I'm new to Linux platform. I was using Windows XP on my 500GB HDD. I wanted to use any Linux os, so yesterday I removed XP & installed Fedora 14. Now I'm not able to access one of the partition (380GB). Please help me out, I don't know much since I'm very new to Linux. Thanks.

Hi crrail!
Your desktop is Gnome?
Before mounting you have to create a directory; I do it in the folder /media and not in /mnt because I then can have an icon on my desktop.
You cannot mount an extended partition (sda3); you can mount a logical partition (within the extended partition: sda5, sda6) or a primary partition (sda1, sda2 [and sda4 I suppose]).
; then
;
please give an answer, if this dos not work.
Two advices:
1. You should install gparted (graphical partitioning tool - it's easy),
2. Please wrap Code tags around selected text (symbol #). It's easier to read.
alfredo

You can't mount an extended partition - it is merely a container for logical partitions (sda5 and sda6 exist within sda3). This structure comes from MS-DOS and is also true for Windows as well (non-gpt disks).
You also shouldn't try and mount multiple partitions at the same mount point - the latter causes the previous to "disappear".

Do not mount /dev/sda4 under /media. That should be reserved for removable disks, and flash drives.

If you've removed Windoz and your only operating system is Fedora, than I would reinstall it from scratch and during the install, tell it to repartition the entire disk. Remove all the partitions and start over.

There are many thoughts on how to partition your disk. I'll provide my idea.

swap partition of 2GB.
/ partition of about 15 GB.
/home partition of 20 to 50 GB
and the balance you could divide for data storage, /data, and/or another operating system, such as Windoz or another Linux.

Your current swap partition looks way too big and is a waste of space, and you don't need ntfs partitions if you're not using windows.

The suggestion of using Gparted is good, but I would burn it to a live CD and boot the CD to repartition.

Hi crrail!
At the moment I don't know if gparted is installed on your hd; you can try this by entering
as root in a terminal. It's useful to give a newcomer an overview.
Another possibility:
gives a better clear view for a newbie than "fdisk".
That's what you should do now; later on you can create a live-CD gparted, or better a live-USB PartedMagic (with useful tools).
alfredo

If you have cleaned the hard drive and you have installed the Fedora then I'll suggest to format it again and put XP 1st.
Once you are on the XP, Create 10 GB Dedicated Partition for Just Fedora,
Then install the fedora in that 10 GB partition.
While reboot choose fedora and start using it.
Until and unless you are not thorough with fedora dont try to remove windows.
It well help you,
This is my own experience.
I am using Fedora 14 Genome and Win 7 ultimate with 500 GB HD so we both are on the same page.........

These commands wont work because I have tried those when I made the same mistake as Carrie...

If you have cleaned the hard drive and you have installed the Fedora then I'll suggest to format it again and put XP 1st.
Once you are on the XP, Create 10 GB Dedicated Partition for Just Fedora,
Then install the fedora in that 10 GB partition.
While reboot choose fedora and start using it.
Until and unless you are not thorough with fedora dont try to remove windows.
It well help you,
This is my own experience.
I am using Fedora 14 Genome and Win 7 ultimate with 500 GB HD so we both are on the same page.........

0 members found this post helpful.

@arul315

How will this solve the problem from the OP?

Kind regards

This will help because we already user has lost the data then why go ahead and try something which we dont know??
so to be on the safer side use dual OS and
create partitions through windows as its handy..
and then try to use in fedora as we can use all the storage space through fedora..
This is what i think and this solution suits me better as I have mounted 7 Partitions through this method..
I know this is time consuming....
However I wont take risk till the time I am not get used to Fedora...

Now I have windows 7 and ubuntu maverick in my OS. I want to install fedora 6 too. What I have to do(I have fedora 6 dvd in my hand).what should I do?I am fearing that after installing if GRUB dont show 3 operating systems what should I do? please reply

Welcome to LQ

Please start a new thread for your problem.

Kind regards

Where does the OP say he lost his data?
So your solution for every problem is reinstall?


Kind regards

I never said that reinstall is solution for all problems.
But for this we need to go ahead and have to do reinstall for dual boot

Hi!
@ arul315:
That's impossible if you have an efficient linux operating system.
You must be root to run this commands!
alfredo

example with sda1:
as root:
~ # mkdir /media/SDA1
~ # mount /dev/sda1 /media/SDA1
~ # mount
...
/dev/sda1 on /media/SDA1 type vfat (rw)
~ #