Partitions in dd commmand
 

i am trying to create a partition on my cf card

and get the following error

anesh@Linda-PC:~$ fdisk /dev/sdb

Unable to open /dev/sdb


Why is it unable to open?

Hi there,

you need root privileges to use fdisk. So either log into a console as root, or use sudo.
By the way, what distro or what kind of computer are you using? Do you have a chance to use gparted instead of fdisk? It's a lot friendlier and easier to use for less experienced users.

[X] Doc CPU

Thank you I did that and created four partitions

Now I need to load the syslinux on one of the partitions, but when I do so the following occurs


anesh@Linda-PC:~$ sudo syslinux -s /dev/sdb1
syslinux: invalid media signature (not a FAT filesystem?)
anesh@Linda-PC:~$


Any suggestions?

LindaVermeulen, did you create file system on top of that partition if not please use the below command and create the file system.

mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1

then you can use syslinux --stupid /dev/sdb1 to install syslinux on that.

I hope that helps.

Hi there,

and did you issue 'mkdosfs' to create a file system on the partition? AFAIR fdisk doesn't do that automatically, while gparted does.

[X] Doc CPU

I think it did work

It went as follows


anesh@Linda-PC:~$ sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1
mkfs.vfat 3.0.9 (31 Jan 2010)
anesh@Linda-PC:~$ sudo syslinux --stupid /dev/sdb1
Usage: syslinux [-sfr][-d directory][-o offset] device


That is right Uh?

Can someone also tell me how to mount the boot partition as all I am getting is:

anesh@Linda-PC:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb1/mnt
mount: can't find /dev/sdb1/mnt in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab

I mean no disrespect, but I think you are attempting to do something that is beyond your current capabilities.
No, your syslinux command is not correct, as indicated by the "Usage" output. I would suggest you read the manual on syslinux.
Again your mount command is not correct, not even remotely. Read the man pages, and perhaps try to find a tutorial to achieve your goal.

LQ isn't the place for step by step guides, We're not going to debug every command you make, when it is clear you have made no attempt of your own to understand what commands you are using.

I think it did work

It went as follows


anesh@Linda-PC:~$ sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1
mkfs.vfat 3.0.9 (31 Jan 2010)
anesh@Linda-PC:~$ sudo syslinux --stupid /dev/sdb1
Usage: syslinux [-sfr][-d directory][-o offset] device


That is right Uh?

LindaVermeulen, so the file system was created fine but syslinux wasn't installed so please do this below and see if that helps.

sudo syslinux -s /dev/sdb1.

DOn't worry I know this is beyond my capabilities. What I am trying to do is put this image file onto a cf card. The cf card must then go into this NACBox which then, when you plug it in the computer it must be like Whala and it works. Now I went to this website: http://darkdust.net/writings/diskimagesminihowto and here they explained how to do it. so I have just been following these instructions. Do I even need to use the syslinux for what I am attempting to do?

fukawi1: B.T.W. who are you to say that I have made no attempt on my own, I have been sitting in front of this computer trying to find info on dd commands for Linux system and reading through all material that I can get my hands on, it is just difficult to understand and also I type in these codes and I do not know if the results I am getting are correct and thus I ask. So I do not expect you to hold my hands, but that is why I am in the Linux Newbies forum as I only started working on this system two weeks ago.