Cannot create partition: "Unable to read /dev/sdd"

[antiartist]

I connected a new internal HDD to my headless ubuntu server and would like to partition it so I can copy my existing system disk to it (the existing disk is way low on free space and the new disk is larger.)

The disk shows in /dev/sdd (there is not sdd1 or any partitions showing). Yet the new disk does not show up using fdisk -l and attempts to mount keep referring to fstab.

tom@HouseMedia:/$ mount /dev/sdd
mount: can't find /dev/sdd in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab
tom@HouseMedia:/$ mount /dev/sdd1
mount: can't find /dev/sdd1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab

I had previously mounted and partition this drive but after using dd to restore a disk image of my existing system disk, the new disk was still empty. I'm a little lost on what exactly is wrong and would appreciate some help on getting back to square one again!

[bab1]

I connected a new internal HDD to my headless ubuntu server and would like to partition it so I can copy my existing system disk to it (the existing disk is way low on free space and the new disk is larger.)

The disk shows in /dev/sdd (there is not sdd1 or any partitions showing). Yet the new disk does not show up using fdisk -l and attempts to mount keep referring to fstab.

tom@HouseMedia:/$ mount /dev/sdd
mount: can't find /dev/sdd in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab
tom@HouseMedia:/$ mount /dev/sdd1
mount: can't find /dev/sdd1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab

I had previously mounted and partition this drive but after using dd to restore a disk image of my existing system disk, the new disk was still empty. I'm a little lost on what exactly is wrong and would appreciate some help on getting back to square one again!

You need to partition the new disk (fdisk and mk2fs) before you can mount it. If the disk is larger than 2GB then you will need to use parted (gparted) to partition the disk.

In any event you mount partitions (sdd1) not disks (sdd).

[antiartist]

You need to partition the new disk (fdisk and mk2fs) before you can mount it. If the disk is larger than 2GB then you will need to use parted (gparted) to partition the disk.

In any event you mount partitions (sdd1) not disks (sdd).

Thanks for the clarification about what I'm mounting (partitions, not disks). I get confused

Using fdisk to create the partitions isn't working...

tom@HouseMedia:~$ sudo fdisk /dev/sdd
[sudo] password for tom:

Unable to read /dev/sdd
tom@HouseMedia:~$

Both disks are less than 2 TB (which is what I assume you meant, not 2 GB).

[bab1]

Thanks for the clarification about what I'm mounting (partitions, not disks). I get confused

Using fdisk to create the partitions isn't working...

tom@HouseMedia:~$ sudo fdisk /dev/sdd
[sudo] password for tom:

Unable to read /dev/sdd
tom@HouseMedia:~$

Both disks are less than 2 TB (which is what I assume you meant, not 2 GB).

Yes I meant 2TB.

Post the output of

sudo fdisk -l

[antiartist]

The disk doesn't show in fdisk -l

tom@HouseMedia:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 10.3 GB, 10254827520 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1246 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00018313

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        1188     9537536   83  Linux
/dev/sda2            1188        1247      474113    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            1188        1247      474112   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0005f5c2

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1       38913   312568641    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 1500.3 GB, 1500301910016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 182401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x3e6caab7

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               1      182401  1465136001    7  HPFS/NTFS
tom@HouseMedia:~$

[bab1]

The disk doesn't show in fdisk -l

tom@HouseMedia:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 10.3 GB, 10254827520 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1246 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00018313

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        1188     9537536   83  Linux
/dev/sda2            1188        1247      474113    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            1188        1247      474112   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0005f5c2

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1       38913   312568641    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 1500.3 GB, 1500301910016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 182401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x3e6caab7

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               1      182401  1465136001    7  HPFS/NTFS
tom@HouseMedia:~$

If it can't see it it can't partition it. How is the HDD attached (internal, USB or eSATA)? If it is USB then what do you get with

lsusb

Edit: What do you get if with this

sudo lshw