Thread: Pendrive without partition table - damaged pendrive?

hi all,

tried solve problem myself, couldn't find solution in google or in ubuntu forum. so, hope topic interesting you.

problem wanted install linux distribution live-cd pendrive (as hard drives). so, divided 32gb following partitions:
- 16gb vfat (fat32) - so, use copy files windows,
- 10gb ext3 - main partition /
- 6gb ext3 - /home partition.

however, during partition process received error system couldn't create fat32 partition. , moment fails - tried use fdisk, cfdisk, gparted, mkfs recreate partition table without luck. pendrive new (less 24hours of purchase) , managed brake it. so, there no worry recovering data. need make pendrive usable again.

here outputs terminal - started:

code:

#fdisk -l  disk /dev/sda: 640.1 gb, 640135028736 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 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: 0x0cc30cc3  device boot start end blocks id system /dev/sda1 1 1658 13312000 27 unknown /dev/sda2 * 1658 1671 102400 7 hpfs/ntfs /dev/sda3 1671 11274 77141336 7 hpfs/ntfs /dev/sda4 11275 65917 438917121 f w95 ext'd (lba) /dev/sda5 11275 36771 204800000 7 hpfs/ntfs /dev/sda6 36772 41352 36796851 83 linux /dev/sda7 41353 65668 195315712 83 linux /dev/sda8 65668 65917 1998848 82 linux swap / solaris  disk /dev/sdb: 33.6 gb, 33554432000 bytes 64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 32000 cylinders units = cylinders of 2048 * 512 = 1048576 bytes sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes i/o size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes disk identifier: 0xc1b86192  disk /dev/sdb doesn't contain valid partition table

yep, pendrive /dev/sdb. there no /dev/sdb1 smart it

code:

#dmesg  [ 1069.126036] usb 2-1.2: usb disconnect, address 5 [ 1078.781927] usb 2-1.2: new high speed usb device using ehci_hcd , address 6 [ 1078.879462] usb 2-1.2: configuration #1 chosen 1 choice [ 1078.879775] scsi7 : scsi emulation usb mass storage devices [ 1078.880015] usb-storage: device found @ 6 [ 1078.880019] usb-storage: waiting device settle before scanning [ 1083.869742] usb-storage: device scan complete [ 1083.870264] scsi 7:0:0:0: direct-access usb 2.0 flash disk 1.00 pq: 0 ansi: 2 [ 1083.871670] sd 7:0:0:0: attached scsi generic sg2 type 0 [ 1083.872685] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] 65536000 512-byte logical blocks: (33.5 gb/31.2 gib) [ 1083.873178] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] write protect off [ 1083.873184] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] mode sense: 03 00 00 00 [ 1083.873190] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] assuming drive cache: write through [ 1083.875050] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] assuming drive cache: write through [ 1083.875060] sdb: unknown partition table [ 1085.130177] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] assuming drive cache: write through [ 1085.130224] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdb] attached scsi removable disk [ 1248.828304] usb 2-1.2: reset high speed usb device using ehci_hcd , address 6

code:

fdisk /dev/sdb  unable open /dev/sdb

code:

# cfdisk /dev/sdb fatal error: cannot open disk drive press key exit cfdisk

code:

# mkfs.vfat -f 32 /dev/sdb mkfs.vfat 3.0.7 (24 dec 2009) mkfs.vfat: device partition expected, not making filesystem on entire device '/dev/sdb' (use -i override) # mkfs.vfat -f 32 -i /dev/sdb mkfs.vfat 3.0.7 (24 dec 2009) mkfs.vfat: failed whilst writing fat

code:

# gparted ====================== libparted : 2.2 ====================== /dev/sdb: unrecognised disk label /dev/sdb: unrecognised disk label /dev/sdb: unrecognised disk label

hope have better ideas wipe out , force pendrive work again.

clearly have corrupted partition table but, unless hardware has failed, can't think of reason why cannot create new partition table. this...

posted slotwek

, moment fails - tried use fdisk, cfdisk, gparted, mkfs recreate partition table without luck.

you don't use mkfs create partition table - mkfs creates filesystems.

did in gparted try create partition table? record, in gparted. show pendrive in main pane choosing drop-down top right. now, device menu -> create partition table. you've tried already? happens when that? error message?

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