[SOLVED] Can't re-partition external hard drive.

TheNutCase · 03-29-2022, 10:53 PM

I am currently using Slackware 15.0 as my operating system, and I recently aquirsd an external 4TB hard drive to use as a backup for my files. Unfortunately, I found out much to my display that I an unable to re-partition it (I keep getting a message saying that the disk is read only - and I can't change the properties for it (even when I try it as "root"). And what's more, my operating system, as well as GPARTED, identifies it as a pair of 2TB hard drives

So how do I force the external hard drive to function as a read/write hard drive?

Jeebizz · 03-29-2022, 11:57 PM

In order to partition it, the fileystem has to be unmounted. In Gparted right click on the partition and select unmount , that should allow you to resize or repartition it.

TheNutCase · 03-30-2022, 12:14 AM

The thing is that When I insert the drive, it is detected, nut not mounted. And yet i still end up with the same error message.

avian · 03-30-2022, 01:08 AM

This seems so weird. Gparted when run with sudo should be able to handle the basics just fine. Out of interest what is the device name, and does it show under /dev as having write permissions at all? Does dmesg show anything related to being read-only when it is inserted?

LuckyCyborg · 03-30-2022, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNutCase

I am currently using Slackware 15.0 as my operating system, and I recently aquirsd an external 4TB hard drive to use as a backup for my files. Unfortunately, I found out much to my display that I an unable to re-partition it (I keep getting a message saying that the disk is read only - and I can't change the properties for it (even when I try it as "root"). And what's more, my operating system, as well as GPARTED, identifies it as a pair of 2TB hard drives

So how do I force the external hard drive to function as a read/write hard drive?

Then, in fact, your "external hard drive" is a RAID device containing 2 hard drives, and possibly a proprietary RAID hardware unsupported by Linux in general.

I believe that unfortunately you need to tell us much more details about this particular "external hard drive" for getting meaningful responses.

For example, the maker, its model, and so on. Also, if it's an USB device, or eSATA or a network storage.

Heck, telling us only that's "an external hard drive" seen as 2 hard drives by Linux is rather useless.

enorbet · 03-30-2022, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNutCase

And what's more, my operating system, as well as GPARTED, identifies it as a pair of 2TB hard drives

Wait... what? Are you possibly confusing partitions with drives? OK here's how to be certain. In GParted's Menu Bar, click on "View" and select "Device In formation". That will bring up an area on the left that will give actual drive information, including Manufacturer, Model, Path, Partition table type, Heads, Cylinders, Total; Sectors, and sector size. You will very obviously see whether or not it is a single drive or double.

The default wide graphic for that drive will display any and all partitions on that drive device. If you right click on any partition, either in the graphic representation or in the list below the graphic, at the bottom of the popup you click "Information" which will display the file system UUID, and more.

I think you may have a setting that automounts because GPartted will ignore unmounted drives. Just right click the partition you wish to remove or resize and select "Unmount" even if you think it wasn't mounted.

ZhaoLin1457 · 03-30-2022, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enorbet

Wait... what? Are you possibly confusing partitions with drives?

I do not think so, because is hard to make confusion between disks and partitions within GParted. And because there are external enclosures with 2 or more hard drives and proprietary hardware RAID.

For example, this one uses a JMicron JMS562 chipset with RAID:

USB 3.0/eSATA Dual 3.5” SATA III Hard Drive External RAID Enclosure w/ UASP and Fan – Black

I given you as example this external enclosure because I own one and I know how it behaves. It can be configured as standard hard drives, then it shows just 2 standard hard drives over both USB 3.0 or eSATA. Or it can be configured as RAID0, RAID1 or JBOD, and this is some proprietary thing which is not supported by Linux. At least I did not find yet how to use it with Linux.

Notable, in those RAID modes, this external enclosure shows just 2 read-only hard drives to Linux, just like the OP claims that sees.

That's why I think that LuckyCyborg is correct, and OP should show much more details about his supposedly external hard drive.

nobodino · 03-30-2022, 06:19 AM

Could you give us the exact reference of your hard drive?

and what gives the command:

Code:

lsblk -l -f

TheNutCase · 03-30-2022, 01:35 PM

Code:

NAME FSTYPE FSVER LABEL UUID                                 FSAVAIL FSUSE% MOUNTPOINTS
sda                                                                         
sda1 ext4   1.0         d55f7bc7-4b7d-44c0-86a4-f6c9486e352e    2.3T    30% /
sdb                                                                         
sdb1 exfat  1.0         76E8-CACF                                           
sdc                                                                         
sdc1 exfat  1.0         76E8-CACF                                           
sr0                                                                         
sr1

And this is the information that I got from GParted:

Code:

exfatprogs version : 1.1.3

open failed : /dev/sdc1, Read-only file system

exfatprogs version : 1.1.3

open failed : /dev/sdc1, Read-only file system

Unable to read the contents of this file system!
Because of this some operations may be unavailable.
The cause might be a missing software package.
The following list of software packages is required for exfat file

LuckyCyborg · 03-30-2022, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNutCase

Code:

NAME FSTYPE FSVER LABEL UUID                                 FSAVAIL FSUSE% MOUNTPOINTS
sda                                                                         
sda1 ext4   1.0         d55f7bc7-4b7d-44c0-86a4-f6c9486e352e    2.3T    30% /
sdb                                                                         
sdb1 exfat  1.0         76E8-CACF                                           
sdc                                                                         
sdc1 exfat  1.0         76E8-CACF                                           
sr0                                                                         
sr1

And this is the information that I got from GParted:

Code:

exfatprogs version : 1.1.3

open failed : /dev/sdc1, Read-only file system

exfatprogs version : 1.1.3

open failed : /dev/sdc1, Read-only file system

Unable to read the contents of this file system!
Because of this some operations may be unavailable.
The cause might be a missing software package.
The following list of software packages is required for exfat file

Great! This confirm that within your "external hard drive" are two physical hard drives. Literally. Probably configured in a RAID1 layout.

Now, you are kind to tell us the model and company which made your "external hard drive" which is in fact an External RAID Storage Device?

Also, a link to the product's page would be greatly appreciated.

enorbet · 03-30-2022, 01:50 PM

@ ZhaoLin1457 - thanks but I did note that Gparted can sort that out with Device Information, at least I'm confidant it will show 2 drives if they exist whether in software RAID or not.

Judging by TheNutCase's latest post it is indeed 2 drives. This might help https://www.computernetworkingnotes....tep-guide.html

TheNutCase · 03-30-2022, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyCyborg

Then, in fact, your "external hard drive" is a RAID device containing 2 hard drives, and possibly a proprietary RAID hardware unsupported by Linux in general.

I believe that unfortunately you need to tell us much more details about this particular "external hard drive" for getting meaningful responses.

For example, the maker, its model, and so on. Also, if it's an USB device, or eSATA or a network storage.

Heck, telling us only that's "an external hard drive" seen as 2 hard drives by Linux is rather useless.

The hard drive itself is described as serialATA, but plugs into a USB 3.0 port, but it is unbranded.

LuckyCyborg · 03-30-2022, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enorbet

Judging by TheNutCase's latest post it is indeed 2 drives. This might help https://www.computernetworkingnotes....tep-guide.html

No tutorial will help the OP until he unconfigure the RAID mode of his "external hard drive" . Did you seen that he has two identical partitions on different disks, with the label 76E8-CACF ?

My bet is that this device is configured physically on RAID1 mode. Usually, no software can change this, because the configuration is done in the cheap RAID enclosures with jumpers. Little physical jumpers or switches.

LuckyCyborg · 03-30-2022, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNutCase

The hard drive itself is described as serialATA, but plugs into a USB 3.0 port, but it is unbranded.

Man, from where you bought this thing? It has a company/maker label written on it? It has a model label written on it?

At least show us some photos of this thing. Specially any place where you see letters, numbers or logos. And jumpers or switches.

nobodino · 03-30-2022, 02:49 PM

And what about this command, because you know there are raid disks:

Code:

mdadm --auto-detect -v

Is there any sticker, you could make a photo and send us?

You can also install exfat-utils:

Code:

sbopkg -i exfat-utils

It should allow you to read your disk.

Edit: it doesn't seem to be possible to resize exFAT partition under linux but under windows, look here:

https://www.diskpart.com/articles/re...tion-1881.html