Checking a block device

[Jonathan Hirschman]

On 8/3/2010 8:10 PM, GNUbie wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> How can I check if a block device (partition) has one or any of the
> following characteristics:
>
> [1] raw
>
> [2] has content
>
> [3] formatted
>
> BUT without actually mounting it?
>

Not sure that this is possible.

Forensics examiners have similar needs for legal purposes. They image 
the device to a file using dd or similar tools, and then attempt to 
mount the image, or otherwise examine it.