[SOLVED] How to Mount HD with Linux

[Oskar1224]

In the attached 3 pictures, the first in my 250GB SATA HD where Cinnamon 20.1 is installed and all is working well with this HD

The second picture is an IDE 150GB HD which presently has nothing and looks like it’s a data only disk. The third picture is a similar HD but its only 80GB.

I would like to install Mate 20.1 for comparison with the Cinnamon on the second HD (150GB) and that’s where I have a problem because I’m very new to Linux and I don’t know how to change the boot record and format.

If I use the terminal and I issue this command

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb

would I be able after to install Mate from the DVD I have?
do I have to format the HD after and which format?
is there a better way?

[spamegg]

Yes, you can install MATE from the DVD. The installation will format the HD as Ext4. During the installation choose "Something Else" option, format the 150GB HD, add the mount point / to it, and choose it for installation. After that your GRUB menu should have both Cinnamon and MATE.

[bodge99]

Hi,

You could also reduce the size of 'sda5' by 50%. This would leave approx. 116GB that you could install your second Mint to.
You could then format your other drives to Ext4 and use them as storage or backup for both Mints.

FYI.
I'm unsure from the screenshots, but If you have a Legacy system.. then you don't need the EFI partition or have the Mint partition within an extended partition.
If you have a UEFI system then you do need the EFI partition..but not an extended partition. (There is no 4 primary partition limit on a GPT drive, for example).

As your system is working O.K. then don't worry about this now.. just be aware that this is slightly non-standard.
If you would like to "sort this" before you go any further, then just ask here.

Bodge99

[Oskar1224]

Yes, you can install MATE from the DVD. The installation will format the HD as Ext4. During the installation choose "Something Else" option, format the 150GB HD, add the mount point / to it, and choose it for installation. After that your GRUB menu should have both Cinnamon and MATE.

Thank you for the help but you did not answer my questions. However I learned from your post to use "Something Else" which I did and format my 150GB to the mount point /. That was important for me to learn.

But although the Mate install went ok, after reboot Mate was nowhere to be found. The BIOS menu had only one entry for the 250GB where the Cinnamon was installed and the Grub menu only had the Cinnamon. But I could see the Mate was installed on the 150GB HD by looking thru Cinnamon at the Gpart utility

I used the command "sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt but I didn't use the "sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb1 because I though Mate install would do it.

[Oskar1224]

Hi,

You could also reduce the size of 'sda5' by 50%. This would leave approx. 116GB that you could install your second Mint to.
You could then format your other drives to Ext4 and use them as storage or backup for both Mints.

FYI.
I'm unsure from the screenshots, but If you have a Legacy system.. then you don't need the EFI partition or have the Mint partition within an extended partition.
If you have a UEFI system then you do need the EFI partition..but not an extended partition. (There is no 4 primary partition limit on a GPT drive, for example).

As your system is working O.K. then don't worry about this now.. just be aware that this is slightly non-standard.
If you would like to "sort this" before you go any further, then just ask here.

Bodge99

Very good information here although I do not understand it all. Hard disk space is not important for me at this stage since I have 3 HD’s and that is more than enough for my needs. But later on I will reduce the space.

I do not remember what Legacy system is and the EFI/UEFI I know they are used in the BIOS but I do not remember either exactly what they mean. I will appreciate a brief explanation.

As I mentioned above I did install MATE but I can’t boot into it. So my next step is to format the 150GB HD and try another approach.

My idea is (perhaps I’m wrong) if I disconnect all HD’s except the 150GB and try to install Mate, then I should be able to boot into it assuming Mate will provide the Grub menu.

Then if I can boot into Mate, I can re connect the 250GB SATA where Cinnamon is and at boot time I can select from the BIOS menu (that’s my system menu and not the Linux menu) either the 250GB SATA where Cinnamon is or the 150GB where Mate is. This will avoid having one Grub menu for both OS which I understand it is not a good practice.

Any suggestions will be appreciated

[bodge99]

Hi,

To test if Linux system is UEFI or Legacy:
In a terminal:

Code: Select all

ls /sys/firmware/efi

If this returns something like this...

Code: Select all

 
config_table  esrt              fw_vendor  runtime-map  vars
efivars       fw_platform_size  runtime    systab

... then you have a UEFI system.

If the command returns...

Code: Select all

if "ls: cannot access '/sys/firmware/efi': No such file or directory"

...then you have a Legacy system. Note. Newer machines support both modes. Which one you use is set within your Bios settings.

If you have a choice.. pick one and stick with it. I personally prefer UEFI, other folk prefer Legacy.

Try this:

From a terminal,

Code: Select all

sudo update-grub

This should detect both Linux installations and update your local 'grub.cfg' to reflect the changes.
You shouldn't need to alter your boot settings to boot either installations of Mint. Grub should handle everything for you.

Bodge99

[Oskar1224]

Thank you for your time Bodge99

I will guess I have Legacy but have to wait to run these commands. Yesterday I bought two DDR3 chips to upgrade my RAM from 6 to 8GB (that’s the max) and when I opened the case I noticed the CPU cooling fan was hanging loose from 1 plastic screw, the other 3 were at the bottom of the case broken. Searching, these screws are available from China, 4-6 weeks delivery and not sure if they will fit. Most likely I will have to make my own contraption to fix this problem.

I built the desktop back in 2008 as a hobby project with top quality parts: Asus P5K3 Deluxe/Wi-Fi-AP mother board, Intel Core 2 Duo at 3GHz, SATA & IDE connections, Antec Performance One case with NeoPowerBlue 650W ATX power supply, AMI BIOS.

Originally I had XP Home running the desktop and later went to Vista both quite outdate today. Having Windows10 and 8.1 in my other two laptops the only alternative to use the desktop was Linux and here we are. .

[Oskar1224]

Got the cooling fan working again, did all the commands and my system is Legacy.

Also did the command to get the Grub menu at start up but still the Mate which was installed on the 150GB HD is not available at boot time

[bodge99]

Hi,

I know what should be happening with 'update-grub'.. however, the "real world" conditions can sometimes be different.

I'll duplicate your setup here and double check everything..

More later...

Bodge99

[deepakdeshp]

Hi,

I know what should be happening with 'update-grub'.. however, the "real world" conditions can sometimes be different.

I'll duplicate your setup here and double check everything..

More later...

Bodge99

Great that you can duplicate the set up. VMs?

[bodge99]

Hi,

Yes, you could use a VM..

I'm fortunate enough to have several computers spare that I can use for experimentation or testing purposes. I tend to acquire failed kit from folk around here.. Most of it is repairable (assuming that I can source the failed parts.. board connectors, laptop screens, laptop keyboards, chips etc.). I can do board level repair.. which helps!

I keep some of the better stuff and pass on some of the rest to others.

SWMBO calls me a "hoarder" .. I really don't know why!! ;>)

Bodge99

[deepakdeshp]

Great to know that. Are you in the business ti salvage and resell repaired laptops? What do you do to them once they are repaired?

[Oskar1224]

Very sorry Bodge99, but now I see the Mate desktop.

What is happening when I boot after the BIOS I see the Grub menu and in there I always had 2 main entries (actually there are 4 but the second entry on each is the Advanced options)

I used to click the first entry because the second it was also the Cinnamon and I don’t know why I have 2 Cinnamon entries

Now I decided to click the second entry and on the system info I see it says Mate Desktop 1.24.0

Apologies for creating extra work for you

[bodge99]

Hi,

No problem at all..

Enjoy!

Bodge99