[Zeppfan]

Hi guys.

Here is my dilemma.

I have a dual boot desktop with Windows XP on first drive and Fedora Core 2 on second drive.

I cannot reformat the second drive because the drive letter will not list.
I also cannot repartition the second hard drive thru Partition Magic because this program only lists the first drive.

Where did my drive go and how do I make it visible again?

[Bartender]

You have 2 separate drives, not 2 partitions on one drive, right?

Did the 2nd drive just disappear one day? Or has it never been visible from Windows? More details, please. I mean, it sounds like the HDD failed but it could be a loose data cable, loose power connection, maybe your power supply lost a rail...

Can you open the case and put a finger on the 2nd drive? Need to make sure it's spinning. Did you make any changes in your BIOS that might affect hardware recognition? Probly not but thot I'd mention it...

EDIT - I want to add something. Have read several times on Ubuntu Forums that Partition Magic is flaky. Most guys seem to prefer the GParted LiveCD for partitioning projects.

[Omega_Shadow]

Other then what bartender asked, Can you boot FC? If so, you might actually have 1 100gig drive split into two partitions. But we need more info to be sure. Please answer all the questions Bartender has asked and we will see what we can do about getting a new distro on there for you.

It might be important to note also that if it is a different Linux OS that you want, most installs give you the choice to format and install into existing Linux partitions. AKA, no need to format before the install process.

BTW Bartender, Awesome Link. Going to have to bookmark that. Any other goodies you hiding?

[lotuseclat79]

Gparted is the Gnome Partition Editor which is part of Ubuntu 6.0.6 LTS (a Live CD) and is not the Gparted Live CD which is just GParted on its own Live CD (I believe).

-- Tom

[Omega_Shadow]

The link goes to the GpartedLiveCD

[Zeppfan]

Bartender,

This drive was visible before I wiped it. I did a clean install of Windows XP and still the secodn drive is not visible. It still lists in my hcl and is also enabled and working. I even reinstalled the driver and still no drive is apparent.

[saikee]

That is a lie.

All drives show up in Windows. You have to know where to find it.

At a hardware level it will be displayed in "disk management" (right click my computer, then left click manage/storage/disk management).

Regardless if the disk has been wiped or not Windows does not support Linux and can't read its partitions and so cannot display its partition on the desktop and so Linux drives and partitions are shown up as foreign in the disk management program and nowhere else.

Just click any of them and format it into Fat or NTFS filing system.

Only partitions formatted in Fat or NTFS partitions can be "mounted" by Windows and visible in the desktop.

Think about it because there is no other way.

[Bartender]

Good morning, everyone!
Well, it's morning here anyway, still zero-dark-thirty in Western Washington but couldn't sleep so here I am.
AFAIK the GnomeLiveCD (GLCD) is the everything-but-the-kitchen sink partitioner, whereas the Gnome Partition Editor available on the Ubuntu CD's is a stripped version. Still the same basic functionality, but I imagine they had to carve off some of the options to save space on the Ubuntu CD.
I think having the GLCD as a stand-alone tool is neat. For me, it was helpful (and educational) to go into a HDD with the GLCD and make the partitions first. Then, when I was deep into the steps of an Ubuntu install, it was reassuring to get to the partitioning page and see the partitions I'd built earlier.
Being there myself a few times, I can imagine that a lot of people who have tried to install Ubuntu (or whatever distro) find themselves unsure of what they're doing but soldiering on deeper and deeper into unknown territory. By the time they get to the partitioning page they're on the verge of panic. Breaking the process down into "bite-size" steps makes sense to me.
Omega, you asked about other tidbits - since becoming obsessed with Linux I've had to totally reorganize my Firefox bookmarks to make room for dozens of Linux links. I'd lose track of 'em so had to start making folders; GRUB, multi-boot, laptops, guides, etc. There's so much info online but keeping track of it and making it accessible is the challenge.

Zeppfan - you say the 2nd HDD still lists in your hcl. I haven't had enuf coffee yet. What's "hcl"? Saikee is right, of course (very smart man) even if Windows can't read the data on the drive it should still be able to see that there's a drive.

Can you tell us please - what pieces of software detect the drive? Does your BIOS main page see the second drive? Is it identified with a name? (my BIOS calls a Seagate 120 GB "ST1200035" or something like that) Does Windows Explorer see the drive? If you follow saikee's instructions, what happens there? What happens if you unplug your Windows HDD from the data cable and restart the PC with just the second drive plugged in? That last question could make things worse because we then start getting into questions of jumpers, master or slave, etc. That is, if your PC is PATA. Is it PATA, with the big wide data ribbon cable, or SATA, with the thin data cable?

I'm trying to think of what I'd try next...if, as you indicate, the drive is functional, I think the next thing I'd do is unplug the Windows HDD and run just the 2nd drive. See what happens in BIOS, etc. Can't think of why a 2nd drive would disappear after re-loading Windows on the first drive - wait a minute - you re-installed Windows recently?

D'oh! If you just recently reinstalled Windows on the first drive you wiped out Fedora Core's bootloader. This should not be a big deal, just gotta reinstall it. I don't know if that's GRUB or LILO or what. I'm sure there are lots of posts on how to do that in Fedora. It comes up all the time in the Ubuntu Forums.

saikee, what's FC's bootloader?

[saikee]

Bartender

The installers of FC2 to FC5 offered Grub by default in my case. I believe one can get Lilo but never try it myself as it doesn't matter to me. For chainloading a FC all one needs is to have the boot loader installed "inside" the root partition.

[Omega_Shadow]

Originally Posted by saikee

That is a lie.

Could you tone it down a little bit. Not everyone is as advanced as you are. Yes, we all know what you did to your computer, and it is freaking awesome and something I hope to one day do to mine. But people coming here ARE JUST LEARNING. They don't know where to find the information they seek. It is up to us to guide them with a gentle hand. A "RTFM" response does not help. Please consider the other member's skill level and treat them accordingly.

[Davec]

FC 6 is Grub also.

[saikee]

Omega_shadow,

I was trying to have a bit of fun on a serious subject. Never have any intention to offend anyone or intending to be harsh, as my post proceeds to show the way out, then followed by a few explanations and concluded with an important tip to think logically.

I welcome critcisms and world appologise if Zeppan finds it offensive. I did have the intention to sharpen his/her thought and view the ability to find one own hard disks/partitions as fundamental. Equally I felt by confronting one's mistake is also a easier/better/faster way to learn things.

[Omega_Shadow]

Your point is seen. Your posts just seem kinda harsh to me. Everyone has their own since of humor and I think I just didn't pick up on yours in your post.