[SOLVED] Parted can't change partition table

[jody]

I want to install gentoo on a new HP pavilion laptop with preinstalled FreeDOS.
I boot the minimal install from a usb stick without problems.

But parted gives me error messages for every action which would change something:

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 livecd ~ # parted -a optimal /dev/sda
GNU Parted 3.2
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) p                                                                
Model:   (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 3901MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 2      98.3kB  6689kB  6590kB  primary               esp

(parted) rm 2                                                             
Error: Partition(s) 1 on /dev/sda have been written, but we have been unable to inform the kernel of the change, probably because
it/they are in use.  As a result, the old partition(s) will remain in use.  You should reboot now before making further changes.
Ignore/Cancel?                                                            

When i type 'Ignore' then quit parted and reboot, it seems that i can't boot from the usb stick anymore.

With fdisk it is similar: i can do all the commands but after leaving fdiisk with "w" i get this

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Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered.
Failed to add partition 1 to system: Device or resource busy
Failed to add partition 2 to system: Device or resource busy
Failed to add partition 3 to system: Device or resource busy

The kernel still uses the old partitions. The new table will be used at the next reboot. 
Syncing disks.

How can i 'force' a new partition table?

Thanks

[Jaglover]

Disk /dev/sda: 3901MB

What is this, your USB stick? My guess is you are not working on correct block device.

[fturco]

@jody: what's the output of the lsblk command when you boot from the minimal usb stick?

[jody]

the output of lsblk:

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 livecd ~ # lsblk
NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
loop0         7:0    0 314.7M  1 loop /mnt/livecd
sda           8:0    1   3.6G  0 disk 
|-sda1        8:1    1   349M  0 part /mnt/cdrom
`-sda2        8:2    1   6.3M  0 part 
nvme0n1     259:0    0   477G  0 disk 
|-nvme0n1p1 259:1    0   512M  0 part 
|-nvme0n1p2 259:2    0   4.9G  0 part 
`-nvme0n1p3 259:3    0   510M  0 part 

So it seems that sda is the stick and 'nveme0n1' is the laptop's drives?
Can i then call parted for /dev/nvme0n1?
(why are these called 'nvme0n1' and not sdaXXX?)

[NeddySeagoon]

jody,

nvme0n1 is a solid state HDD connected directly to your PCIe bus.
The first device is /dev/nvme0n1, the second /dev/nvme0n2 ...
nvme0n1p1 is partition 1 on nvme0n1.

You can't boot your usb stick because you destroyed its partition table.

As you say, use parted on /dev/nvme0n1.

When you make your kernel, be sure to include nvme support.

[jody]

Partitioning nvme0n1 worked!
Thanks for your help!