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Asked: 2024-09-25T11:50:15+05:30 In:

How can I access and view the files and folders stored on an external hard drive using the terminal in Ubuntu?

I’ve recently got myself an external hard drive to expand my storage, but I’m kind of lost when it comes to managing the files on it using Ubuntu. I usually just stick to the graphical interface for everything, but I’ve heard that using the terminal can be a lot more efficient, especially for certain tasks. Here’s the thing: I want to access and view the files and folders on my external hard drive via the terminal, but I’m not sure where to start.

When I plug the drive into my laptop, I can see it on the desktop, but how do I find its path through the terminal? Do I need to mount it somehow first, or does Ubuntu do that automatically? I know a bit about basic commands like `ls` for listing files and `cd` for changing directories, but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the idea of navigating through the terminal for this.

I’ve seen discussions online about using commands like `df -h` to check available drives, but I’m not entirely sure how to interpret the output. How do I figure out which entry corresponds to my external hard drive? Once I identify the correct path, what’s the next step? I really want to be able to list the files and possibly even edit some of them from the terminal.

Also, what if I have multiple partitions on the external hard drive? Is there a way to efficiently navigate between those as well? I’ve read something about permissions and ownership, and I want to make sure I’m not running into any issues there.

If anyone’s had experience with this, I’d love to hear your step-by-step process or any tips you have. It would be really helpful to get some guidance on how to effectively use the terminal to manage files on my external hard drive without getting lost!

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    2 Answers


    1. To start managing your external hard drive via the terminal in Ubuntu, you first need to determine where it is mounted. Typically, when you plug in an external drive, Ubuntu mounts it automatically and assigns it a path, usually found under the `/media/username/` directory. Here, `username` is your system user name. You can easily find the mounted drives by using the command df -h. This command will display all file systems along with their mount points, sizes, and usage. Look for a line that corresponds to your external drive—often it will be one of the last entries in the list, and it might indicate a larger size than other entries. Once you identify your drive, you can navigate to it using cd /media/username/drivename, replacing “drivename” with the actual name of your external drive.

      If you have multiple partitions on your external hard drive, each partition will typically be mounted under its specific directory in the /media/username/ path. You can list the contents of your external drive using the ls command after navigating to the appropriate folder. To edit files, you might consider using a text editor available in the terminal, such as nano or vim. Permissions can sometimes prevent you from modifying files; in such cases, you’ll need to check the ownership using ls -l. If the files belong to a user different from you, you might need to prepend sudo to your commands or change the file permissions using chmod. By mastering these commands, you’ll enhance your efficiency in managing files on your external hard drive through the terminal.




    2. Managing External Hard Drive on Ubuntu via Terminal

      Managing Your External Hard Drive with Terminal on Ubuntu

      No worries! Navigating the terminal can be a bit daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s super efficient. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you get started with managing your external hard drive.

      Finding Your External Hard Drive

      When you plug in your external hard drive, Ubuntu typically mounts it automatically under the /media/username/ directory. To find its exact path:

      1. Open a terminal (you can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T).
      2. Type ls /media/your_username/ and hit Enter. Replace your_username with your actual username.
      3. You should see a list of drives and folders. Look for your external hard drive.

      Using `df -h` to Check Mounted Drives

      If you want to see all mounted drives and their usage:

      df -h

      The output will look something like this:

      • Look for entries that resemble /dev/sdb1 or something similar. The /dev/sdXY entries indicate your drives.
      • The Mounted on column will show you the corresponding path, and you should be able to identify your external drive based on the size used and available space.

      Navigating to Your Drive

      Once you have the path (e.g., /media/your_username/YourDriveName), you can navigate there:

      cd /media/your_username/YourDriveName

      Now, list the files:

      ls

      Editing Files

      If you want to edit files, you can use editors like nano or vim. For example, to edit a file called example.txt:

      nano example.txt

      Multiple Partitions

      If your external hard drive has multiple partitions, each should be mounted in a similar way under /media/username/. Just repeat the steps above for each partition. Check with df -h to see where each partition is mounted.

      Permissions and Ownership

      Sometimes you might run into permission issues. If you’re not the owner of a file or folder, you can check permissions with:

      ls -l

      If you’ve got permission issues, you might need to use sudo for certain commands, but use it carefully.

      Final Tips

      Practice navigating around with cd and ls, and don’t hesitate to look up other commands as you go. The terminal is powerful, and with time, you’ll feel right at home!

      Good luck, and happy file managing!


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