Cannot get slackware 12.2 to mount Ext. HD

cybrnitro · 01-30-2009, 06:11 PM

Ok so i have a macbook and i have a an external hd that i want to install slackware on. the hd in the notebook does not work so im using an external till i get a new one, or a new logic board. so i have tryed mount /dev/sda1 ... and it says that it cannot not find it in the /etc/fstab . i did a dmesg and it shows that the computer has recognized it. HELP

vinnywrite · 01-30-2009, 06:23 PM

it mite be looking for some ware to mount it on!!!!

try as root

Code:

mkdir /mnt/sda1
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1

you may half to tell it what file system to with the -t switch like so

Code:

mount -t ntfs /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1

sw67 · 01-30-2009, 06:35 PM

As vinnywrite said, unless the disk (partition) is in the fstab file, you need to specify where to mount to.
/etc/fstab contains a list of definitions so that the kernel can mount them itself, or know where to mount them when requested.

To mount your partition temporarily, you'd do as above - create a place for it to mount in, then tell it to mount there explicitly.
You can try

Code:

mount -t auto /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1

or replace auto with the filesystem if it doesn't autodetect.

If you want it to automount, or mount like you initially tried, look into adding an entry to the fstab file

cybrnitro · 01-30-2009, 06:36 PM

yea i tryed all that. i tryed all kinds of stuff. i have been able to fdisk /dev/sda1 and creat my linuxswap and my linux partitons

but when i go into setup it imeditly comes up and says there is no linux partions on this machine.

so im guessing it keeps looking into the hd that is on the computer and that hardrive has shit the bed. so what do u suggest

Drakeo · 01-30-2009, 07:05 PM

this is a boot problem and lilo needs to be pointed to the drive but one problem you have to be able to load the drivers for the system to see the usb device or to load the usb conttrolers. if you can go into bios and set it up to boot from the usb drive cool but what it looks like is you have lilo so make sure your /etc/lilo.conf file

Quote:

image="/boot/vmlinuz"
root="/dev/sdb1"
label="Linux"
read-only

so if your hard drive is dead go into bios and disable it other wise if you have a scsi or sata drive your external will be sdb1
the correct fstab for a root partition is for device drive sdb1 is.

Quote:

/dev/sdb1 / ext3 defaults 1 1

device root---> / file system
If you are booting from the cdrom then you need to boot the huge kernel and and point it to your drive. if you are booting from a floppy sorry no floppy booting of the stock hugesmp kernel.