[GLLUG] How to repair an unallocated hard drive?
Mark Preston
mark at markpreston.co.uk
Fri Jan 1 13:50:04 UTC 2021
On 01/01/21 11:34, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> On Friday, 1 January 2021 01:01:11 GMT Mark Preston via GLLUG wrote:
>> Hi all and I wish you all a happy New Year,
>>
>> I was trying to create a bootable persistent Linux Mint 20 USB stick
>> with EFI support from a linux mint20 .iso downloaded from the internet.
>> but something went wrong and...now I get an unallocated hard drive message.
>>
>> I would like to know how to repair / fix an unallocated hard drive, if
>> possible, preferably without losing the data on it.
>>
>> The computer was was purchased in 2015 from dnuk.com and came as follows:
>>
>> Deskstar D540 R3
>> sda1 100GB ext4 /
>> sda2 8 GB swap
>> sda3 1700 ext4 /home
>> Raw capacity 2000 GB
>> Intel core i5-4430
>> GFX Controller NVIDIA GT 610
>> I might have reduced / to 10 GB, but I can't remember for sure. It was
>> running Linux Mint 19.0 and originally Debian 7.7
>> I've also had the following:
>> Bad magic number in super block error
>>
>> I'm hoping to make it bootable again and return to using it as before,
>> if possible. It seeems to be advisable to copy the dev/sda disk to
>> another hard drive using GNU ddrescue. Something like ddrescue
>> --no-split /dev/sda /media/usbdrive/image /media/usbdrive/logfile onto a
>> 4 TB portable drive maybe. Just in case anything else goes wrong and so
>> I'll have a copy of what's on the hard drive.
>>
>> Then maybe use parted rescue START END to rescue lost partitions one at
>> a time near START and END.
>>
>> Any suggestions as to how to proceed and hopefully restore the existing
>> data on the "unallocated space" would be welcome.
>>
>> I've used a Knoppix 8.6 USB stick to boot the computer and had the
>> following:
>>
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ df
>> Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
>> rootfs 1980020 52 1979968 1% /
>> /dev/sdb1 4916840 4521048 395792 92% /mnt-system
>> tmpfs 3170304 0 3170304 0% /ramdisk
>> /dev/cloop 9459128 9459128 0 100% /KNOPPIX
>> /dev/cloop1 2262876 2262876 0 100% /KNOPPIX1
>> /dev/cloop2 148074 148074 0 100% /KNOPPIX2
>> /dev/mapper/KNOPPIX-DATA 25545968 43032 25502936 1% /KNOPPIX-DATA
>> unionfs 25545968 43032 25502936 1% /UNIONFS
>> tmpfs 20480 3240 17240 16% /run
>> tmpfs 10240 4 10236 1% /UNIONFS/var/lock
>> tmpfs 102400 76 102324 1% /UNIONFS/var/log
>> tmpfs 2097152 4 2097148 1% /tmp
>> cgroup 12 0 12 0% /sys/fs/cgroup
>> udev 20480 0 20480 0% /dev
>> tmpfs 2097152 0 2097152 0% /dev/shm
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ fdisk -l
>> Disk /dev/ram0: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram1: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram2: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram3: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram4: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram5: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram6: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram7: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram8: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram9: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram10: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram11: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram12: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram13: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram14: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/ram15: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/cloop0: 9 GiB, 9686220800 bytes, 18918400 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 /dev/cloop1: 2.2 GiB, 2317352960 bytes, 4526080 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 /dev/cloop2: 144.8 MiB, 151781376 bytes, 296448 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 /dev/zram0: 2.9 GiB, 3046658048 bytes, 743813 sectors
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 4096 = 4096 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/sda: 1.8 TiB, 2000398934016 bytes, 3907029168 sectors
>> Disk model: ST2000DX001-1CM1
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
>> Disklabel type: gpt
>> Disk identifier: 855C35AB-DF58-4AD0-A242-58BC6E6BD581
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/sdb: 29.1 GiB, 31205621760 bytes, 60948480 sectors
>> Disk model: Cruzer Glide 3.0
>> Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
>> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
>> Disklabel type: dos
>> Disk identifier: 0x1661d69a
>>
>> Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
>> /dev/sdb1 * 2048 9854975 9852928 4.7G c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
>> /dev/sdb2 9854976 60948479 51093504 24.4G 83 Linux
>>
>>
>> Disk /dev/mapper/KNOPPIX-DATA: 24.4 GiB, 26159874048 bytes, 51093504 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
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ fsck -y /dev/sda
>> fsck from util-linux 2.33.1
>> e2fsck 1.44.5 (15-Dec-2018)
>> ext2fs_open2: Bad magic number in super-block
>> fsck.ext2: Superblock invalid, trying backup blocks...
>> fsck.ext2: Bad magic number in super-block while trying to open /dev/sda
>>
>> The superblock could not be read or does not describe a valid ext2/ext3/ext4
>> filesystem. If the device is valid and it really contains an
>> ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystem (and not swap or ufs or something else), then the
>> superblock is corrupt, and you might try running e2fsck with an alternate
>> superblock: e2fsck -b 8193 <device>
>> or
>> e2fsck -b 32768 <device>
>>
>> Found a gpt partition table in /dev/sda
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ mke2fs -n /dev/sda
>> mke2fs 1.44.5 (15-Dec-2018)
>> Found a gpt partition table in /dev/sda
>> Proceed anyway? (y,N) N
>>
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ fixparts /dev/sda
>> FixParts 1.0.3
>>
>> Loading MBR data from /dev/sda
>>
>> This disk appears to be a GPT disk. Use GNU Parted or GPT fdisk on it!
>> Exiting!
>>
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ gdisk /dev/sda
>> GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.3
>>
>> Partition table scan:
>> MBR: protective
>> BSD: not present
>> APM: not present
>> GPT: present
>>
>> Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.
>>
>> Command (? for help): ?
>> b back up GPT data to a file
>> c change a partition's name
>> d delete a partition
>> i show detailed information on a partition
>> l list known partition types
>> n add a new partition
>> o create a new empty GUID partition table (GPT)
>> p print the partition table
>> q quit without saving changes
>> r recovery and transformation options (experts only)
>> s sort partitions
>> t change a partition's type code
>> v verify disk
>> w write table to disk and exit
>> x extra functionality (experts only)
>> ? print this menu
>>
>> Command (? for help): p
>> Disk /dev/sda: 3907029168 sectors, 1.8 TiB
>> Model: ST2000DX001-1CM1
>> Sector size (logical/physical): 512/4096 bytes
>> Disk identifier (GUID): 855C35AB-DF58-4AD0-A242-58BC6E6BD581
>> Partition table holds up to 128 entries
>> Main partition table begins at sector 2 and ends at sector 33
>> First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 3907029134
>> Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
>> Total free space is 3907029101 sectors (1.8 TiB)
>>
>> Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name
>>
>> Command (? for help): i
>> No partitions
>>
>> Command (? for help): b
>> Enter backup filename to save: /home/knoppix/Desktop/KNOPPIX/gptData
>> The operation has completed successfully.
>>
>> Command (? for help): ^C
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ swapoff -a
>> swapoff: Not superuser.
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ sudo swapoff -a
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ sudo parted /dev/sda
>> GNU Parted 3.2
>> Using /dev/sda
>> Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
>> (parted) help
>> align-check TYPE N check partition N for
>> TYPE(min|opt)
>> alignment
>> help [COMMAND] print general help, or help on
>> COMMAND
>> mklabel,mktable LABEL-TYPE create a new disklabel
>> (partition
>> table)
>> mkpart PART-TYPE [FS-TYPE] START END make a partition
>> name NUMBER NAME name partition NUMBER as NAME
>> print [devices|free|list,all|NUMBER] display the partition table,
>> available devices, free space, all found partitions, or a
>> particular
>> partition
>> quit exit program
>> rescue START END rescue a lost partition near
>> START
>> and END
>> resizepart NUMBER END resize partition NUMBER
>> rm NUMBER delete partition NUMBER
>> select DEVICE choose the device to edit
>> disk_set FLAG STATE change the FLAG on selected
>> device
>> disk_toggle [FLAG] toggle the state of FLAG on
>> selected
>> device
>> set NUMBER FLAG STATE change the FLAG on partition
>> NUMBER
>> toggle [NUMBER [FLAG]] toggle the state of FLAG on
>> partition
>> NUMBER
>> unit UNIT set the default unit to UNIT
>> version display the version number and
>> copyright information of GNU Parted
>> (parted) ^C
>>
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$ ddrescue --version
>> GNU ddrescue 1.23
>> Copyright (C) 2018 Antonio Diaz Diaz.
>> License GPLv2+: GNU GPL version 2 or later
>> <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
>> This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
>> There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
>> knoppix at Microknoppix:~$
>>
>> Thank you,
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Mark Preston
> Hello Mark Preston,
> Would it help to use "lsblk" to list all block devices and "blkid" to list all
> UUID's then edit /etc/fstab to include the drive? (man fstab)
>
> I use Debian and prefer to allocate partition space on a HDD for installation
> of a later distribution, giving it any name such as "/next", plus a shared
> "/srv", then when I use the "/next" partition I will include both "/srv" and
> the previous (as "/old") to be used without reformatting.
> Both the original "/next" and the "swap" will be re-formatted and given new
> UUID's but I am able to edit /old/etc/fstab to the new values as read from the
> new /etc/fstab. I am able to create folders/directories on /srv symlinked from
> /home/user as /2ndhome, and grub should show both installations as bootable.
>
Hello Chris Bell,
Thank you very much for your reply. I couldn't get the lsblk command to
work on Knoppix 8.6 for some reason, but one of my less successful Mint
20 usb sticks produces the following:
lsblk -a
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
loop0 7:0 0 1.8G 1 loop /rofs
loop1 7:1 0 0 loop
loop2 7:2 0 0 loop
loop3 7:3 0 0 loop
loop4 7:4 0 0 loop
loop5 7:5 0 0 loop
loop6 7:6 0 0 loop
loop7 7:7 0 0 loop
sda 8:0 0 1.8T 0 disk
sdb 8:16 1 119.1G 0 disk
├─sdb1 8:17 1 23.4G 0 part /media/mint/usbdata
├─sdb2 8:18 1 1M 0 part
├─sdb3 8:19 1 122M 0 part
├─sdb4 8:20 1 1.9G 0 part /cdrom
└─sdb5 8:21 1 93.7G 0 part /media/mint/casper-rw1
sdc 8:32 1 29G 0 disk
└─sdc1 8:33 1 29G 0 part /media/mint/USB STICK
sr0 11:0 1 1024M 0 rom
I hope this helps,
Regards,
Mark
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