mounting Western Digital external hard drive on Ubuntu. Can't log into Windows

Can you boot without the drive attatched, log in and let the OS settle.. Then run:

lsusb

Then plug in the device, wait 10 seconds then run:

sudo fdisk -l; dmesg | tail; lsusb

Copy ALL the output and paste here as an update.

Hi actionparsnip,
Thanks for your support. Here is the data you asked for:

chris@chris-netbook:~$ lsusb
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0a5c:2101 Broadcom Corp. A-Link BlueUsbA2 Bluetooth
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 192f:0416 Avago Technologies, Pte.
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 1dbc:0005
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:a102 Suyin Corp.
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 058f:6254 Alcor Micro Corp. USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
chris@chris-netbook:~$ sudo fdisk -l; dmesg | tail; lsusb
[sudo] password for chris:

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x707c8626

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 1045 8388608 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 1045 7302 50260007+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 7302 19458 97639425 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 7302 18958 93624320 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 18958 19458 4014080 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 319.4 GB, 319370035200 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38827 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x929c7150

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 38828 311883776 7 HPFS/NTFS
[ 172.997080] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 172.997096] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 23 00 10 00
[ 172.997106] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 173.001193] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 173.001215] sdb: sdb1
[ 173.048840] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 173.048861] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
[ 173.103245] ses 2:0:0:2: Attached Enclosure device
[ 174.310357] UDF-fs: Partition marked readonly; forcing readonly mount
[ 174.311096] UDF-fs INFO UDF: Mounting volume 'WD SmartWare',
timestamp 2009/11/14 07:34 (11a4)
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0a5c:2101 Broadcom Corp. A-Link BlueUsbA2 Bluetooth
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 1058:070a Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 192f:0416 Avago Technologies, Pte.
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 1dbc:0005
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:a102 Suyin Corp.
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 058f:6254 Alcor Micro Corp. USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
chris@chris-netbook:~$

On 11 September 2010 10:05, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested for more information:
> Can you boot without the drive attatched, log in and let the OS settle..
> Then run:
>
> lsusb
>
> Then plug in the device, wait 10 seconds then run:
>
> sudo fdisk -l; dmesg | tail; lsusb
>
> Copy ALL the output and paste here as an update.
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

ok and with the device attatched, the output of:

mount

Thanks

Here's the output of 'mount'

chris@chris-netbook:~$ mount
/dev/sda5 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
none on /dev type devtmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620)
none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
none on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
none on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc
(rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/chris/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon
(rw,nosuid,nodev,user=chris)
/dev/sda2 on /media/ACER type fuseblk
(rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,default_permissions)
/dev/sr0 on /media/WD SmartWare type udf
(ro,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=1000,iocharset=utf8,umask=0077)
chris@chris-netbook:~$

On 11 September 2010 11:17, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested for more information:
> ok and with the device attatched, the output of:
>
> mount
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

ok if you access:
/media/ACER

In a file browser you will be able to read the data. The data is marked as readonly, either by a switch or misuse

Hi,
Please can you explain in more detail. I can open the ACER folder
under 'Places'. The Western Digital folder is in the ACER folder. Is
this the data that you say I will be able to read in a file browser?
Sorry, I'm just a beginner in all this.
With thanks
Chris

On 11 September 2010 11:50, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> ok if you access:
> /media/ACER
>
> In a file browser you will be able to read the data. The data is marked
> as readonly, either by a switch or misuse
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969/+confirm?answer_id=4
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Hi,
I'm still having problems with this. Unfortunately, I haven't understood Your latest advice (2 hours ago).
Could you please explain where I go from here?
With many thanks
Chris

press ALT+F2
paste in:
nautilus /media/ACER
Press ENTER

The mounted partitions won't always show in the places menu, you can navigate using the file browser by going up 2 levels in the file browser (to the / directory) then doubleclick media then you will see ACER.

Hi and thank you for your message. I followed your instructions and
was able to navigate to the ACER folder. Inside was the Western
Digital folder and I tried running the .exe file but without success.
If I try to mount the external drive I still get the same error
message. I'm sending a screen shot of the message in case it helps.

Chris

On 11 September 2010 22:30, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> press ALT+F2
> paste in:
> nautilus /media/ACER
> Press ENTER
>
> The mounted partitions won't always show in the places menu, you can
> navigate using the file browser by going up 2 levels in the file browser
> (to the / directory) then doubleclick media then you will see ACER.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969/+confirm?answer_id=7
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

What does the exe do?

When I press 'run with file' it just returns me to the list of Acer
files. I have tried to open nearly all of the files in Western Digital
fearing that I haven't identified the .exe correctly, but always the
same result. There is also a message sometimes appears saying
something like 'can't open, this is not a file'(?)
Chris

On 12 September 2010 08:27, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on util-linux in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested for more information:
> What does the exe do?
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

You didn't answer the question...

I've just run through the instructions again. When I attempt to run
any of the files the screen always returns to two levels down and
shows the list of Acer files. I confess to being confused and am
unsure whether I've identified the correct file. There are several
locations for Western Digital including the Program Files from
Windows.

P.S. I will understand if you want to give up on this.
Chris

On 12 September 2010 08:43, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on util-linux in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested for more information:
> You didn't answer the question...
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

What do the exe files on the storage do? Why are you running them?

Hi again,
A whole lot of files came with the WD external drive. There's user
guides, and a programme that automates the back-up process if you
don't want to do it manually, as well as many other bits and pieces. I
thought running the .exe file was what I had to do in order to be able
to mount the external hard drive. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree,
or just barking!

I really like Ubuntu and am heartily sick of Windows which was always
presenting new problems and needed cleaning up all the time. The thing
is to get the hardware to run on Ubuntu (I use an aircard to get
online, plus the WD hard drive. I haven't yet tried to connect my
digital camera and don't possess a printer or scanner) The other
challenge is to be able to access and use all my data. I've managed to
get music, photos, text, and videos going and think I can work around
most things. As soon as I feel confident that everything is running, I
plan to ditch Windows altogether and do a clean re-installation of
Ubuntu. I could do that now of course, but the key to it is getting
the external hard drive going.

On 12 September 2010 09:28, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on util-linux in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested for more information:
> What do the exe files on the storage do? Why are you running them?
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

The backup process app is for windows, Ubuntu is Linux, not windows so is of no value to you. You can use programs like cron and rsync to backup to the device. Those apps make it easy for windows users to setup the backing up but it simply will not run on Ubuntu and WD will most likely not make a Linux based system until they deem there are enough users to make enough money out of it.

I actually didn't use the backup app in Windows but preferred choosing
what to backup manually. So I won't miss that one.

Yes, commercial companies will hopefully come around to supporting the
Linux community when there are enough of us. i understand that there
are a few big players who are already doing that.

On 12 September 2010 10:13, actionparsnip
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #124969 on util-linux in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
>    Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> The backup process app is for windows, Ubuntu is Linux, not windows so
> is of no value to you. You can use programs like cron and rsync to
> backup to the device. Those apps make it easy for windows users to setup
> the backing up but it simply will not run on Ubuntu and WD will most
> likely not make a Linux based system until they deem there are enough
> users to make enough money out of it.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969/+confirm?answer_id=15
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+question/124969
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

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Click on the "download Button" to download the latest PDF version.
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