mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

[iprogramcee]

Hello All,

I installed Gutsy Gibbon, (fresh install) not upgrade. After install I connected my second hdd, and mounted it by manipulating my fstab file. When I mounted, I don't have any of my files only a lost+found. Don't know what I did wrong.

here is how I mounted my second hdd: ext3 format
/************************************************** ********/
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/secondary auto defaults 0 0
/************************************************** ********/

I need help on how to mount properly, so that I may gain access to all files on my second hdd.


Thanks in advance for your help

[Snowhog]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

The second HD was an already formatted ext3 drive with files on it? Who is the userwner of the files on that drive? While I'm sure it won't make any difference at all, what happens if you change change the fstab entry as follows:

/dev/sdb1 /mnt/secondary ext3 defaults 0 2

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

Hello Snowhog,

Yes, the second hdd was already formatted as ext3 under feisty fawn with files on it. Therefore, I disconnected the second hdd and installed Gutsy Gibbon on my main hdd. After I installed gutsy gibbon, I reconnected the second hdd and mounted it accordingly. This probably does not work in this manner?

I tried, but it did not work.
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/secondary ext3 defaults 0 2


any further help?

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

oh and more thing, I did try chown and chmod but still to no avail.


sudo chown -R user:user /mnt/secondary
sudo chmod -R 755 /mnt/secondary

[Snowhog]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

With both HDs installed, copy and paste the following into a console shell:

sudo fdisk -l

Copy/paste the output for review.

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

root@amdnux:~# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9726 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0005377e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9349 75095811 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 9350 9726 3028252+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 9350 9726 3028221 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000501b5

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 30401 244196001 83 Linux

[Snowhog]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

Okay. Copy and paste into the console shell:

df -h -T

and copy/paste that output.

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

executive@amdnux:~$ df -h -T
Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1 ext3 71G 2.4G 65G 4% /
varrun tmpfs 506M 140K 506M 1% /var/run
varlock tmpfs 506M 0 506M 0% /var/lock
udev tmpfs 506M 64K 506M 1% /dev
devshm tmpfs 506M 0 506M 0% /dev/shm
lrm tmpfs 506M 34M 472M 7% /lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/volatile
/dev/sdb1 ext3 230G 188M 218G 1% /mnt/secondary

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

executive@amdnux:~$ df -h -T
Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1 ext3 71G 2.4G 65G 4% /
varrun tmpfs 506M 140K 506M 1% /var/run
varlock tmpfs 506M 0 506M 0% /var/lock
udev tmpfs 506M 64K 506M 1% /dev
devshm tmpfs 506M 0 506M 0% /dev/shm
lrm tmpfs 506M 34M 472M 7% /lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/volatile
/dev/sdb1 ext3 230G 188M 218G 1% /mnt/secondary

on my second hdd 'sdb1' it states that only 1% is used; yet, out a 230gb (250gb original size) size drive it is stating that 218gb is available. Henceforth, my files are there I just can't gain access to them.

[Snowhog]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

Okay. You have provided (IMHO) enough information concerning your system and the two HDs, that some of the more experienced members in the Forum should be able to point you in the right direction. The last command clearly shows that the second HD has a fair amount of data on it, even if 'at the moment' you can't access it. Take heart. This challenge can be resolved.

Watch for replies to this thread from Qqmike, SheeEttin, Dibl, just to name a few.

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

thanks snowhog for the help and words of hope. Hope is all I got for my data now

[Snowhog]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

Just on the oft chance, have you, when viewing the second drive, clicked on View | Show Hidden Files? I'd be curious if you see anything other than the single folder.

[iprogramcee]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

yes, I have. But did not see anything besides the lost+found folder.

another thought does it matter that the uid for my main hdd and second hdd is the same; in this case 83?


executive@amdnux:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9726 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0005377e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9349 75095811 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 9350 9726 3028252+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 9350 9726 3028221 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000501b5

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 30401 244196001 83 Linux

[Snowhog]

Re: mounting second hdd can not see files..... please help :/

No. 83 identifies the drive filesystem as ext3.