I can see my HDD but can't open it

[Pigimon]

Hi, i used to have ubuntu on my pc but as a gamer i allways use windows too,i have 2 maxtor 250gb and one 500gb WD which i want to use only for data,so first i installed ubuntu 10.04LTS on one maxtor i formated the WD as "FAT(Visible to windows)" - that's what ubuntu said.. and then i installed windows 7 to the other maxtor. when i logged in windows i couldn't see the drive in "Computer" folder but i can on device manager as well on disk management but can't open it either way please help me thank you!!

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi, i used to have ubuntu on my pc but as a gamer i allways use windows too,i have 2 maxtor 250gb and one 500gb WD which i want to use only for data,so first i installed ubuntu 10.04LTS on one maxtor i formated the WD as "FAT(Visible to windows)" - that's what ubuntu said.. and then i installed windows 7 to the other maxtor. when i logged in windows i couldn't see the drive in "Computer" folder but i can on device manager as well on disk management but can't open it either way please help me thank you!!

Is there data on the FAT volume? IS IT fat32, OR fat? Does it have a drive letter?

 

[Pigimon]

i have attached the print screen from my disk management! hmm no i think it hasn't a letter...

 

[Pigimon]

oh! plus the disk has data in it... sorry i forgot

 

[WiFi Ed]

Hopefully the experts here will get you all straightened out. But, if I may be so bold as to offer you some advice for next time:

1. Install Windows 7 on its drive first.
2. Then format your data drive, NTFS or FAT32. Ubuntu can handle both. I'd pick NTFS.
3. Then install Ubuntu on its own drive. Let Ubuntu format it.

When you're done, Windows and Ubuntu will both be able to see your data drive.

 

[Pigimon]

yeah i know,i do it like this all the time but i bought Windows 7 after a month that i already used my pc with Ubuntu.. :s

 

[madtownidiot]

if you want to access the FAT partition in explorer, all that is required is for you to right click on the partition from disk management and select "change drive letter and paths" then assign a drive letter to it

 

[Pigimon]

yea i don't have that option... i only have convert to dynamic disc / offline / delete.... useless i think i don't have an option other than transfer to linux and then format it as ntfs, if you guys have any suggestions tho i'll try them all..

 

[madtownidiot]

Ubuntu actually works fine with NTFS partitions if they're present in the system when you install linux while connected to the internet.. otherwise you have to install ntfsprogs afterwards

 

[Pigimon]

yeah i know they work fine with ntfs i just dont want to make this huge transfer and stuff
its ok..

 

[karlsnooks]

Pigimon,

And if you run DiskPart via running cmd.exe elevated?

Can you then use the DiskPart Assign command?

​

Command Prompt - Elevated command prompt​

Elevated command prompt = Run CMD.EXE as administrator
· WIN key
· Type CMD.EXE (do not hit Enter key)
· In the Programs list, Right-Click on CMD.EXE
· Click on Run as administrator
· YES button

OR for keyboard fans:
· WIN key
· Type CMD.EXE (do not hit Enter key)
· Press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER key combo
· Press ALT + y in response to UAC (User Access Control) prompt asking to “allow program …”

​

Type following commands. Hit ENTER key after each command.
DISKPART starts the DiskPart program
LIST VOLUME shows drive letter assignment

Now use SELECT VOLUME to select the volume that needs a letter
ASSIGN LETTER=Q would assign the letter q to the selected volume
EXIT will exit diskpart
EXIT will exit the command shell

 

[Pigimon]

i haven't tested paragon, as for the DiskPart when i do LIST VOLUME i dont see anything but the NTFS and the DVD drives...i can only see my disk after list disk and i only see

Disk 0
Disk 1
Disk 2

so it needs a volume to be named..

 

[madtownidiot]

It's possible that windows isn't fully recognizing the partition table created by the ubuntu live installer. Your best bet if you still want to use linux from time is to move any files you want to keep to an NTFS partition, then reinstall linux, using gparted to create a msdos partition table for shared files and unallocated unpartitioned space on the HDD, then reinstall ubuntu and select the "use the largest contiguous free space" option

 

[Pigimon]

It's possible that windows isn't fully recognizing the partition table created by the ubuntu live installer. Your best bet if you still want to use linux from time is to move any files you want to keep to an NTFS partition, then reinstall linux, using gparted to create a msdos partition table for shared files and unallocated unpartitioned space on the HDD, then reinstall ubuntu and select the "use the largest contiguous free space" option

this is a sure way to work but it so damn weird! windows can't recognize a FAT32 ?
i installed trial paragon partition manager,i assigned a letter to the drive (disk management didn't see that tho..) i explored it too but overall nothing its just a FAT 32 sitting there with 200 GB of Data init...

 

[madtownidiot]

Chances are you're not going to be able to avoid making that huge file transfer.
It's probably not that windows can't recognize the FAT partition, but that it's programmed not to, because it wasn't created by windows or another program acceptable to Microsoft. Obviously windows can see the partition table exists, but is refusing to recognize the file system. And it's probably that way by design..
There is quite a bit of hostility between some open source developers and Microsoft, mainly because of the history Microsoft has of appropriating ideas that aren't already patented and putting a patent on them.. then suing people for copyright infringement for continuing to use their own source code. It also seems as if Windows only works with other operating systems to the minimal extent that it has to in order for Microsoft to keep its large enterprise customers who use linux and other OS platforms for their servers.

 

[karlsnooks]

Pigimon,
Now I don't know where things have gone astray, but Windows does recognize Fat32. I have formatted and used Fat32 partitions and have read fat32 partitions formatted on other systems.

And no, there isn't some secret battle between MS and Open Source.