[ solved ] Can not format USB stick

[wedgetail]

I am experimenting with running KDE32-mini in RAM and to do that I have Installed Mini to a Sony 2 GB USB stick, I have used 2 of those before. I happened to take the one with FAT32 formatting, so no big deal I thought:

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# mkfs -t ext4 /dev/sde1
mke2fs 1.42 (29-Nov-2011)
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
122400 inodes, 489464 blocks
24473 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=503316480
15 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
8160 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
        32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912

Allocating group tables: done                           
Writing inode tables: done                           
Creating journal (8192 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
[root@localhost gert]#

Looking fair enough I thought, so I installed KDE32-mini, checked later with Dolphint, yes the system is there.

When it came to boo on the Toshiba Tecra M5 laptop, I get OS not found.  Hmmmmm

Well eventually I did

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# fdisk -l /dev/sde

Disk /dev/sde: 2004 MB, 2004877312 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243 cylinders, total 3915776 sectors                                                   
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes                                                                               
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes                                                               
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes                                                                   
Disk identifier: 0x0217934c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sde1   *          63     3915775     1957856+   b  W95 FAT32
[root@localhost gert]#

Appears the file system did not change.   I have repeated the this 3 times because first I used mkfs normally I always use mke2fs

I must have missed something.  Any suggestions

Extra Information:
When trying to use PCC Mange Disks I get following message, but there is no partition information in the Bar above, just whit space, not the usual partition icons.

Device: sde
Size: 1.8GB
Geometry: 1018 cylinders, 62 heads, 62 sectors
Name: 2A081118C4042
Medium type: hd
Partition table type: table::dos
on channel 0 id 0

[Old-Polack]

I am experimenting with running KDE32-mini in RAM and to do that I have Installed Mini to a Sony 2 GB USB stick, I have used 2 of those before. I happened to take the one with FAT32 formatting, so no big deal I thought:

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# mkfs -t ext4 /dev/sde1
mke2fs 1.42 (29-Nov-2011)
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
122400 inodes, 489464 blocks
24473 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=503316480
15 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
8160 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
        32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912

Allocating group tables: done                           
Writing inode tables: done                           
Creating journal (8192 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
[root@localhost gert]#

Looking fair enough I thought, so I installed KDE32-mini, checked later with Dolphint, yes the system is there.

When it came to boo on the Toshiba Tecra M5 laptop, I get OS not found.  Hmmmmm

Well eventually I did

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# fdisk -l /dev/sde

Disk /dev/sde: 2004 MB, 2004877312 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243 cylinders, total 3915776 sectors                                                   
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes                                                                               
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes                                                               
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes                                                                   
Disk identifier: 0x0217934c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sde1   *          63     3915775     1957856+   b  W95 FAT32
[root@localhost gert]#

Appears the file system did not change.   I have repeated the this 3 times because first I used mkfs normally I always use mke2fs

I must have missed something.  Any suggestions

Extra Information:
When trying to use PCC Mange Disks I get following message, but there is no partition information in the Bar above, just whit space, not the usual partition icons.

Device: sde
Size: 1.8GB
Geometry: 1018 cylinders, 62 heads, 62 sectors
Name: 2A081118C4042
Medium type: hd
Partition table type: table::dos
on channel 0 id 0

First:

[root@localhost ~]# blkid |grep sde                      <Enter>

Odds are it shows an ext4 filesystem. If so;

Next:

[root@localhost ~]# fdisk /dev/sde                         <Enter>

At the prompt:
t
83
p
w

[wedgetail]

Old-Polack
Thank you very much, you were right:

[root@localhost gert]#  blkid |grep sde
/dev/sde1: LABEL="KDE32-mini" UUID="0bb051c7-e879-4dc3-9424-1b97ec1a7ae6" TYPE="ext4"
[root@localhost gert]#

Have fixed it and get the expected response to fdisk -l /dev/sde

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# fdisk -l /dev/sde

Disk /dev/sde: 2004 MB, 2004877312 bytes
42 heads, 42 sectors/track, 2219 cylinders, total 3915776 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0217934c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sde1            2048     3915775     1956864   83  Linux
[root@localhost gert]#

Just for the exercise I also reloaded the KDE32-mini on the stick.  I am trying to figure out if the system will respond faster if loaded into RAM but I am starting to think that I am pushing it with only 1 GB on the laptop.

I tried a quick search for RAM requirement to run PCLinuxOS but have not had much luck so far.  Does anyone have quick rule of thumb for how much is required for simple basics, a bit of internet searching, emails, viewing pdf files.

Added::
Naah, two hard with small screen, keyboard and touchpad. I will just live with the installed KDE32 it will do when I need to run a konsole via the DB9 connector to electronic instrumentation.

I will mark this as solved.

[Old-Polack]

Old-Polack
Thank you very much, you were right:

[root@localhost gert]#  blkid |grep sde
/dev/sde1: LABEL="KDE32-mini" UUID="0bb051c7-e879-4dc3-9424-1b97ec1a7ae6" TYPE="ext4"
[root@localhost gert]#

Have fixed it and get the expected response to fdisk -l /dev/sde

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# fdisk -l /dev/sde

Disk /dev/sde: 2004 MB, 2004877312 bytes
42 heads, 42 sectors/track, 2219 cylinders, total 3915776 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0217934c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sde1            2048     3915775     1956864   83  Linux
[root@localhost gert]#

Just for the exercise I also reloaded the KDE32-mini on the stick.  I am trying to figure out if the system will respond faster if loaded into RAM but I am starting to think that I am pushing it with only 1 GB on the laptop.

I tried a quick search for RAM requirement to run PCLinuxOS but have not had much luck so far.  Does anyone have quick rule of thumb for how much is required for simple basics, a bit of internet searching, emails, viewing pdf files.

RAM:

More=Better

Ram is more important than CPU choice in most cases. Almost any modern CPU will run both 32bit and 64bit Linux systems. The difference between just running, and really enjoying what you can do with your system, is directly proportionate to the quantity and speed of the installed RAM. With the same CPU I ran 2GB, and 4GB RAM. Doubling the ram was like a total rebuild of the system, performance wise. When I did an actual rebuild going from a dual core to a quad core, I upped the RAM to 16GB, just because I got it for $60.00 on a Black Friday special. Literally, the price of the RAM was what spurred the rebuild. At the time, I was looking to double or quadruple the RAM again, but the price of upgrading the RAM alone on the previous dual core build (DDR2) was approximately the same as the cost of the new motherboard, quad core CPU, and 16GB DDR3 RAM. Considering the cost alone, it seemed silly to not do a rebuild instead. The difference between the quantity and speed of the DDR3 RAM on the new build, compared to the previous build, was incredible.

Back to your question, what's required for simple basics with KDE is 1GB. What's required for maximum enjoyment of the system, is all the RAM you can afford to cram into your machine, up to the maximum limit of the motherboard.

[wedgetail]

Old-Polack
Ooooh, I did not expect a dramatic increase when you are at 4 GB, which I have on this medium performing ASUS P5P41 with ‎Pentium(R) Dual-Core  CPU E5300  @ 2.60GHz. In general I have been very happy with this.  Only when I started using LO a bit more that gives it a setback.  I also notice that DraftSight CAD hesitates a bit.  VariCAD is bigger 3D stuff and no doubt it might benefit. 

As I really don't do much  CAD stuff because I seem to run out of time it makes it difficult to decide. LO I feel would be nice if it got snappier so a may just have think about trying 8 GB.  I have on occasions seen my CPU indicator hit the ceiling or close, especially if I get carried away with an Internet search and keep tens of Opera instances with many tabs in each.

Hmmm, just looking I have 3 intances of Opera with total of 13 web pages open, nothing in particular and my two processors average 50% and over.   When I go to System Activity this registers hardly anything nothing over 5% and yet GKrellm dynamically shows both processors high. 

Getting a bit confusing though looking closer when doing different things, like opening and closing applications and changing windows around. In the panel I have CPU monitor and this seems to sit happily at around 55%  at the same time.

I will look into this a bit more.