1 Topic by DutchArjo

  • DutchArjo
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Topic: error using qpart

I used qpart succesfully for changing partition sizes recently. Now i want to do the same for the hard drive of my wife's notebook. This is a ibm r31 notebook. i want to resize the main partition and then create a logical drive. after setting al the necessary steps and applying, I get an error when it starts checking the filesystem. I was wondering if this has something to do with the fact that its an ibm notebook and the harddrive is protected or something like that. is there a solution for this so i can create a logical drive on this partition where i can store documents and other personal files?

2 Reply by cmdr

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Re: error using qpart

Hello DutchArjo,

This is a ibm r31 notebook. i want to resize the main partition and then create a logical drive.

Laptops often use very special mixes of (hidden) partitions and file systems for Recovery or Diagnostic programs. Some are also known to be less compatible with Linux ( and "GParted" uses a Linux system ). Difficulties are not rare.

Before you start, you should backup all important programs / data to prevent a total loss. Furthermore you should have the CDROM stuff, which is "shipped" with the laptop, especially the Operation system media and the hardware drivers bundle. If there is a Recovery partition on the built-in harddisk (see Manual !), test, if it is startable (some function key at boot).

As you might guess, your informations  about your project are too general, we need much more detailed information about the current state to be able to give advice, how to proceed. I presume, that you use the latest version of "GParted Live CD", and that it launches flawlessly on the laptop. Nearly every action with "GParted" should be done AFTER having "cleaned" your harddisk (deleting temporary files, Defragmentation, chkdsk, Viruscheck and so on with Windows, I assume).

To have an overview of the current state, do the following :

1. Launch Gparted
2. Attach an USB Stick (the smallest is sufficient)
3. Start "Gparted" a second time by its Desktop icon
4. Note the device name of your stick (e.g. /dev/sdb1)
You have to change view to the second storage device
(arrow down upper right)
5. Minimize "GParted" window.
6. Double-click on "Terminal" icon
7. type
(Replace "/dev/sdb1" by YOUR device's name !
Note, that Linux is case-sensitive.))

mkdir /mnt/usb
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb
MC_HxEd --i

8. Shutdown "GParted"
9. Start Windows and attach the USB stick
10 Launch "Wordpad" and load "<USB>:\BootRec\drvs.dat" to have a look at the
information file.
11.  Upload the file "drvs.dat" to a file sharing site and give us the link.

Regards
cmdr

3 Reply by fstewartjr

  • fstewartjr
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Re: error using qpart

speaking of "normal" gpart launch:   created boot disk using iso - booted from the default settings- got "read error" continuously scrolling for several minutes, then screen going dark for several minutes - is this normal?   which of the install options to use?

4 Reply by class413

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Re: error using qpart

fstewartjr
Please, try to use the alternative boot mode, with VESA graphics and 1024x768 settings.
Furthermore, be sure that your cdrom disk is good.

(It is better to open a new topic).

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

5 Reply by DutchArjo

  • DutchArjo
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Re: error using qpart

cmdr wrote:

Hello DutchArjo,

This is a ibm r31 notebook. i want to resize the main partition and then create a logical drive.

Laptops often use very special mixes of (hidden) partitions and file systems for Recovery or Diagnostic programs. Some are also known to be less compatible with Linux ( and "GParted" uses a Linux system ). Difficulties are not rare.

Before you start, you should backup all important programs / data to prevent a total loss. Furthermore you should have the CDROM stuff, which is "shipped" with the laptop, especially the Operation system media and the hardware drivers bundle. If there is a Recovery partition on the built-in harddisk (see Manual !), test, if it is startable (some function key at boot).

As you might guess, your informations  about your project are too general, we need much more detailed information about the current state to be able to give advice, how to proceed. I presume, that you use the latest version of "GParted Live CD", and that it launches flawlessly on the laptop. Nearly every action with "GParted" should be done AFTER having "cleaned" your harddisk (deleting temporary files, Defragmentation, chkdsk, Viruscheck and so on with Windows, I assume).

To have an overview of the current state, do the following :

1. Launch Gparted
2. Attach an USB Stick (the smallest is sufficient)
3. Start "Gparted" a second time by its Desktop icon
4. Note the device name of your stick (e.g. /dev/sdb1)
You have to change view to the second storage device
(arrow down upper right)
5. Minimize "GParted" window.
6. Double-click on "Terminal" icon
7. type
(Replace "/dev/sdb1" by YOUR device's name !
Note, that Linux is case-sensitive.))

mkdir /mnt/usb
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb
MC_HxEd --i

8. Shutdown "GParted"
9. Start Windows and attach the USB stick
10 Launch "Wordpad" and load "<USB>:BootRecdrvs.dat" to have a look at the
information file.
11.  Upload the file "drvs.dat" to a file sharing site and give us the link.

Regards
cmdr

Hi,

I took a while (10 months) before continuing the 'project' again. I now try to follow the mentioned steps to have the posibility to upload the file.
But when I try to mount the drive in the terminal, i have typed:

mount /dev/sda /mnt/usb

where: /sda is the usb device's name.


i get the following error:

mount: you must specify the filesystem type

I don't know what to do now...


What i've seen is that harddrive with the two existing partitions: the standard (IBM_preload) partition which is visible for use. and the IBM_service partition which is hidden and where all the data is stored.

(/dev/hda1 and /dev/hda2)

6 Reply by gedakc

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Re: error using qpart

You would need to mount a partition (e.g., /dev/sda1), not a disk device (/dev/sda).

Hope that helps.

7 Reply by DutchArjo

  • DutchArjo
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Re: error using qpart

gedakc wrote:

You would need to mount a partition (e.g., /dev/sda1), not a disk device (/dev/sda).

Hope that helps.

Hi, sorry, forgot to mention that I mounted the usb drive and that I have drvs.dat file. However, when I shut down Gparted and put the USB drive in my own notebook, there was no drvs.dat file.
How do I save this file to my usb drive?