[SOLVED] Help needed formatting thumb drive

[DoYouKubuntu]

If you're interested in background info, see my other thread about this, particularly my last post in it.

Basically, I bought two, 1TB thumb drives which, when inserted in my new laptop, were identified as being formatted as exfat. During my zillion re-installs of 20.04, at one point, I tested one of them for case sensitivity, and it definitely, absolutely, positively, unequivocally respected case...and now it doesn't.

I'm now at a point with the laptop that I think the problems have been resolved, so I'm ready now to start backing things up on the thumb drives drive. The remaining usable thumb drive does not respect case. It thinks these are all the same file names:

a_file_with_stuff_in_it
a_FILE_with_stuff_in_it
A_File_With_Stuff_In_It
A_FILE_WITH_STUFF_IN_IT

and so on.

This isn't acceptable; I need case-sensitivity. In that other thread, you can see how things turned out on the other, now unusable thumb drive when I tried formatting it [as ext4].

I would be eternally grateful if some kind soul would walk me through the correct way to format an exfat 1TB thumb drive on 20.04. I'll use whichever program you prefer. Just tell me, step by step, what to do, how to answer prompts, what to put in certain fields, etc. I'd also very much like to give the drive a name that will persist.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[DoYouKubuntu]

[deleting as unnecessary]

[claydoh]

KDE partition manager should be fairly easy to figure out. You just need to format it as ext4 to have case sensitivity. And them deal with ownership and permissions.

You can use gparted which is much more well known.

https://linuxhint.com/gparted_ubuntu/

The steps are nearly if not 100% identical if using the KDE tool, as it is graphically a near clone of gparted.

The link even shows about setting a label which is how you set the name you want it to appear as.



I was going to say that using gparted to format drives has not changed in over 20 years but I would have been mistaken. It has only been around for 16.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

[Snowhog]

You might want to read through this: https://www.collabora.com/news-and-b...ature-in-ext4/

[DoYouKubuntu]

[deleting as unnecessary]

[Snowhog]

System Settings then scroll down to and click on Removable Storage > Removable Devices and then check the Enable automatic mounting of removable media and then check the Automatically mount removable media when attached and then click the Apply button.

[DoYouKubuntu]

System Settings then scroll down to and click on Removable Storage > Removable Devices and then check the Enable automatic mounting of removable media and then check the Automatically mount removable media when attached and then click the Apply button.

Thanks, @Snowhog, but I'd done that as soon as my [most recent] reinstall was up and running.

[deleting as unnecessary]

[DoYouKubuntu]

[deleting as unnecessary]

[DoYouKubuntu]

Well, I honestly can't remember ever feeling this stupid, this inept, or this incapable. And all I'm trying to do is USE a thumb drive. A plug-and-play USB thumb drive.

Fresh this morning, I took the one still formatted as exfat, and fired up gParted. I stepped through what seemed like perfectly easy, straightforward steps that ended without issue; unlike KDE Partition Manager, it neither requested nor required a mount point. I chose to format it as ext4, and gave it the label I wanted. Lots of green checkmarks later, it was done. Great!

Wrong...

In gParted, I can't mount it; that's grayed out. Taking it out and sticking it back in makes Device Notifier pop up with its expected three options...all of which fail to do ANYTHING...even spit out an error message. Nothing. I just click one of them, like 'open in file manager' or 'download photos with digiKam' and NOTHING happens.

It is not in /media/<username> as it was before formatting it.

I sound like such an idiot that even *I* am starting to doubt that I, and I ALONE, actually ran the computer systems at two consecutive companies, spanning decades! That I was the highest-paid employee at both companies! [They were both family-owned; the owners were the only ones who made more than me.] A &%#!(%#$ newbie couldn't be this stupid...

[jglen490]

After you plug in one of those drives, what does dmesg show. That will give you more clues about the state of the USB drive, upon insertion.

[DoYouKubuntu]

After you plug in one of those drives, what does dmesg show. That will give you more clues about the state of the USB drive, upon insertion.

dmesg | grep usb
[    0.328435] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
[    0.328435] usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
[    0.328435] usbcore: registered new device driver usb
[    0.713643] usb usb1: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0002, bcdDevice= 5.04
[    0.713644] usb usb1: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
[    0.713645] usb usb1: Product: xHCI Host Controller
[    0.713646] usb usb1: Manufacturer: Linux 5.4.0-54-generic xhci-hcd
[    0.713647] usb usb1: SerialNumber: 0000:00:14.0
[    0.715791] usb usb2: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0003, bcdDevice= 5.04
[    0.715792] usb usb2: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
[    0.715793] usb usb2: Product: xHCI Host Controller
[    0.715794] usb usb2: Manufacturer: Linux 5.4.0-54-generic xhci-hcd
[    0.715795] usb usb2: SerialNumber: 0000:00:14.0
[    0.716440] usb: port power management may be unreliable
[    1.611053] usb 1-1: new full-speed USB device number 2 using xhci_hcd
[    1.778824] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=c52b, bcdDevice=12.10
[    1.778825] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[    1.778826] usb 1-1: Product: USB Receiver
[    1.778826] usb 1-1: Manufacturer: Logitech
[    1.904521] usb 1-2: new high-speed USB device number 3 using xhci_hcd
[    7.100775] usb 1-2: device descriptor read/64, error -110
[    7.357362] usb 1-2: New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=04d2, bcdDevice= 1.00
[    7.357363] usb 1-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[    7.357363] usb 1-2: Product: UDisk           
[    7.357364] usb 1-2: Manufacturer: General 
[    7.357364] usb 1-2: SerialNumber: 2001162001387172748415
[    7.484764] usb 1-8: new high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[    7.650579] usb 1-8: New USB device found, idVendor=04f2, idProduct=b685, bcdDevice=54.04
[    7.650580] usb 1-8: New USB device strings: Mfr=2, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
[    7.650581] usb 1-8: Product: Chicony USB2.0 Camera
[    7.650581] usb 1-8: Manufacturer: Sonix Technology Co., Ltd.
[    7.780763] usb 1-14: new full-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
[    7.931488] usb 1-14: New USB device found, idVendor=8087, idProduct=0026, bcdDevice= 0.02
[    7.931489] usb 1-14: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[    7.935918] usb-storage 1-2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[    7.935969] scsi host5: usb-storage 1-2:1.0
[    7.936013] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
[    7.936626] input: Logitech USB Receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/0003:046D:C52B.0002/input/input17
[    7.936752] usbcore: registered new interface driver uas
[    7.996643] hid-generic 0003:046D:C52B.0002: input,hidraw1: USB HID v1.11 Keyboard [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input0
[    7.998370] input: Logitech USB Receiver Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.1/0003:046D:C52B.0003/input/input18
[    7.998503] input: Logitech USB Receiver Consumer Control as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.1/0003:046D:C52B.0003/input/input19
[    8.056893] input: Logitech USB Receiver System Control as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.1/0003:046D:C52B.0003/input/input20
[    8.057087] hid-generic 0003:046D:C52B.0003: input,hiddev0,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input1
[    8.058522] hid-generic 0003:046D:C52B.0004: hiddev1,hidraw3: USB HID v1.11 Device [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input2
[    8.058539] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid
[    8.058540] usbhid: USB HID core driver
[    8.241080] logitech-djreceiver 0003:046D:C52B.0004: hiddev0,hidraw1: USB HID v1.11 Device [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input2
[    8.361769] input: Logitech Unifying Device. Wireless PID:1028 Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.2/0003:046D:C52B.0004/0003:046D:1028.0005/input/input22
[    8.361866] hid-generic 0003:046D:1028.0005: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Logitech Unifying Device. Wireless PID:1028] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input2:1
[    8.407803] input: Logitech M570 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.2/0003:046D:C52B.0004/0003:046D:1028.0005/input/input26
[    8.407942] logitech-hidpp-device 0003:046D:1028.0005: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Logitech M570] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input2:1
[    8.995627] usbcore: registered new interface driver btusb
[    9.006217] input: Chicony USB2.0 Camera: Chicony  as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/input/input28
[    9.110858] audit: type=1400 audit(1605920955.176:5): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" profile="unconfined" name="ippusbxd" pid=652 comm="apparmor_parser"
[    9.148633] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
[  563.322508] usb 1-2: USB disconnect, device number 3
[  568.812615] usb 1-2: new high-speed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
[  568.961465] usb 1-2: New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=04d2, bcdDevice= 1.00
[  568.961471] usb 1-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[  568.961476] usb 1-2: Product: UDisk           
[  568.961479] usb 1-2: Manufacturer: General 
[  568.961481] usb 1-2: SerialNumber: 2001162001387172748415
[  568.962605] usb-storage 1-2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[  568.963081] scsi host5: usb-storage 1-2:1.0
[ 2343.707324] usb 1-2: USB disconnect, device number 6
[65660.324317] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 2
[65666.203396] usb 1-1: new full-speed USB device number 7 using xhci_hcd
[65666.354590] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=c52b, bcdDevice=12.10
[65666.354597] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[65666.354601] usb 1-1: Product: USB Receiver
[65666.354604] usb 1-1: Manufacturer: Logitech
[65666.364679] logitech-djreceiver 0003:046D:C52B.0008: hiddev0,hidraw1: USB HID v1.11 Device [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input2
[65666.493631] input: Logitech M570 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.2/0003:046D:C52B.0008/0003:046D:1028.0009/input/input43
[65666.494261] logitech-hidpp-device 0003:046D:1028.0009: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Logitech M570] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1/input2:1
[65714.461002] usb 1-6: new high-speed USB device number 8 using xhci_hcd
[65714.609647] usb 1-6: New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=04d2, bcdDevice= 1.00
[65714.609652] usb 1-6: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[65714.609655] usb 1-6: Product: UDisk           
[65714.609657] usb 1-6: Manufacturer: General 
[65714.609659] usb 1-6: SerialNumber: Љ
[65714.610828] usb-storage 1-6:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[65714.611093] scsi host5: usb-storage 1-6:1.0
[66710.684481] usb 1-6: USB disconnect, device number 8
[66730.985275] usb 1-6: new high-speed USB device number 9 using xhci_hcd
[66731.133905] usb 1-6: New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=04d2, bcdDevice= 1.00
[66731.133910] usb 1-6: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[66731.133914] usb 1-6: Product: UDisk           
[66731.133917] usb 1-6: Manufacturer: General 
[66731.133919] usb 1-6: SerialNumber: Љ
[66731.135235] usb-storage 1-6:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[66731.135804] scsi host5: usb-storage 1-6:1.0
[67102.705007] usb 1-6: USB disconnect, device number 9
[67110.194903] usb 1-2: new high-speed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
[67110.343438] usb 1-2: New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=04d2, bcdDevice= 1.00
[67110.343442] usb 1-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[67110.343445] usb 1-2: Product: UDisk           
[67110.343447] usb 1-2: Manufacturer: General 
[67110.343449] usb 1-2: SerialNumber: Љ
[67110.344784] usb-storage 1-2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[67110.345322] scsi host5: usb-storage 1-2:1.0
[67941.916923] usb 1-2: USB disconnect, device number 10
[67950.163462] usb 1-6: new high-speed USB device number 11 using xhci_hcd
[67950.312097] usb 1-6: New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=04d2, bcdDevice= 1.00
[67950.312103] usb 1-6: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[67950.312106] usb 1-6: Product: UDisk           
[67950.312108] usb 1-6: Manufacturer: General 
[67950.312110] usb 1-6: SerialNumber: Љ
[67950.313500] usb-storage 1-6:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[67950.313903] scsi host5: usb-storage 1-6:1.0

[jglen490]

So it's finding the hardware, including on different USB ports. It's just not mounting the filesystem.

[DoYouKubuntu]

So it's finding the hardware, including on different USB ports. It's just not mounting the filesystem.

Right. And that's where I'm stumped. In all these years--ever since PNP became a thing--I've never had to mount a USB device. I simply plugged it in, and that was that. The computer recognized it, I could do whatever I wanted with it, and when done, I'd just yank it out.

So I now have two, brand-new, 1TB thumb drives, formatted as ext4 and named as I want...but completely useless! How on earth do I use them?!

[DoYouKubuntu]

Bumpety...bump...bump...bump...

As noted, I now have two, brand-new, 1TB thumb drives, formatted as ext4 and named as I want...but they're completely useless, as plugging them in does not mount them and any 'mount' options in gParted, KDE Partition Manager, etc., are grayed out. Plugging them in DOES bring up Device Notifier...but that bombs out. It does NOTHING when I choose any of its three choices. So...how on earth do I use them?! I'd return them as defective except for one thing: they're not! I'm not going to lie just to get a refund. They're formatted and named as I want. I just can't use them.

[jlittle]

Have you tried mounting them as root, from the command line?

Another idea - from the dmesg output, I suspect they are USB 3 drives, which, in my limited experience, due to the fracturing of the USB 3 standard can be choosy about what USB ports they will work in. I suggest checking the specs of the USB ports in your laptop, and the thumb drives if possible. It's conceivable that the only USB port that will cope with them is a type C port, and, be aware not all type C to type A adapter cables are equal.