Determine External Hard Drive Format

benjamingrant · benjamingrant #1 (**permalink**)

05-28-2009, 05:44 PM

Hi All,
I just switched from a PC running linux to a new macbook. I'm having trouble remembering the unix commands to determine the formatting of the hard drive. I would guess its ext2 or ext3 but can't really remember and having no luck mounting it in mac.. I really need some pictures from it from Tanzania and will be quite upset if I'm unable to extract them. Thanks
Ben

vansmith · vansmith #2 (**permalink**)

05-28-2009, 06:20 PM

You could execute mount to see the fs but if the drive isn't mounted, that will be of little use.

Does the disk come up at all in Disk Utility?

benjamingrant · benjamingrant #3 (**permalink**)

05-28-2009, 06:39 PM

yeah not mounted unfortunately. Does show up in disk utility but has little information. All it says is partition type: Linux. Mount Point: Not Mounted. Any thoughts? I mean the exact format isn't of particular interest to me.. just want to grab the files off the drive, reformat it under mac and move on.

benjamingrant · benjamingrant #4 (**permalink**)

05-28-2009, 07:33 PM

Ah ended up just using a ubuntu live cd on a windows desktop, found the hard drive was xfs formatted, copied the contents over to the windows box, reformatted as fat32(yuck), copied the contents back to the hard drive and finally put them on the macbook. thanks
ben

vansmith · vansmith #5 (**permalink**)

05-28-2009, 08:05 PM

XFS? Don't see that too often for a personal Linux installation. Usually it's ext2/3 or reiserfs.

Do you plan to use the HD between the Mac and the Windows box? If not, you would be better with something like HFS+.

vansmith #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,463 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	05-28-2009, 06:20 PM You could execute mount to see the fs but if the drive isn't mounted, that will be of little use. Does the disk come up at all in Disk Utility? Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,463 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	05-28-2009, 08:05 PM XFS? Don't see that too often for a personal Linux installation. Usually it's ext2/3 or reiserfs. Do you plan to use the HD between the Mac and the Windows box? If not, you would be better with something like HFS+. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

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benjamingrant #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 28, 2009 Posts: 3	05-28-2009, 05:44 PM Hi All, I just switched from a PC running linux to a new macbook. I'm having trouble remembering the unix commands to determine the formatting of the hard drive. I would guess its ext2 or ext3 but can't really remember and having no luck mounting it in mac.. I really need some pictures from it from Tanzania and will be quite upset if I'm unable to extract them. Thanks Ben
	QUOTE Thanks

benjamingrant #4 (permalink)
Member Since: May 28, 2009 Posts: 3	05-28-2009, 07:33 PM Ah ended up just using a ubuntu live cd on a windows desktop, found the hard drive was xfs formatted, copied the contents over to the windows box, reformatted as fat32(yuck), copied the contents back to the hard drive and finally put them on the macbook. thanks ben
	QUOTE Thanks

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