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neo529
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2002 9:36 pm    Post subject: newbie needs help! how to format Reply with quote

how do you format in llinux? like for dos you would put in the boot disk and type "format c:". How do I do this for linux?? PLEASE HELP
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LoOpYgUy
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2002 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That depends on the file system you are using..

for ext2:
Code:
mke2fs /dev/hdxx

for ext3:
Code:
mke2fs -j /dev/hdxx

for ReiserFS:
Code:
mkreiserfs /dev/hdxx

for XFS:
Code:
mkfs.xfs /dev/hdxx


NOTE: hdxx is to be replaced with the driver letter and partition number
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BonezTheGoon
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2002 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It depends on what type of file system you want on the partition/drive. If you wanted an reiserfs file system the command is
Code:
mkresierfs /dev/***
(where *** is your specific device and parition). If instead you want to initialize/format your partition with an Ext3 file system then you would execute
Code:
mke2fs -j /dev/***


Get it? This is covered in the install document which you should really read quite well to avoid posting questions and waiting for replies when the answer has already been laid out for you.

Regards,
BonezTheGoon
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neo529
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 3:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought doing that installs the fs onto the partition... correct me if im wrong but Im looking for a command to completely delete everything on my hard drive (ie: format c: in dos for windows)

BTW I have read and re-read the installation guide.... :D... I had to to understand ANYTHING the first time I tried to install gentoo (took me 3 tries)
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freefall
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Creating a filesystem on a partition wipes out any data on it, just like 'format c:'.
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BonezTheGoon
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Format and initialize are basically identical to one another. Format C:\ simply rewrites the file system to C: in windows. They are the same idea.

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jlg
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes! mkfs does the same as format in dos but since linux is better :) If you want to take this a step further and are really paranoid that someone might find a way to read what was on the disks before you did mkfs than you can do the following:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hxx
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TheCoop
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

just dont do that while your chrooted to it :)
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ebrostig
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

neo529 wrote:
I thought doing that installs the fs onto the partition... correct me if im wrong but Im looking for a command to completely delete everything on my hard drive (ie: format c: in dos for windows)

BTW I have read and re-read the installation guide.... :D... I had to to understand ANYTHING the first time I tried to install gentoo (took me 3 tries)

Just a little reminder here, format c: does not wipe out your entire disk. It rewrites the directory structure, but there are several tools on the market that can un-format your drive and other tools can rebuild your directory structure and files.

If you need to completly wipe your files, use one of the wipe/shredder tools available. They will physically over-write the contents of your file up to 7 times, each time with a different value in order to make sure that the contents can not be recovered.

Erik
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really
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

if you really want to erase data then a faster method than above mentioned dd ... whould be taking your disk out of the box (if you have a box) and then use a magnet to erase the data, just move the magnet (it most be a strong one) across the surface of the disk :twisted:
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TheCoop
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2002 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ooooooooooh, thats evil :evil:

You do have to waste time taking the disk out thou...
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