mkfs

[kitepilot at kitepilot.com]

First question to answer is: Is the drive being detected? 

Unplug the drive, wait a minute and do:
lsusb > /tmp/junk-lsusb-0.txt
cat /proc/partitions > /tmp/junk-partitions-0.txt 

Now plug the drive, wait a minute and do:
lsusb > /tmp/junk-lsusb-1.txt
cat /proc/partitions > /tmp/junk-partitions-1.txt 

Then
diff /tmp/junk-lsusb-?.txt 

If you see at leas one line you are good, otherwise you are dead in the 
water. 

If you can see the device, then:
diff /tmp/junk-partitions-?.txt 

That's your partition.
Depending on what you have (if you have) next steps are different.
YMMV...
ET 

 

Michael Havens writes: 

> Okay, when I was making a backup drive I did so on a drive that was too
> small. (bummer) now, when I stick that device in nothing happens (the nice
> little file manager doesn't appear). So I think that is because I created a
> label for this drive. So I wonder to myself how to fix it. What I think of
> is mkfs. What is a generic filesystem I can use on microsoft computers too?
> is xtfs the best or should I go with fat 16/32? or am I incorrect that this
> will fix the problem?
> :-)~MIKE~(-: