Can't install to 2nd hard drive -- help pls!

danboy · 05-09-2009, 07:20 AM

Hi there,
I've been learning linux (set up a machine just for this) my machine contains 2HDs
both 40gb on the fist disk I have a 50/50 split dual boot ubuntu/xp which is working fine.

On my second disk I am trying to install backtrack 3 final and here's where the probs started I posted the thread below on the support forum , the thread should outline the prob though:

Quote:

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to install BT3 and I'm having some probs. I should say 1st off I know my way around Linux but there are some areas where I'm not up to speed yet. I am trying to install BT3 on a second Hard Drive on a spare machine.

I've been looking at a tutorial on this forum which on the face of it looks quite good. I set up the HD partitions using fdisk the p command now returns:

Code:

    Device      Boot    Start    End       Blocks   Id  System
    /dev/hdb1 *              1  1217    9775521   83  Linux
    /dev/hdb2            1218  1591    3004155   82  Linux swap
    /dev/hdb3            1592  4753  25398765   83  Linux

To the best of my semi-noob knowledge this should work, feel free to tell me if not.

My next step was:

Code:

    mkdir /mnt/backtrack

Appeared to work ok but next came the prob:

Code:

    mount /dev/hdb3 /mnt/backtrack/

returns:

Code:

    mount: No such file or directory

I have CD'd and got to the point where I can view the /mnt/backtrack/ directory using ls so i don't understand the problem.

Can anyone give advice?

Many Thx

This is being done from the BT OS running as a live cd I also cannot access the 2nd HD (hdb) from ubuntu for eg:

Code:

root> fdisk /dev/hdb

returns:

Code:

Unable to open /dev/hdb

so no linux OS seems to get access to it.In XP the disk manager can see the partitions exist although obviously does not recognize the format. The etc/fstab file doesn't list them at all in UBUNTU. I was thinking this is a permissions issue, but even root doesn't get access. The only other thing I can add is that the HD does show up on ubuntu's desktop with the name "new volume". This is probably a noob post with an obvious answer but I feel like I've been banging my head against a wall since yesterday. Any advice would be brilliant (got no feed back from the support forum).

Many thx

---update---
Ubuntu is aware of the partitions as:

Code:

fdisk -l

returns:

Code:

Disk /dev/sda: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb04cb04c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        2504    20113348+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2            2505        4998    20033055    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            2505        4888    19149448+  83  Linux
/dev/sda6            4889        4998      883543+  82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x4d774d76

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1        1217     9775521   83  Linux
/dev/sdb2            1218        1591     3004155   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb3            1592        4753    25398765   83  Linux

the trooper · 05-09-2009, 09:34 AM

Code:

Unable to open /dev/hdb

Looking at your fstab,should it not be /dev/sdb?

danboy · 05-09-2009, 09:39 AM

Thanks very much, I knew it would be something silly. I'm new to this and not feeling that confident yet. Been playing with it for ages and couldn't see the forest for the trees. Feel a bit of an idiot now, but still.

Thanks very much

the trooper · 05-09-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Feel a bit of an idiot now, but still.

Don't sweat it.We all make mistakes

.