Partition table read incorrectly

Inxsible · 2011-02-23 22:09:20

So I have this usb key which I use for a variety of purposes. I used it recently to install Arch on my gf's computer. I formatted it again using a Windows 7 partitioner to FAT 32 and every time I connect it to my gf's computer and run fdisk, I get this:

I have also tried using a Win XP partitioner to make it FAT 32 and also mkfs.vfat and mkdosfs -F 32 under linux, but I still get the same results.

╔═[16:44]═[inxs @ archbox]
╚═══===═══[~]>> fdiskl
Password: 

Disk /dev/sdb: 1031 MB, 1031798784 bytes
32 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1015 cylinders, total 2015232 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x6f20736b

This doesn't look like a partition table
Probably you selected the wrong device.

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   ?   168689522  2104717761   968014120   65  Novell Netware 386
/dev/sdb2   ?   778135908  1919645538   570754815+  72  Unknown
/dev/sdb3   ?  1869881465  3805909656   968014096   79  Unknown
/dev/sdb4   ?  2885681152  2885736650       27749+   d  Unknown

I tried the same in an Arch guest at work and I get the same result.

HOWEVER, the same usb drive works just fine on my desktop at home and it gets auto-mounted correctly using devmon. So I was just wondering why it was the case and how can I format it so that it will be usable in all linux systems instead of just mine.

JokerBoy · 2011-02-23 22:22:27

did you tried to fill it with zeros, and then recreate a new partition table?

toad · 2011-02-23 22:32:35

Tried fdisk or gparted?

Inxsible · 2011-02-23 23:32:16

@ JokerBoy : nope I just formatted it in Windows.

@ toad: I tried fdisk. didn't help. Will try Gparted now.

The funny thing is that my desktop mounts it correctly and I can access data from it. Its just that fdisk shows everything to be incorrect. I haven't tried mounting on other computers because I was not sure which partition to mount, as AFAIK, there is only 1 partition on the usb, but it shows as 4 with Unknown System or Novell Netware 386.

Trying gparted now...

EDIT: Gparted also showed errors on the drive. So I went ahead and formatted it again and now everything seems to be alright. I guess Windows formatted usb keys just don't work well with linux.

I am still confused why fdisk wasn't able to show it at all earlier though....

Last edited by Inxsible (2011-02-24 00:19:53)

ANOKNUSA · 2011-02-24 00:34:38

So, just what did you use for that installation? I used dd a few weeks back to stick Archboot on a flash drive so I could start a fresh installation on my snazzy new HDD. Afterward, I tried formatting the drive twice, and each time was told that the Archboot image was still on the drive. Shredding the flash drive using KDE partition manager (KDE's parted front-end) took care of that. I thought this was a quirk, but if you had a similar experience, I just might try and reproduce this; maybe it's some kinda bug.

kgas · 2011-02-24 16:15:25

I had the same issue with usb drive dd-ed with iso. gparted won't show it correctly. fdisk reports it as Hidden HPFS/NTFS and blkid report is as /dev/sdb1: LABEL="ARCHBOOT" TYPE="iso9660". The usb drives used only for the installation purpose I did not take much on this issue.

Inxsible · 2011-02-24 16:50:42

I used dd to write the archlinux iso on the usb key as well. Once I was done installing Arch, I formatted it with mkfs.vfat. When that gave me those weird Novell Netware partitions, I thought it'd be better to format in Windows, but I still got the same results in linux, although the usb was usable in Windows.

After using Gparted though, everything seems fine.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-02-23 22:09:20

Partition table read incorrectly

#2 2011-02-23 22:22:27

Re: Partition table read incorrectly

#3 2011-02-23 22:32:35

Re: Partition table read incorrectly

#4 2011-02-23 23:32:16

Re: Partition table read incorrectly

#5 2011-02-24 00:34:38

Re: Partition table read incorrectly

#6 2011-02-24 16:15:25

Re: Partition table read incorrectly

#7 2011-02-24 16:50:42

Re: Partition table read incorrectly

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