Can't Format Partition

[jazzyjerome]

---

root@darkstar:~# mke2fs -j /dev/hdc4
mke2fs 1.38 (30-Jun-2005)
/dev/hdc4: Invalid argument passed to ext2 library while setting up superblock
root@darkstar:~#


oot@darkstar:~# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hdg: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77545 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1008 * 512 = 516096 bytes

Disk /dev/hdg doesn't contain a valid partition table
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: invalid flag 0xfffff313 of partition table 5 will be corrected by w(rite)

Disk /dev/hde: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hde1 2 4717 37881270 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hde2 * 4718 9730 40266922+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hde5 ? 141386 166269 199875215+ be Solaris boot

Disk /dev/hdc: 40.0 GB, 40016019456 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/hdc2 14 136 987997+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc3 137 745 4891792+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc4 746 3785 24418800 5 Extended
/dev/hdc5 746 868 987966 83 Linux
/dev/hdc6 869 1053 1485981 82 Linux swap
root@darkstar:~#

[devils casper]

/dev/hdc4 746 3785 24418800 5 Extended

hdc4 is an Extended Partition. you can't format Extended Partition coz its just a pointer to Logical Partitions. hdc5 and hdc6 are Logical Partitions. to understand this better, try GParted LiveCD. it has GUI.

[jazzyjerome]

Can it be done using Fdisk? I know it's harder than a gui utility but I'm trying to learn.

[devils casper]

No. as i mentioned earlier, Extended Partition is not a partition itself. it just a pointer to Logical Partitions. its like a frame that contains all Logical Partitions.
you can format Primary and Logical Partitions only.

[jazzyjerome]

How do I make a logical drive?

[devils casper]

check this tutorial. if you couldn't understand any part, do post back.

[jazzyjerome]

Thanks I will let you know either way.

[jazzyjerome]

I read that and I didn't get how he came up with a logical drive.

[devils casper]

here is an example....

if you dont have any Extended Partition, fdisk will display these options

fdisk /dev/hda
.........
Command (m for help): n
Command action
   e   extended
   p   primary partition (1-4)

press 'e' to create an Extended Partition.
after creating Extended Partition, execute 'fdisk /dev/hda' again. output will be

fdisk /dev/hda
.......
Command (m for help): n
Command action
   l   logical (5 or over)
   p   primary partition (1-4)

press 'l' to create Logical Partition. Logical Partition number start from 5.
1-4 is reserved for 4 Primary OR 3 Primary + 1 Extended Partition.

i hope it helps....

[jazzyjerome]

How do I get rid of the one I have?
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/hdc2 14 136 987997+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc3 137 745 4891792+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc4 746 928 1469947+ 5 Extended
/dev/hdc5 746 928 1469916 83 Linux
root@darkstar:~#

I want to delete hdc4 and 5