a disklabel that won't stick

ext4 · 07-02-2009, 06:14 PM

So, I don't mean a disklabel like giving the disk a name. This is a disklabel, like msdos, amiga, bsd, dvh, gpt, mac, pc98, sun, or loop. Understand that?

Anyway, later down the path of this story, I'm finally ready to install XP on the spare hard drive. So, I boot into a Linux LiveCD to give the drive a fresh coat of NTFS. Easy peasy, things look good. Unfortunately, when I tried to install, the filesystem was GONE. Ugh. I booted back into Linux and checked on it and sure enough, no filesystem. Well, if at first you don't succeed, try try again, right? Apparently not. I tried to put NTFS on again, but GParted said the volume needed a disklabel first. Fine. I put on a msdos disklabel, it appears successful. Except, when GParted rescans the volumes, guess what, it's gone. It doesn't stick.

Has anyone here had experience with this / have any ideas?

BTW, it just occurred to me, I'm going to try putting some other disklabels on it and see if they work.

**linderman** · 07-02-2009, 06:31 PM

dude; your complicating simplicity

wipe the drive with the free version of bootable Killdisk

then use the free partition program called EASEUS Partition Manager Home Edition to partition and format the drive ............this way is quick as can be ......right to NTFS

YouTube - Easeus Partition Manager Free

ext4 · 07-03-2009, 11:16 AM

Ummm, well, yeah, I would have been way and away and minding my own business if it was that simple, I think. In any case, I'll take a stab with Killdisk and see what happens.

ext4 · 07-03-2009, 11:21 AM

Actually, I've already wiped the drive with dd, so it's a moot point. And I would format if I could.

Do you understand what I'm getting at? Maybe reread my first post?

Edit: I guess I didn't put this in my first post: Gparted needs a disklabel on a volume before it will format it. And Windows Setup from a CD will not format the volume. Blegh.

**linderman** · 07-03-2009, 12:17 PM

windows format is horrible ...........try the easeUS .......what have you got to lose

have you tried formatting from another machine ?

may need to run the drive manuf's diagnostic utility on the drive

Dariks boot n nuke (free) will also wipe and give you information if the disk is in an odd state or mechanically not right >>>>start with that; it usually always gives you hints that you didnt know before when problems arise with a disk

ext4 · 07-05-2009, 06:27 PM

Thanks for the reply, linderman.

Yeah, maybe Windows format is horrible, but I think GParted would get the job done if it could be done.

I think I did try and find something to the effect of a manufacturer utility, but somewhat unsuccessfully. It's a Maxtor. Do you know where to get the right utility for that?

And.. I might take a look at Darik's Boot And Nuke. Thanks for the tip.

**linderman** · 07-06-2009, 03:58 AM

seagate is now the manuf of maxtor drives ..........therefore you would use "seatools"

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

07-02-2009, 06:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
ext4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 OS: WinXP SP3, Ubuntu 9.04	a disklabel that won't stick So, I don't mean a disklabel like giving the disk a name. This is a disklabel, like msdos, amiga, bsd, dvh, gpt, mac, pc98, sun, or loop. Understand that? Anyway, later down the path of this story, I'm finally ready to install XP on the spare hard drive. So, I boot into a Linux LiveCD to give the drive a fresh coat of NTFS. Easy peasy, things look good. Unfortunately, when I tried to install, the filesystem was GONE. Ugh. I booted back into Linux and checked on it and sure enough, no filesystem. Well, if at first you don't succeed, try try again, right? Apparently not. I tried to put NTFS on again, but GParted said the volume needed a disklabel first. Fine. I put on a msdos disklabel, it appears successful. Except, when GParted rescans the volumes, guess what, it's gone. It doesn't stick. Has anyone here had experience with this / have any ideas? BTW, it just occurred to me, I'm going to try putting some other disklabels on it and see if they work.

07-02-2009, 06:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,440 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: a disklabel that won't stick dude; your complicating simplicity wipe the drive with the free version of bootable Killdisk then use the free partition program called EASEUS Partition Manager Home Edition to partition and format the drive ............this way is quick as can be ......right to NTFS YouTube - Easeus Partition Manager Free __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

07-03-2009, 11:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
ext4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 OS: WinXP SP3, Ubuntu 9.04	Re: a disklabel that won't stick Ummm, well, yeah, I would have been way and away and minding my own business if it was that simple, I think. In any case, I'll take a stab with Killdisk and see what happens.

07-03-2009, 11:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
ext4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 OS: WinXP SP3, Ubuntu 9.04	Re: a disklabel that won't stick Actually, I've already wiped the drive with dd, so it's a moot point. And I would format if I could. Do you understand what I'm getting at? Maybe reread my first post? Edit: I guess I didn't put this in my first post: Gparted needs a disklabel on a volume before it will format it. And Windows Setup from a CD will not format the volume. Blegh. Last edited by ext4; 07-03-2009 at 11:24 AM.

07-03-2009, 12:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,440 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: a disklabel that won't stick windows format is horrible ...........try the easeUS .......what have you got to lose have you tried formatting from another machine ? may need to run the drive manuf's diagnostic utility on the drive Dariks boot n nuke (free) will also wipe and give you information if the disk is in an odd state or mechanically not right >>>>start with that; it usually always gives you hints that you didnt know before when problems arise with a disk __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial Last edited by linderman; 07-03-2009 at 12:22 PM.

07-05-2009, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
ext4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 OS: WinXP SP3, Ubuntu 9.04	Re: a disklabel that won't stick Thanks for the reply, linderman. Yeah, maybe Windows format is horrible, but I think GParted would get the job done if it could be done. I think I did try and find something to the effect of a manufacturer utility, but somewhat unsuccessfully. It's a Maxtor. Do you know where to get the right utility for that? And.. I might take a look at Darik's Boot And Nuke. Thanks for the tip.

07-06-2009, 03:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,440 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: a disklabel that won't stick seagate is now the manuf of maxtor drives ..........therefore you would use "seatools" http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial