Can't format a floppy in FC5

JacekZ · 09-09-2006, 11:14 AM

My /etc/fstab:

Code:

LABEL=/                 /                       ext3    defaults        1 1
LABEL=/boot             /boot                   ext3    defaults        1 2
devpts                  /dev/pts                devpts  gid=5,mode=620  0 0
tmpfs                   /dev/shm                tmpfs   defaults        0 0
LABEL=/home             /home                   ext3    defaults        1 2
proc                    /proc                   proc    defaults        0 0
sysfs                   /sys                    sysfs   defaults        0 0
LABEL=SWAP-hda3         swap                    swap    defaults        0 0
/dev/fd0         	/mnt/floppy             auto    noauto,rw,user  0 0
/dev/hdb5               /mnt/HD2                vfat    noauto,rw,user  0 0

I added the last two lines as root, the before last one for the floppy. This means I can now use the floppy drive as a regular user via nautilus (with a bit of awkwardly persistent clickling) or by typing at a console:

Code:

mount /mnt/floppy
umount /mnt/floppy

In nautilus there is a floppy icon, and likewise on the desktop (only while it is mounted in the latter case).

Contrary to what I've read on various web pages right clicking on the icons does not offer any format options in the context menu.

Typing 'gfloopy' in a console is slighly more promising, this starts the format gui but it closes immediately with the error:
"Cannot initialise device"
"Unable to open any device, formatting cannot continue."

The floppy command behaves thus:

Code:

$ floppy --format /dev/fd0
floppy 0.12 Copyright 2001, Double Precision, Inc.
floppy: device /dev/fd0 not found in /etc/floppy

..this is explained by there not being an /etc/floppy file on the system.

All of which begs the question, how should one go about formatting floppies on fc5? I must admit to being confused by all the /dev/fd* files (ending with lots of numbers) which seem to have something with what is said in man fd - all of which went over my head somewhat. Perhaps is it some odd default security or selinux setting at work? Any ideas?

sn68 · 09-10-2006, 02:59 AM

Try replacing auto with vfat & noauto with exec in the /etc/fstab and do mount -a
ie change
/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy auto noauto,rw,user
to
/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy vfat exec,rw,user

JacekZ · 09-11-2006, 05:18 PM

Thanks sandeepnatu, didn't work though, same behaviour as before.

sn68 · 09-11-2006, 09:20 PM

I haven't used floppy drive for a long time now, but managed to get a floppy and in my in my case two things worked

First remove the floppy line from fstab and do umount /mnt/floppy
then you can right click floppy drive icon inside the computer icon on Desktop and you will find "Format" on the context menu
else use Gparted and format

JacekZ · 09-12-2006, 06:32 PM

Thanks sandeepnatu,
if I remove the entry in fstab, then I get no floppy icon to click anywhere. I have to su mount the floppy to get the icon again, but then I'm back where I started. As for gparted, the gui does not have any access to floppies, just hard drives. It is reasuring though odd that your fc5 has the facility. I did a custom install so perhaps something got disabled along the way.. I might just have to live with it until fc6 comes along?
Jacek

homey · 09-12-2006, 07:39 PM

I use fdformat along with mkfs, different versions of mkfs for different file systems. For example:
To format the floppy as vfat ...

Code:

fdformat /dev/fd0
mkfs -t vfat /dev/fd0

or Linux ext2 ...

Code:

fdformat /dev/fd0
mke2fs -m 0 /dev/fd0

There are a bunch of options to fdformat in the man pages.
Also, you may want to look at mtools.

JacekZ · 09-13-2006, 06:05 PM

homey,
I had to add /sbin to the command to make it work thus:

Code:

/sbin/mkfs -t vfat /dev/fd0

then it worked!
Many thanks
Jacek

homey · 09-13-2006, 06:21 PM

Sorry, I was doing that as root user ( su - )
Glad it works for you!