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Asked: 2024-09-24T18:55:04+05:30 In:

How can I mount an external hard drive on Ubuntu? What steps should I follow to ensure it is properly recognized and accessible?

I’ve been trying to figure out how to mount an external hard drive on my Ubuntu machine, and I’m feeling a bit stuck. I have this external drive that I use for backups, but every time I plug it in, it doesn’t seem to show up anywhere. I’ve checked some basics, like making sure it’s powered on and properly connected, but I feel like I’m missing some steps in the mounting process.

So here’s my situation: I’ve got an Ubuntu desktop, and I plugged in my external hard drive, which I know is working because I tested it on my Windows laptop, and it was recognized immediately. But when I connect it to Ubuntu, nothing happens. I made sure to check if it shows up with the `lsblk` command in the terminal, but it’s just not there, doesn’t even appear in the list.

I’ve read a bit about how drives can get mounted manually in Linux, but there seems to be a lot of technical jargon that honestly confuses me. I’ve seen terms like partitions, file systems, and mounting points flying around, and I’m not even sure what they mean in this context. Do I need to format the drive first? If so, how do I go about that without losing my data?

I just want to understand what steps I need to follow to ensure that my drive is recognized and accessible when I plug it into my Ubuntu system. If anyone could break it down for me in simple terms, that would be awesome! Maybe something like, “First, do this…” and “If this happens, then try that…” kind of guide?

It would also be great if someone could share tips on troubleshooting in case the drive still doesn’t show up after I follow the steps. I know it might seem straightforward to some experienced users, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I could really use some help here! Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to help me out.

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    2 Answers

    1. How to Mount an External Hard Drive on Ubuntu

      It sounds like you’re having a bit of trouble with your external hard drive on Ubuntu. Don’t worry, I’ll break it down for you step-by-step.

      Step 1: Check if the Drive is Recognized

      First, let’s see if Ubuntu actually sees the drive when you plug it in. Open your terminal (you can usually do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T), and type:

      lsblk

      This command lists all block devices (like hard drives). Look for something that resembles /dev/sdb or /dev/sdc (the letter might be different based on how many drives you have). If your drive doesn’t show up here, then there might be a connection issue or it might not be recognized by Ubuntu.

      Step 2: Check System Logs

      If you don’t see it in lsblk, check the system logs to see if there are any messages about the drive. Run this command:

      dmesg | tail -n 10

      This shows the last 10 messages from the kernel. If you see any messages about USB devices or errors, that might help you troubleshoot further.

      Step 3: Update Your System

      Sometimes, just updating your system can help. Run these commands:

      sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

      After updating, try plugging in your drive again.

      Step 4: Mounting the Drive

      If the drive appears in lsblk, but isn’t mounted (you know it’s not accessible), you’ll need to mount it. Here’s how:

      1. Create a mount point (a directory where the drive will be accessible). You can do this by running:
        2. sudo mkdir /media/external
      2. Now, mount the drive (replace sdb1 with your actual drive name from lsblk):
        3. sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/external
      3. You should now be able to access the drive by navigating to the /media/external directory.

      Step 5: Accessing Data

      Open your file manager (like Nautilus), and you should see your drive listed under Other Locations or just access it through the path you created.

      What if it Still Doesn’t Show Up?

      If your drive still doesn’t show up after all this, consider checking:

      • Try another USB port on your machine to rule out a faulty port.
      • Try a different USB cable if possible.
      • Check the drive on another Ubuntu machine if available.

      A Note on Formatting

      For formatting, if the drive is recognized but you want to change the file system (e.g., to use with both Windows and Ubuntu), let me know, and I can give you the steps. Be careful, though—formatting will erase all data on the drive, so make sure you backup anything important from Windows first!

      Hopefully, this helps you get your external hard drive working on Ubuntu! Good luck!


    2. To mount an external hard drive on your Ubuntu machine, first, you should verify if the system recognizes the drive when you plug it in. Start by opening a terminal window and typing the command lsblk. This command lists all the block devices connected to your system. If your external drive doesn’t appear, try using dmesg | tail immediately after plugging in the drive. This command shows system messages and may provide clues if there were any errors recognizing the device. If the drive appears as something like /dev/sdb, then you can proceed with the mounting. If not, ensure that your USB ports are functioning or test the drive on another machine to confirm it’s not a hardware issue.

      Assuming the drive is recognized, you’ll need to create a mount point (a directory where your drive will be accessible). Use the command sudo mkdir /mnt/mydrive (you can replace “mydrive” with any name you prefer). Next, you need to mount the drive using sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/mydrive (replace sdb1 with the appropriate partition name from the lsblk command). If it’s not automatically formatted or recognized correctly, you might need to check the file system type. If it’s NTFS or exFAT, consider installing the necessary packages like sudo apt install ntfs-3g or sudo apt install exfat-fuse exfat-utils for better support. To ensure you don’t lose any data, avoid formatting unless absolutely necessary. For troubleshooting, if the drive still doesn’t show up, you can check the output of sudo fdisk -l for any unrecognized partitions or use gparted to see if it recognizes the drive. This way, you can manage the partitions more easily without risking your data.


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