Arch Linux

hanman

Member

Registered: 2007-05-16

Posts: 22

[Solved] Can't write USB Flash Drive or manipulate partitions

I've tried to write the Arch Installation ISO to several USB Flash Drives using various methods, but I've not has success. Even just running fdisk or cfdisk gives the following error:

$ sudo fdisk /dev/sdd

Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.37.1).
Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.

fdisk: cannot open /dev/sdd: Invalid argument

I've tried fdisk, cfdisk, etcher, dd, and cat. They all give some kind of similar error to the above. I checked to see if I could run fdisk and cfdisk on my SSD, and they'll open and show me the partitions on it. I've tried different USB ports and even through a hub.

Thanks for your help!

Last edited by hanman (2021-07-28 23:15:30)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,374

Re: [Solved] Can't write USB Flash Drive or manipulate partitions

ls -l /dev/sd*

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hanman

Member

Registered: 2007-05-16

Posts: 22

Re: [Solved] Can't write USB Flash Drive or manipulate partitions

brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8,  0 Jul 28 12:52 /dev/sda
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8,  1 Jul 28 12:52 /dev/sda1
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8,  2 Jul 28 12:52 /dev/sda2
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 16 Jul 28 12:47 /dev/sdb
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 17 Jul 28 12:47 /dev/sdb1
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 18 Jul 28 12:47 /dev/sdb2
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 32 Jul 28 12:47 /dev/sdc
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 33 Jul 28 12:47 /dev/sdc1
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root     0 Jul 28 12:23 /dev/sdd

I see that sdd is different, but I'm not sure how to correct it.

Last edited by hanman (2021-07-28 23:00:48)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,374

Re: [Solved] Can't write USB Flash Drive or manipulate partitions

sdd isn't a block device, looks like an empty file.
sda, sdb and sdc are block devices - are you sure neither of them is your usb flash drive?

lsblk -f

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hanman

Member

Registered: 2007-05-16

Posts: 22

Re: [Solved] Can't write USB Flash Drive or manipulate partitions

Somehow, /dev/sdd was just an ordinary empty file. I have no idea how it got there, but removing it has allowed my USB drive to create a block device. dd worked as expected after that.

Thank you for the help!