Disk formatting tools can't read hda
 

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to install DSL on my ancient computer. It boots properly from a bootdiskette and a boot CD, but I can't seem to access my hard drive, even if it's mounted!

Computer stats:
Compaq Armada 4131T
133MHz Pentium
48MB RAM
4x (I think) CD (external SCSI connection)
High-Density 3.5 inch disk drive
ATA4-IDE 2GB hard drive

Specifically, I'm trying to reformat the hard drive so it can use the ext2fs (I want to install DSL on my hard drive). Unfortunately, all the hard drive utilities on the CD--fdisk, dd, cfdisk, mkfs, shred, hdparm, and others--all return the same error: "/dev/hda: Permission Denied," regardless of what options I pass. (cfdisk says that it cannot read the drive and exits.) I know the drive is mounted and accessable--it is explorable via Dillo and xZGV.

Should I stick to the old-fashioned way of reformatting hard drives by wiping magnets over the disk?

Thank you

Not familiar with DSL, but my gut says wipe the drive** and start clean.

**Not with a magnet!!---use Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). It is on Sourceforge.

nm. I wan't using the disk tools as a superuser. Once I did that, however, I was able to wipe the drive. w00t!

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