Mint doen't seem to be using all my memory

[walkingdispensary]

I think I messed up.

I wanted to switch over from Windows 10 to Linux Mint but now I only have 8 GB in Mint and the rest of my 991 GB Volume is a separate drive I can't access it.

Apparently it belongs to root and I don't have permission to access it.

How can I transition Mint to access this vast memory or just switch back to Windows? (I deleted it in the process of switching over in Linux)


RESULTS FROM [inxi -Fxz]

Code: Select all

System:    Host: mint Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 20378 v: Lenovo Y50-70
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Lenovo Y50-70 v: 31900058WIN
           Bios: LENOVO v: 9ECN31WW(V1.14) date: 08/18/2014
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-4700HQ (-HT-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 19154
           clock speeds: max: 3400 MHz 1: 999 MHz 2: 1299 MHz 3: 1146 MHz
           4: 1204 MHz 5: 999 MHz 6: 1316 MHz 7: 999 MHz 8: 1000 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Card-2: NVIDIA GM107M [GeForce GTX 860M] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) FAILED: nouveau
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 08:00.0
           IF: wlp8s0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 3000 bus-ID: 09:00.0
           IF: enp9s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1008.0GB (1.6% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD10S21X size: 1000.2GB temp: 41C
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: TransMemory size: 7.8GB temp: 0C
Partition: ID-1: swap-1 size: 8.50GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 51.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 269 Uptime: 59 min Memory: 2900.7/7892.9MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

[Moem]

Hello, I have four questions:

- You're talking about disk space, not memory, right?
- Is your data backed up? If so you can always just reinstall.
- What makes you think that most of your desk space is not used by Mint? Root is a part of Mint after all.
- Maybe you just made some unfortunate partitioning choices. Can you tell us what exactly you did?

[walkingdispensary]

i downloaded mint on a usb drive and changed my boot system to prioritize usbs. After mint successfully installed I clicked the Cd icon named Install Linux mint and selected the option to download third party apps and delete everything and replace with mint. My one terabyte drive says it belongs to root and i cannot do anything to it because i do not have permissions necessary

[walkingdispensary]

also i was trying to download windows 8.1 for fear i messed up but i ran out of space at first i thought it was on my usb but i guess my mint is its own drive with only 8 gigs

[Moem]

Can you please do the following:
- Boot from your USB drive again.
- Start up the program named GParted. It's pre-installed and you'll find it in the menu. Use it to get an overview of your harddisk.
- Make a screenshot by pressing PrtSc on your keyboard. If you're wondering where it went, you'll find it in Pictures.
- Upload the screenshot somewhere where we can see it. Imgur is a good option.
- Post the link here, for us to see.

[walkingdispensary]

also everytime i shut down i lose everything i do like downloads cookies etc

[florus]

You have removed the USB drive before rebooting, haven't you?

[lsemmens]

florus makes a good point. Is there data on that 1Gb drive that you cannot afford to lose? If not you could always try and re-install Linux again. If the drive shows up in Nemo you can log on as root and take ownership.

[JerryF]

You have removed the USB drive before rebooting, haven't you?

I have a feeling that you're right. I think the OP is booting the USB drive (looking at the inxi results).