[Bug 58331] Re: fdisk doesn't write partition table

[Launchpad Bug Tracker]

[Expired for util-linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for
60 days.]

** Changed in: util-linux (Ubuntu)
       Status: Incomplete => Expired

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/58331

Title:
  fdisk doesn't write partition table

Status in “util-linux” package in Ubuntu:
  Expired

Bug description:
  When using a USB 2.0 external hard disc, fdisk does not appear to
  create valid partition tables.

  -------snip--------
  stephan at solaris:~$ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdc

  Disk /dev/sdc: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
  255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
  Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

  Disk /dev/sdc doesn't contain a valid partition table
  stephan at solaris:~$ sudo fdisk /dev/sdc
  Device contains neither a valid DOS partition table, nor Sun, SGI or OSF disklabel
  Building a new DOS disklabel. Changes will remain in memory only,
  until you decide to write them. After that, of course, the previous
  content won't be recoverable.

  
  The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 36481.
  There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
  and could in certain setups cause problems with:
  1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
  2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
     (e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)
  Warning: invalid flag 0x0000 of partition table 4 will be corrected by w(rite)

  Command (m for help): n
  Command action
     e   extended
     p   primary partition (1-4)
  p
  Partition number (1-4): 1
  First cylinder (1-36481, default 1):
  Using default value 1
  Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-36481, default 36481):
  Using default value 36481

  Command (m for help): p

  Disk /dev/sdc: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
  255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
  Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

     Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
  /dev/sdc1               1       36481   293033601   83  Linux

  Command (m for help): w
  The partition table has been altered!

  Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
  Syncing disks.
  stephan at solaris:~$ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdc

  Disk /dev/sdc: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
  255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
  Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

  Disk /dev/sdc doesn't contain a valid partition table
  -------snip--------

  /var/log/syslog says:
  -------snip--------
  31.08.2006 13:36:59	localhost	kernel	[17191377.892000] SCSI device sdc: 586072368 512-byte hdwr sectors (300069 MB)
  31.08.2006 13:36:59	localhost	kernel	[17191377.892000] sdc: assuming drive cache: write through
  31.08.2006 13:36:59	localhost	kernel	[17191377.892000]  sdc: unknown partition table
  -------snip--------

  
  The hardware setup is a Lenovo 3000 N100 Laptop, the external USB drive a 300 GB TrekStor.

  Stephan

  Note: the original reporter indicated the bug was in package 'fdisk';
  however, that package was not published in Ubuntu.

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