Arch Linux

burntogate

Member

Registered: 2014-12-04

Posts: 3

gdisk doesn't write partition table

I have a brand new 1TB hard drive (only drive in the system) that I am attempting to install Arch on. My process for partitioning is as follows:

root@archiso ~# gdisk /dev/sda
o (create a new empty GUID partition table (GPT)
p (Print the partition table)
--shows no partitions.

n (Add a new partition)
Partition number: {default}
First Sector: {default}
Last Sector: +1G
GUID: EF00

n (Add a new partition)
Partition number: {default}
First Sector: {default}
Last Sector: +200G
GUID: {default}

n (Add a new partition)
Partition number: {default}
First Sector: {default}
Last Sector: +25G
GUID: {default}

n (Add a new partition)
Partition number: {default}
First Sector: {default}
Last Sector: +25G
GUID: {default}

n (Add a new partition)
Partition number: {default}
First Sector: {default}
Last Sector: {default} (Comes out to 680.5GiB)
GUID: {default}


p (Print the partition table)
--shows 5 partitions, 1 EFI System and 4 Linux filesystem.

w (Write table to disk and exit)
--The Operation has completed successfully.

root@archiso ~# ls /dev/sda*
/dev/sda
root@archiso ~#

None of the partitions were actually created, if I go back into gdisk (or any other partitioning utility) the disk appears to be completely unaltered. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

JohnBobSmith

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2014-11-29

Posts: 804

Re: gdisk doesn't write partition table

That only writes blank, empty partitions to the drive. You need to actually install the filesystem, which is explained in the beginners guide on the wiki.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners%27_guide

Also, believe you need to use fdisk -l to list the partitions, as the ls command lists files and directories, and there are none on that drive at this time, from what I can tell.

---

I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder. As it turns out, what I thought was my greatest weakness is now my greatest strength.

Everyday, I make a conscious choice to overcome my challenges and my problems. It's not easy, but its better than the alternative...

burntogate

Member

Registered: 2014-12-04

Posts: 3

Re: gdisk doesn't write partition table

Ok; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to /dev/sda.
The operation has completed successfully

1 root@archiso ~ # gdisk -l /dev/sda
Partition table scan:
MBR: not present
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: not present

{snip}

Number  Start (sector)  End (sector)  Size  Code  Name

1 root@archiso ~ # mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2
mke2fs 1.42.12 (29-Aug-2014)
The file /dev/sda2 does not exist and no size was specified.

1 root@archiso ~ #

Is the output as soon as I finish partitioning; I can't get to the formatting step.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,778

Website

Re: gdisk doesn't write partition table

What happens if you try this command (plz post the entire terminal output including your command):

# parted /dev/sda mklabel gpt

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

ratcheer

Member

Registered: 2011-10-09

Posts: 912

Re: gdisk doesn't write partition table

You have to reboot before the system can use the new partition scheme. When I create new partitions with gdisk, this is always told to me explicitly when ending the gdisk program.

Tim

Last edited by ratcheer (2014-12-04 14:56:55)

burntogate

Member

Registered: 2014-12-04

Posts: 3

Re: gdisk doesn't write partition table

Thought I would check to see if I had a loose cable but decided to swap the SATA cable and switching to a different SATA header on the motherboard while I had it open; everything works fine now.