive of sufficient size.
Only work on the copy. Do NOT touch the original 500GB drive.

I understand the meaning of creating a copy and work with the copy.

Which tool to use here to try to recover some files?

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

Gnu ddrescue may be able to help, but I think it is very unlikely:
https://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html

I should try this tool then?

notKlaatu · 07-17-2016, 01:51 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but ddrescue is to rescue corrupted data. This data was simply overwritten, yes?

To grab files that have been "erased" back from the void, try http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec (it does more than photos, despite its name) or scalpel https://github.com/sleuthkit/scalpel

beachboy2 · 07-18-2016, 02:48 AM

I have successfully used PhotoRec.

There is also R-Linux (not used personally):

http://www.r-tt.com/free_linux_recovery/

Habitual · 07-18-2016, 06:05 AM

r-Linux is pretty good. But I hold little hope for recovery under the circumstances.

beachboy2 · 07-18-2016, 08:57 AM

Quote:

r-Linux is pretty good. But I hold little hope for recovery under the circumstances.

Agreed.