Ubuntu

Mount FAT usb flash disk

Asked by Naseef

I run Ubuntu gutsy 7.10.

I cant seem to mount my USB flash disk. Its got a FAT fs.

I tried using

nas@nas-laptop:/$ sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sdb /media/win

mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sdb,
       missing codepage or helper program, or other error
       In some cases useful info is found in syslog - try
       dmesg | tail or so

Gparted can recognize the disk as FAT 16.

nas@nas-laptop:/$ dmesg|tail
[15461.736000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[15461.736000] sdb: unknown partition table
[15461.800000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk
[15461.800000] sd 3:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
[15469.268000] FAT: invalid media value (0xa5)
[15469.268000] VFS: Can't find a valid FAT filesystem on dev sdb.
[15517.944000] FAT: invalid media value (0xa5)
[15517.944000] VFS: Can't find a valid FAT filesystem on dev sdb.
[16460.736000] FAT: invalid media value (0xa5)
[16460.736000] VFS: Can't find a valid FAT filesystem on dev sdb.

nas@nas-laptop:/$ fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sdb: 2038 MB, 2038253568 bytes
245 heads, 32 sectors/track, 507 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 7840 * 512 = 4014080 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0d0c0b0a

This doesn't look like a partition table
Probably you selected the wrong device.

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 ? 1 508 1990466 4 FAT16 <32M

nas@nas-laptop:/$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 003: ID 090c:1000 Feiya Technology Corp. Memory Bar
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

Can anyone tell me how to mount the disk?

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

Please save from Win the pen data on the Win hard disk and format it with Linux

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type:

mkfs.msdos -I /dev/sdb

Hope this helps

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Naseef (naseef-ibrahim) said : 		#2

Isn't there any other way. I have got the data backed up. but what is the problem here?

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Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#3

Do you mean you want to automount usb flash disk?

Go into gconf-editor and navigate to /system/storage/default_options/vfat/mount_options , and then remove the "usefree" option from the list. Exit gconf-editor, and try hotplugging your drive again.

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

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Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#4

Ok In bit more detail

Go to APPLICATIONS --> SYSTEM TOOLS --> CONFIGURATION EDITOR --> open SYSTEM --> STORAGE --> DEFAULT OPTIONS --> right-click on MOUNT OPTIONS --> EDIT KEY --> remove USEFREE option from the list. and try plugging in the drive again...

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

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Naseef (naseef-ibrahim) said : 		#5

I did that. Still not working.

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Naseef (naseef-ibrahim) said : 		#6

I took the disk out. and put it back in and this is what I get

nas@nas-laptop:~$ dmesg|tail
[ 159.512000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 159.512000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 43 00 00 00
[ 159.512000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 159.512000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] 3980964 512-byte hardware sectors (2038 MB)
[ 159.516000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 159.516000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 43 00 00 00
[ 159.516000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 159.516000] sdb: unknown partition table
[ 159.580000] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk
[ 159.580000] sd 3:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#7

The fat partition seems invalid...

If you have a dual boot system Ubuntu + Win please verify and save your data from Win on the Win hard disk and format it using Linux

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type:

mkfs.msdos -I /dev/sdb

Hope this helps

Revision history for this message
Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#8

yes +1.. Please check your fat partition and report back any problems.....

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

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Naseef (naseef-ibrahim) said : 		#9

If my fs is corrupted how come its being recognised?

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Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#10

Partition is not being recognised even though drive is recognised...

[159.516000] sdb: unknown partition table

So please check the partition..

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

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Naseef (naseef-ibrahim) said : 		#11

I decided not to bother with this crap. Formatted and all went well.

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sachin13 (sachin13pandey) said : 		#12

i am a newbie with practically no knowledge about linux. but i had the same problem and solved it the following way:-
go to system tools-->configuration editor-->system-->storage-->default_options and unset any present keys.
it worked for me, hope it does for you too.