ok so i get to where i need to make my partitions, and type "Fdisk /dev/hda" then i get the message "You will not be able to write the partition table. Device contains neither a vaild DOS partition table, nor Sun, SGI or OSF disklabel. Building a new DOS disklabel. Changes will remain in memory only. Until you decide to write them. After that, of course, the previous content won't be recoverable.

Warning: Invalid flag 0x0000 of partition table 4 will be corrected by w(rite)".

Then it won't let me make partitions, what am i doing wrong.

Are you sure that /dev/hda is your hard drive? what's the output of "fdisk -l"?

It's possible that /dev/hda is a cdrom. On my desktop, /dev/hda is my DVD player, /dev/hdc is my CDRW, and the hard drive is actually /dev/hde.

Have you thought of using Linux to partition the drive? Mandriva's latest version of DiskDrake (which is part of the installation process) is the best graphical partitioning program I've seen so far. QTParted (which comes with Mepis and is also part of the Mepis install process) is a pretty good graphical partitioning tool.

Here's a picture of what DiskDrake looks like:
http://www.linux-magazin.de/Artikel/.../diskdrake.gif

Here's a picture of what QTParted looks like:
http://stibs.cc/mepis/qtparted.png

Don't they look less intimidating than FDisk?

cegha,

Welcome to Slackware!


Try using cfdisk instead of fdisk, that way you'll get to "look" at your hard drive while you're making the changes.

Edit:
But it's not as user friendly as DiskDrake or QTParted . Let this be a lesson to us all; allow what you've read to register with ALL of your brain before you react, especially when you've been up for 48 hours straight!

Welcome to LQ!

You could have provided more information for us...

Since you're in the Slackware forum, I'm assuming you're installing Slackware.

As someone else said, cfdisk is much nicer than fdisk, and it's available on the Slackware CD1. That first CD has a file titled Slackware-HOWTO and you should read it before you start the installation. (Funny how reading the directions is the last thing most people try.)

Most Slackware installation help files recommend fdisk, but even the fdisk manual page recommends cfdisk over fdisk. It's much more intuitive, also.

Here's a couple more Slackware resources. If you're gonna be a Slacker, you're going to have to learn to read. You should start using Google <Linux> like you own it.

The Revised Slackware Book Project

Slackware Linux Basics

i have just decided to quit with it, im 99.9% sure its a harddrive problem, if i use cfdisk from within ubuntu (which i have insalled right now), just says when i use cfdisk, "opened disk read-only - you have no permission to write" then it says "FATAL ERROR: Bad primary partition O: Partition ends in the final partital cylinder, Press and key to exit cfdisk". Im tired of screwing with it i think its the stupid *** old harddrive, that is 2gig, im just going to get some xbox harddrives that are 10gig off a site for like $5 each and put 2 10 gig ones in it. That should fix the problem. If someone does know how to fix it that would help too.

I know this post is ancient, but the info doesn't die. I am facing a similar problem, except i am nopt a newbie. I have a 250G HD that i am trying to recover and your answers here were incredibly insulting and arrogant (not all but most - you know who ...).

This is a tough problem - fdisk wont write partition table or disk label, and you bozos treated it like someone just asked how to log in...


arrrggghhhh - folks like you do more harm to the linux community than SCO.

If you don't want to help - but out...

twoHats,

Why don't you post your own thread for help, including proper information about your problem, rather than being critical in an old thread?

"Why don't you post your own thread for help, including proper information about your problem, rather than being critical in an old thread?"

Because, sometimes things just need to be said. Being nice doesn't hurt.

noobies have feelings.

I have posted here many times - in both capacities, and have never felt the need to belittle anyone.

Hope that answerers your question - if it really was a question.