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Re: hard disk drive



> when the computer boots up I dont see the new hard-disk drive. i am
> assuming the same as you too, i.e. fdisk/mkfs needs disk geometry(number
> of blocks) 
> 
> but i haven't really had the time to look at the hard-disk and calculate
> the number of blocks from the information on the hard-disk drive. but i
> will definitely try it out. 
> 
> I am not sure  as you put it. "if fdisk is properly seeing /dev/hdb" ...
> but the other disks like /dev/hdc, hdd etc... give a disk not found error.
> 
> when i do a more on other drives, like /dev/hdb, hdc ..etc
> i get the same error device not found ... (because there are no devices
> attached, which is natural)
> (more /dev/hdc for example)
> 
> BUT for more /dev/hdb I get the error device not configured.....

Hmm, any given IDE chain can hold two things on it.  On a laptop
/dev/hda is invariably the hard disk deep inside.  The /dev/hdb is usually
wasted - though sometimes it ends up able to be used for an ATAPI floppy.

In other words it means "yes, I have a driver loaded for that IDE chain,
but there's nothing on the other end; that device out there doesn't want to
talk."

Logically a dock would normally get its own, additional chain, and that's
why mounted CDs from a dock are usually /dev/hdc or /dev/hdd.  The same should
follow for IDE disks on a dock.

I could potentially see a dock that only has room for one IDE device, hooking
into the laptop circuitry such that the dock is /dev/hdb.  In which case,
you should get good response from /dev/hdb if-and-only-if the dock is really
solidly connected, and the drive docked there, also really solidly connected
and powered.  (you said it's a desktop class drive, it does have one of those
huge four prong power thingies, right?  It needs juice.)  What my sysadmin
colleagues would call an "ISO layer 1 problem" - check the physical layer...
 
> any clues on this one??
> 
> And I have sent an email to the Star :)
> thanks,
> Praveen

And I've some guesses but nothing sure.  Hey, everyone, this is tricky
enough, has anyone any objections if I publish this thread in the Linux 
Gazette once we solve it for him?

* Heather Stern * star@ many places...  sr.tech editor, Linux Gazette
 
> On Fri, 5 Jan 2001 JParker@coinstar.com wrote:
> 
> > G'Day !
> > 
> > I'm interested in what happened in your fdisk session.  Where you able to 
> > create partitions ?  Could you "save" your work on the partition table ?
> > 
> > "Device not configured" is also curious ... I wonder if you need to 
> > specify the disk geometry to lilo (I'm guessing here) ????  I would look 
> > at the problem like it was a partition table problem.  You did something 
> > right if fdisk can see it.
> > 
> > I'm not real familiar with laptops ... I'd be more help on a 
> > desktop/server system.  Perhaps someone like Heather would be able to help 
> > you more.
> > 
> > cheers,
> > Jim Parker
> > 
> > Sailboat racing is not a matter of life and death ....  It is far more 
> > important than that !!!
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Kamath <kamath@cs.odu.edu>
> > 01/05/01 11:36 AM
> > 
> >  
> >         To:     JParker@coinstar.com
> >         cc:     debian-laptop@lists.debian.org
> >         Subject:        Re: hard disk drive
> > 
> > thanks for the response. 
> > 
> > I tried mounting the disk as hdb, hdb1 etc... but it wouldn't mount. I get
> > the error device not configured.
> > I tried making a filesystem too, but even that gives the same error as
> > device not configured.
> > I tried the hard0drive jumper settings as a primary-master as well as the
> > primary slave.
> > The disk is an enhanced IDE drive. are there any special drivers needed
> > for accessing EIDE drives in linux....??
> > and if so where can i get these drivers?
> > 
> > in windows I am not sure how the whole set-up works.... I have contacted
> > compaq support but there arent too very hepl ful. they say the model is
> > out-dated (Compaq LTE Elite, and the dock is compaq Smartstation). and I
> > am not sure of the interface(what sort?? looks like SCSI to me or maybe
> > PCMCIA type III) the computer uses to attach to the docking bay.
> > 
> > 
> > any help will be appreciated.
> > 
> > thanks,
> > praveen kamath
> > 
> > On Fri, 5 Jan 2001 JParker@coinstar.com wrote:
> > 
> > > G'Day !
> > > 
> > > Are you saying that fdisk recognizes your new hd as /dev/hdb, but you 
> > can 
> > > not mount it ?
> > > 
> > > Once in fdisk ... Did you partition the drive ?  Did you create a 
> > > filesystem on those new partitions ?  Did you use the mount command to 
> > > access the drive ("mount -t ext2 /dev/hdb1" as root) ?
> > > 
> > > Does anyone know how to do it in windows (is it a secondary slave, or 
> > > maybe a secondary master ? ), it should be similar, as far as the 
> > hardware 
> > > is concerned.
> > > 
> > > cheers,
> > > Jim Parker
> > > 
> > > Sailboat racing is not a matter of life and death ....  It is far more 
> > > important than that !!!
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Kamath <kamath@cs.odu.edu>
> > > 01/05/01 02:43 AM
> > > 
> > > 
> > >         To:     debian-laptop@lists.debian.org
> > >         cc: 
> > >         Subject:        hard disk drive
> > > 
> > > Hello all--
> > > 
> > > I need some help from someone who has used docking stations. I have a
> > > Compaq LTE Elite laptop with the Compaq smart-station. I have added an
> > > additional hard-disk to the docking station, and would like to access 
> > this
> > > additional hard-disk via the docking station.
> > > 
> > > The additional Hard disk is desk-top EIDE hard-drive and I tried
> > > configuring it as the Primary master as well as the Slave but I get the
> > > message "unable to open device" when I try to do a fdisk on the new 
> > disk,
> > > it appears the diskette is recognised as /dev/hdb 
> > > 
> > > Can anyone help me!!
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > Praveen
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > -- 
> > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-laptop-request@lists.debian.org
> > > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact 
> > > listmaster@lists.debian.org
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> --  
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