Ubuntu does not recognize one of my disks..

[garyl]

Hello all -

I've just installed Ubuntu for the first time, replacing Windows. For some reason Ubuntu does not 'see' one of the two hard disks installed in my machine. I can't access it at all. The partition editor only recognizes one disk, but unfortunately most of my data and files are on the other one.

Any help will be much appreciated. I definitely don't want to go back to Windows but I need to be able to access both disks.

[starcannon]

What file system is on the other disk? NTFS? fat32? or other?

Strange that its not seeing it, likely that it is, but since your not used to linux file browsers you could be looking in the wrong place.

Either way I'm sure one of us can help you locate your files.

[Elfy]

It might help to open a terminal (in accessories) and run this command - it will ask for password - use your normal one, but be aware it won't show as you type it. Paste the output into a new post.

sudo fdisk -l

[coffeecat]

Also - check in the BIOS that the BIOS is seeing both discs.

If it is, then try what forestpixie suggests. By the way, when you highlight, copy and paste into the message board from the terminal, use the edit menu - keyboard shortcuts are different in the terminal.

[starcannon]

Ctrl-C to copy from regular programs, like Firefox

Shift-Ctrl-V to paste into the terminal (just add a shift key to the regular copy/cut/paste keys when working in terminal)

[coffeecat]

Ctrl-C to copy from regular programs, like Firefox

Shift-Ctrl-V to paste into the terminal (just add a shift key to the regular copy/cut/paste keys when working in terminal)

Actually, the OP will want to do it the other way around. :) Output of fdisk > firefox. I should have been clearer and said 'use the edit menu in the terminal'. But thanks for clarifying what I posted.

[starcannon]

Actually, the OP will want to do it the other way around. :) Output of fdisk > firefox. I should have been clearer and said 'use the edit menu in the terminal'. But thanks for clarifying what I posted.

Lol sorry, I prolly just added confusion.

OP: Anyway the jist(or jest as the case may be) of it is, in normal everyday programs CTRL-X/C/V act normally, in a terminal add the SHIFT key.

Hope I didn't cause more harm than good.

[Elfy]

Although it might be useful for the op to know about pasting with the middle button, if his mouse has one. Highlight with mouse text to copy and then when you are in the post - click with middle button.


Also - check in the BIOS that the BIOS is seeing both discs.I spent 2 hours fiddling about until I remembered to check in BIOS that the disc was recognised - I'd managed to install to it but grub wouldn't work :)

[garyl]

Thanks - ran fdisk -l and here is the result:

gary@gary-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x73da73da

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 122 979933+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 123 9729 77168227+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 5100 6119 8193118+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda6 6120 6145 208813+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 6146 9729 28788448+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8 123 487 2931799+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda9 488 5099 37045858+ 83 Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

The second disk of about 120 Gigabytes, still seems to be out to lunch.

[Elfy]

Is BIOS recognising it.

[garyl]

Yep. Bios recognizes it as a secondary master. It's an ordinary Western Digital disk, nothing exotic.

[Elfy]

Well not sure then - I did have a problem where the disc was seen on the main BIOS page but the Access Mode needed to be changed to Auto, then it was seen without any problem.

But it appears to be a bit odd that the disc worked ok with win and isn't seen at all by ubuntu or gparted, have you tried with bootable editor like partedmagic or gparted or the one on the buntu livecd.