fdisk displays no results

[AdRock952]

Hello everyone

I've just installed Debian 6 on an old pc so i can use it as a file server.

As far as i know installation went fine but it didn't detect my Edimax wireless network card.

The problem I'm having is using FDISK. I tried to explore my CD drive and i got an error message "Unable to mount location".

I wanted to see if there was an installer to install my network card becuase the manufacturer says it's supported by Linux.

When i use the su - command and try using fdisk -l it just displays the command prompt and no hdd info.

I tried it the other day becuase I want to mount all the physical drives and one logical volume.

This is really starting to frustrate me as i've read loads of forum posts and i've tried everything suggested and nothing works.

This is only the first step for me configuring this computer as a server and i'm suck already and ready to give up and try Windows server (whcih i don't really want to do).

Has anyone got any ideas how i can mount my cdrom and why FDISK isn't working?

[Nagarjuna]

Hmmm, it's very strange that fdisk -l isn't displaying any results.. I'm just curious, try running the following command as root or using sudo:

cat /proc/partitions

The /proc/partitions file can be thought of as a peep-hole into your kernel, showing all the detected partitions on your system. It isn't really a good replacement for fdisk -l, for fdisk displays much more pertinent information, but I'm just curious what the proc file displays. It'd be awesome if you can post the results of that file.

Also, the following command should display connected CD/DVD drives:

wodim --devices

If wodim isn't installed by default, you should be able to install it using apt:

sudo apt-get install wodim

Sorry I have no fix for your fdisk issue, but perhaps with a little probing we can find out what's going on.

[rcgreen]

You must run the fdisk command as root.

[AdRock952]

You must run the fdisk command as root.

I was already using the root but still doesn't work

As for the output, I have no internet connection which is why i need to mount my cdrom to install driver for wireless card.

I did get something like this using the cat /proc/partitions

This isn't exactly the correct numbers at the beginning becuase i couldn't even mount a usb drive to copy the text file over onto here to post it. I had to copy what i saw on screen to here

major minor #blocks name rio rmerge rsect ruse wio wmerge wsect wuse

running use aveq
0 0 8797879879 adls5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 5867538673 adls2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 3748523795789 adls1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 8797879879 adls5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 5867538673 adls2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 3748523795789 adls1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 cd0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 3592654756873 ad1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 2389478975497 ad0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I tried that wodim command but it's not installed and when trying running apt, there is another error message probably becuase i don't have a working internet connection to get the update.

I can log into root to do any of these commands but i don't understand why fdisk doesn't do anything

[devils casper]

Try this

su -
hdparm -I /dev/sda
/sbin/fdisk -l

Post output here.

[AdRock952]

I've given up on that distro.....my network card isn't supported using Debian, only Ubuntu.

As soon as I get Ubuntu installed, I'll try again but I'm having a nightmare getting it installed becuase with no internet connection I can't download any installtion files etc.

I'm just reinstalling XP and then I'll try a Ubuntu version where you can install inside windblows becuase I've wasted so many cds trying to burn a copy that never installs becuase of bad burns.

[Rubberman]

What application are you using to burn the iso images to a CD/DVD? The one I have had the best results with for Windows systems for many years is Alcohol 120%. There is a free version, or you can get a trial version for free, that you can use to burn your discs. I have never had a coaster from this tool, though I recommend you enable burn-proof and as big a read-ahead buffer as it will give you (128MB or more).

[AdRock952]

What application are you using to burn the iso images to a CD/DVD? The one I have had the best results with for Windows systems for many years is Alcohol 120%. There is a free version, or you can get a trial version for free, that you can use to burn your discs. I have never had a coaster from this tool, though I recommend you enable burn-proof and as big a read-ahead buffer as it will give you (128MB or more).

I use Nero 8. I've wasted 3 cds so far trying to burn the ISO. Whenever I try and verify the burn, it shows loads of errors. When i did successfully burn a copy with no read errors, Ubuntu couldn't install becuase it said the disc was faulty and a bad burn

[Rubberman]

Hmmm. Well, Nero is a pretty decent burner tool for Windoze - I'd consider it as a reasonable alternative to Alcohol. At this point, one has to wonder about the DVD hardware itself. Have you tried a drive cleaning disc? What about creating a live USB device instead of a CD/DVD? Try using UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads to create a bootable USB thumb drive. Then boot from the resulting thumb drive. No CD/DVD required...

[AdRock952]

I would but the mobo is quite old and doesn't support booting from usb.

What if i try a different cd drive to install? What happens when i log in after switching the cd drive back (don't need it after install)...will it kick up a fuss?