Unable to mount FAT32 file system

[sunilkamavaram]

Hai,

I was not able to mount FAT32 file system in Debain linux (Sarge). I am getting an error "fs type fat32 not supported by kernel". I know that linux mounts fat32 system but this is something out of my reach. I need help with this

thanks
sunil.

[UgoDeschamps]

can you post your output on this command please :

uname -a

thanks this will give us the kernel version, and from there, we'll be able to determine if your kernel IS suppose to support it OR if you need to get a newer kernel version

Thanks in advance

[sunilkamavaram]

uname -a
Output:
Linux Debian 2.6.8-1-386 #1 Thu Nov 25 04:24:08 UTC 2004 i686 GNU/Linux

[UgoDeschamps]

sorry I forgot one thing, can you also post your reading on this command :

cat /etc/fstab 
AND
fdisk -l

thanks a lot in advance

[sunilkamavaram]

Sunny:/proc# cat /etc/fstab
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hda7 / ext2 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
/dev/hdc /media/cdrom0 iso9660 ro,user,noauto 0 0
/dev/hda5 /mnt/WinD fat32 ro,uid=sunil,noauto 0 0
/dev/hda6 /mnt/WinE fat32 ro,uid=sunil,noauto 0 0


Sunny:/proc# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7296 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 1941 15591051 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 1942 7295 43006005 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 1942 4081 17189518+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda6 4082 5683 12868033+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda7 5684 7295 12948358+ 83 Linux

[UgoDeschamps]

this is pretty strange since the drive are detected to be present, and there even in your fstab...

can you remove the noauto in fstab, nad put auto instead...
Thanks..
reboot after and tell us if the drive are mounted

[sunilkamavaram]

Well, I tried as you said, by changing noauto to auto in fstab but it didnt work.

Is there a way that I can change fat32 file sytem to someother file system so that I can mount it on linux and windows.

Thanks
Sunil.

[UgoDeschamps]

Of course you could, but that yould imply to format the drive, and set in to a new filesystem

[sunilkamavaram]

How should I format hda5, hda6 without affecting the hard drives - hda1(windows), hda7(linux). What file system should I choose?

[UgoDeschamps]

here is a good how to for an ext3 filesystem...
simply search for "format <type> linux"

the file system is a choice you only can make a descision...
if you dont need compatibility with Windows, ext3 or reifers is perfect... otherwise, fat,fat32 is the option