Ubuntu
util-linux package

How to mount a Windows-XP external disk drive via a Ubuntu 12.04 USB port??

Asked by Julianloui

I would like to know how to mount an old Iomega Windows-formatted external hard disk drive in Ubuntu 12.o4. When I boot up 12.04 with the external hard-dish drive connected at a USB port, Linux does not detect the device. Normally Linux detects all USB devices automatically. What can I do to mount this drive successfully via either GUI or CLI? Thanks.

Julianloui

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Revision history for this message
Warren Hill (warren-hill) said : 		#1

With the drive not connected

Open a terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) Enter the following command

lsusb; sudo fdisk -l; mount | grep ^'/dev'

Plug the drive in and wait 20 seconds enter same command

Post both set of results back here. Should give us a clue

Revision history for this message
Rachael Boggs (boggs12e) said : 		#2

I am not sure this will help but we do something similar here with no problem. We have a 2TB removable that has Windows 7 information and Linux data. We do not boot from this, but it shows all of the content by simply being plugged in.

We can use the dual boot fature of Linux to boot from either Linux or Windows, but this requires quite a bit of fiddling around with Gruband boot parameters if you don't do it with the Installer. We recommend using the installer if possible.

Rach

Revision history for this message
Julianloui (julianloui) said : 		#3

Hi Rach,

Thanks very much for your input. About an hour ago, I moved the 40-GB
Iomega HDD to my only surviving Wubi computer running Windows XP and Ubuntu
11.04.
As soon as I powered up the computer, 11.04 showed both the internal storage
devices as well as all peripheral devices including this Windows-formatted
NTFS HDD. I'm partial to 11.04 as it allows Linux users access to so much
hardware information whereas the 12.04 people have denied them. I've found
two other 12.04 flaws, namely its wireless performance is flaky whereas
11.04's is solid, and so far 12.04 accepts only one wireless adapter (an
IOgear wireless-N) whereas 11.04 accepts two I've around the house (the
IOgear and a Linksys wireless-G). I really don't know how Ubuntu decides
what features to add to or subtract from a new release.

Several months ago I tried in vain to install 11.04 as the sole O.S. in a
computer with a 40-GB HDD. So ended up installing 12.04, not an ideal
choice. Early this year, 11.04 in my two of my three Wubi computer systems
was destroyed by Windows XP due to various reasons. So I am having only one
working Wubi system. I tend to think that it's survived probably because of
its 80-GB larger internal HDD. Many thanks again.

 Julian Loui

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Rachael Boggs" <email address hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 9:55 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #210236]: How to mount a Windows-XP external disk
drivevia a Ubuntu 12.04 USB port??

> Your question #210236 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/210236
>
> Rachael Boggs posted a new comment:
> I am not sure this will help but we do something similar here with no
> problem. We have a 2TB removable that has Windows 7 information and
> Linux data. We do not boot from this, but it shows all of the content
> by simply being plugged in.
>
> We can use the dual boot fature of Linux to boot from either Linux or
> Windows, but this requires quite a bit of fiddling around with Gruband
> boot parameters if you don't do it with the Installer. We recommend
> using the installer if possible.
>
> Rach
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

Revision history for this message
Julianloui (julianloui) said : 		#4

Hi Warren,

Before I move the drive back to my 12.04 system and try out your
suggestions, I thought I would like to report the following to you first.

About an hour ago, I moved the 40-GB Iomega HDD to my only surviving Wubi
computer running Windows XP and Ubuntu 11.04. As soon as I powered up the
computer, 11.04 showed both the internal storage devices as well as all
peripheral devices including this Windows-formatted NTFS HDD. I'm partial
to 11.04 as it allows Linux users access to so much hardware information
whereas the 12.04 people have denied them. I've found two other 12.04 flaws,
namely its wireless performance is flaky whereas 11.04's is solid, and so
far 12.04 accepts only one wireless adapter (an IOgear wireless-N) whereas
11.04 accepts two I've around the house (the IOgear and a Linksys
wireless-G). I really don't know how Ubuntu decides what features to add to
or subtract from a new release.

Several months ago I tried in vain to install 11.04 as the sole O.S. in a
computer with a 40-GB HDD. So ended up installing 12.04, not an ideal
choice. Early this year, 11.04 in my two of my three Wubi computer systems
was destroyed by Windows XP due to various reasons. So I am having only one
working Wubi system. I tend to think that it's survived probably because of
its 80-GB larger internal HDD.

Julian Loui

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Warren Hill" <email address hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 9:06 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #210236]: How to mount a Windows-XP external disk
drivevia a Ubuntu 12.04 USB port??

> Your question #210236 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/210236
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Warren Hill requested more information:
>
> With the drive not connected
>
> Open a terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) Enter the following command
>
> lsusb; sudo fdisk -l; mount | grep ^'/dev'
>
> Plug the drive in and wait 20 seconds enter same command
>
> Post both set of results back here. Should give us a clue
>
> --
> 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/ubiquity/+question/210236
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

Revision history for this message
Julianloui (julianloui) said : 		#5

On 10/03/2012 09:06 AM, Warren Hill wrote:
> Your question #210236 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/210236
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Warren Hill requested more information:
>
> With the drive not connected
>
> Open a terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) Enter the following command
>
> lsusb; sudo fdisk -l; mount | grep ^'/dev'
>
> Plug the drive in and wait 20 seconds enter same command
>
> Post both set of results back here. Should give us a clue
>
 Hi Warren,

I've just completed doing your suggestions.

<< Prior to connecting HDD to 12.04: >>

1. lsusb output:
Bus 001 Device 001: Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: WLAN Adapter
Bus 001 Device 001: Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: Kensington Expert Mouse

2. sudo fdisk -l output:
/dev/sda1 Linux
/dev/sda2 Extended
/dev/sda5 Linux Swap/Solaris
/dev/sda6 Linux

3.mount } grep ^'/dev' output:
/dev/sda6 on/ type ext4 (rw, errors=remount-ro)

<< Post connecting HDD to 12.04: >>
1.lsusb output:
Same as above PLUS
Bus 001 Device 004: ID0596:0075 Iomega

2. sudo fdisk -l output:
Same as above PLUS
Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0GB
?dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT

3.mount } grep ^'/dev' output:
/dev/sda6 on / type ext4 (rw, errors=remount-ro)

Yes, this time the data shows my 49GB Iomega HDD's presence.
Now how do I open this drive? Thanks very muc

Juliani Loui

Revision history for this message
Warren Hill (warren-hill) said : 		#6

Is there a typing error here?

should this line
?dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT
read
/dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT

The drive is NTFS and that may be why its not mounting automatically. NTFS is a windows format so may not be mounted by default.

You should be able to mount it manually see here

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mount/USB

Revision history for this message
Julianloui (julianloui) said : 		#7

Hi Warren,

It was a typo concerning the dev/sdb1 System:; HPFS/NTFS/extfAT line.
Did you read my earlier report on my 11.04 Wubi system's detecting the same
HDD automatically? It did something better I was able to read the contents
of the HDD.

Julian

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Warren Hill" <email address hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 2:05 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #210236]: How to mount a Windows-XP external disk
drivevia a Ubuntu 12.04 USB port??

> Your question #210236 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/210236
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Warren Hill proposed the following answer:
>
> Is there a typing error here?
>
> should this line
> ?dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT
> read
> /dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT
>
> The drive is NTFS and that may be why its not mounting automatically.
> NTFS is a windows format so may not be mounted by default.
>
> You should be able to mount it manually see here
>
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mount/USB
>
> --
> 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/ubiquity/+question/210236/+confirm?answer_id=5
>
> 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/ubiquity/+question/210236
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

Revision history for this message
Julianloui (julianloui) said : 		#8

Hi Warren,

It was a hasty typo concerning the "dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT" line. I am a terrible typist.
Did you read my earlier report on my Wubi system's 11.04 detecting the same HDD automatically?
It did something better; I was able to open and read the contents of the HDD via the GUI as soon as
the computer was restarted.

Many thanks again.

Julian
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Warren,

Before I move the drive back to my 12.04 system and try out your suggestions, I thought I would like to report the following to you first.

About an hour ago, I moved the 40-GB Iomega HDD to my only surviving Wubi computer running Windows XP and Ubuntu 11.04. As soon as I powered up the
computer, 11.04 showed both the internal storage devices as well as all peripheral devices including this Windows-formatted NTFS HDD. I'm partial to 11.04
as it allows Linux users access to so much hardware information whereas the 12.04 people have denied them. I've found two other 12.04 flaws, namely its wireless performance is flaky whereas 11.04's is solid, and so far 12.04 accepts only one wireless adapter (an IOgear wireless-N) whereas 11.04 accepts two I've around the house (the IOgear and a Linksys wireless-G). I really don't know how Ubuntu decides what features to add to or subtract from a new release.

Several months ago I tried in vain to install 11.04 as the sole O.S. in a computer with a 40-GB HDD. So I ended up installing 12.04, not an ideal choice. Early this year, the 11.04 in two of my three Wubi computer systems was destroyed by Windows XP due to various reasons. So I am having only one working Wubi system. I tend to think that it has survived probably because of its larger (80-GB) internal HDD.

Julian Loui
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Warren Hill" <email address hidden>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 2:05 PM
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #210236]: How to mount a Windows-XP external disk
> drivevia a Ubuntu 12.04 USB port??
>
>> Your question #210236 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
>> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/210236
>>
>> Status: Open => Answered
>>
>> Warren Hill proposed the following answer:
>>
>> Is there a typing error here?
>>
>> should this line
>> ?dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT
>> read
>> /dev/sdb1 System: HPFS/NTFS/extFAT
>>
>> The drive is NTFS and that may be why its not mounting automatically.
>> NTFS is a windows format so may not be mounted by default.
>>
>> You should be able to mount it manually see here
>>
>> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mount/USB
>>
>> --
>> 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/ubiquity/+question/210236/+confirm?answer_id=5
>>
>> 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/ubiquity/+question/210236
>>
>> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Revision history for this message
Julianloui (julianloui) said : 		#9

Hi Everyone,

I am happy to report that I've finally solved my problem by following Warren Hill's excellent advice and by reformatting my 40-GB Iomega HD via Windows XP to NTFS before returning it to my 12.04 Ubuntu computer. Now 12.04 automatically detects and displays it under Devices when the system is turned on.

My sincere thanks to Warren and Ubuntu.

Julian Loui