Partitions not appearing in Devices -solved

[londrioca]

I've used Mint 17.3 for a couple of years as dual boot W7 and used a 3rd NTFS partition for data (docs, photos, etc) to be readable by both systems. I've now got a new laptop with W10 & have tried the doing the same (installing 17.3 64bit) although the option of NTFS for the data partition didn't appear so I used FAT32. Problem is that in Home/Devices only the Windows partitions appear so I can't open the data partition, what's the drill to get all partitions there? I'd also like to change it from FAT32 to NTFS but again there's no option. Screenprints of Home & GParted here:
http://imgur.com/a/BxBXF

Thanks

[austin.texas]

Use the Gparted program to create your ntfs partition. It does have that capability.

[londrioca]

If I right-click on it in GParted the 'Format to' option is greyed out. If I unmount it I can change it but then the 'Mount' option is greyed out.

[austin.texas]

Corrrect. You can't format it when it is mounted. First you unmount. Then format it to ntfs. Then mount it as an ntfs partition. The mount configuration for a FAT partition won't work, so you have to discard that and create the correct mount instructions in fstab.

[londrioca]

"First you unmount. Then format it to ntfs. Then mount it as an ntfs partition." That's what I tried but as described mounting it as an NTFS partition wasn't an option. "..create the correct mount instructions in fstab." I confess I'm not au fait with what that means. Whatever I did has resulted in now not being able to boot into Mint, the first screen appears with Cinnamon/Windows options but when I choose Cinnamon nothing happens. If I boot using live CD it doesn't let me mount any partition, but ironically all partitions appear in Home/Devices, which is what I was trying to achieve in the first place. I can boot into Windows & change the partition to NTFS no problem, maybe I should have done that in the first place. Confused? You will be! Anyway my priority now is to at least be able to boot Mint.

[austin.texas]

Getting Mint to boot is obviously the first priority.
Please post the result of the Boot Info Script.
Boot your live Mint and install boot-info-script:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install boot-info-script

Then run the script:

Code: Select all

sudo bootinfoscript --stdout | pastebin

Post the resulting URL link that displays in the terminal.

[londrioca]

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ sudo apt-get install boot-info-script
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

Didn't have anything else open so I used Synaptic to download it but then:

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ sudo bootinfoscript --stdout | pastebin
pastebin: command not found
 | pastebin

Tried this:

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ sudo bootinfoscript

Boot Info Script 0.61      [1 April 2012]

Identifying MBRs...
Computing Partition Table of /dev/sda...
Searching sda1 for information... 
Searching sda2 for information... 
Searching sda3 for information... 
Searching sda4 for information... 
Searching sda5 for information... 
Searching sda6 for information... 

Finished. The results are in the file "RESULTS.txt"
located in "/home/mint/".

Which is:

Code: Select all

                 Boot Info Script 0.61      [1 April 2012]


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7: NTFS
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  Unknown
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        /efi/Boot/bootx64.efi /efi/ubuntu/grubx64.efi 
                       /efi/ubuntu/MokManager.efi /efi/ubuntu/shimx64.efi

sda3: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info: 
    Mounting failed:   mount: unknown filesystem type ''

sda4: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7: NTFS
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda5: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info: 
    Operating System:  Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
    Boot files:        /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sda6: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7: NTFS
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes

Partition  Boot  Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sda1                   1 1,953,525,167 1,953,525,167  ee GPT


GUID Partition Table detected.

Partition    Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors System
/dev/sda1           2,048       923,647       921,600 Windows Recovery Environment (Windows)
/dev/sda2         923,648     1,126,399       202,752 EFI System partition
/dev/sda3       1,126,400     1,159,167        32,768 Microsoft Reserved Partition (Windows)
/dev/sda4       1,159,168    89,647,103    88,487,936 Data partition (Windows/Linux)
/dev/sda5      89,647,104   284,958,719   195,311,616 Data partition (Linux)
/dev/sda6     284,958,720 1,953,523,711 1,668,564,992 Data partition (Windows/Linux)

"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL

/dev/loop0                                              squashfs   
/dev/sda1        2C52C95F52C92F00                       ntfs       Recovery
/dev/sda2        66CB-65D8                              vfat       
/dev/sda4        F450CF0B50CED390                       ntfs       
/dev/sda5        d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc   ext4       
/dev/sda6        546CB4976CB47578                       ntfs       New Volume
/dev/sr0                                                iso9660    Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon 64-bit

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/loop0       /rofs                    squashfs   (ro,noatime)
/dev/sr0         /cdrom                   iso9660    (ro,noatime)


=========================== sda5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}
function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt5'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_GB
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
  set timeout=30
else
  if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
    set timeout_style=menu
    set timeout=10
  # Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
  # unavailable.
  else
    set timeout=10
  fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
	set gfxpayload="$1"
	if [ "$1" = "keep" ]; then
		set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
	else
		set vt_handoff=
	fi
}
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
  if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
    if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
      if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
        set linux_gfx_mode=keep
      else
        set linux_gfx_mode=text
      fi
    else
      set linux_gfx_mode=text
    fi
  else
    set linux_gfx_mode=keep
  fi
else
  set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon 64-bit, 3.19.0-80-generic (/dev/sda5)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd0,gpt5'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	fi
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-80-generic root=UUID=d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc ro   quiet splash $vt_handoff
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-80-generic
}
menuentry 'Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon 64-bit, 3.19.0-80-generic (/dev/sda5) -- recovery mode' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd0,gpt5'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	fi
	echo	'Loading Linux 3.19.0-80-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-80-generic root=UUID=d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc ro recovery nomodeset 
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-80-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon 64-bit, 3.13.0-24-generic (/dev/sda5)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd0,gpt5'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	fi
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=UUID=d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc ro   quiet splash $vt_handoff
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon 64-bit, 3.13.0-24-generic (/dev/sda5) -- recovery mode' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd0,gpt5'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc
	fi
	echo	'Loading Linux 3.13.0-24-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=UUID=d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc ro recovery nomodeset 
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
}
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows Boot Manager (on /dev/sda2)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-efi-66CB-65D8' {
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod fat
	set root='hd0,gpt2'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2  66CB-65D8
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 66CB-65D8
	fi
	chainloader /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
}
set timeout_style=menu
if [ "${timeout}" = 0 ]; then
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
menuentry 'System setup' $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' {
	fwsetup
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
# / was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /boot/efi was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=66CB-65D8  /boot/efi       vfat    defaults        0       1
# /dos was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=F6E3-6936  /dos            vfat    utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0       1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

           GiB - GB             File                                 Fragment(s)


======================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc: ========================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000  eb 58 90 4d 53 44 4f 53  35 2e 30 00 02 02 0e 1a  |.X.MSDOS5.0.....|
00000010  02 00 00 00 00 f8 00 00  3f 00 ff 00 00 18 0e 00  |........?.......|
00000020  00 18 03 00 f9 02 00 00  00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00  |................|
00000030  01 00 06 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000040  80 00 29 d8 65 cb 66 4e  4f 20 4e 41 4d 45 20 20  |..).e.fNO NAME  |
00000050  20 20 46 41 54 33 32 20  20 20 33 c9 8e d1 bc f4  |  FAT32   3.....|
00000060  7b 8e c1 8e d9 bd 00 7c  88 56 40 88 4e 02 8a 56  |{......|.V@.N..V|
00000070  40 b4 41 bb aa 55 cd 13  72 10 81 fb 55 aa 75 0a  |@.A..U..r...U.u.|
00000080  f6 c1 01 74 05 fe 46 02  eb 2d 8a 56 40 b4 08 cd  |...t..F..-.V@...|
00000090  13 73 05 b9 ff ff 8a f1  66 0f b6 c6 40 66 0f b6  |.s......f...@f..|
000000a0  d1 80 e2 3f f7 e2 86 cd  c0 ed 06 41 66 0f b7 c9  |...?.......Af...|
000000b0  66 f7 e1 66 89 46 f8 83  7e 16 00 75 39 83 7e 2a  |f..f.F..~..u9.~*|
000000c0  00 77 33 66 8b 46 1c 66  83 c0 0c bb 00 80 b9 01  |.w3f.F.f........|
000000d0  00 e8 2c 00 e9 a8 03 a1  f8 7d 80 c4 7c 8b f0 ac  |..,......}..|...|
000000e0  84 c0 74 17 3c ff 74 09  b4 0e bb 07 00 cd 10 eb  |..t.<.t.........|
000000f0  ee a1 fa 7d eb e4 a1 7d  80 eb df 98 cd 16 cd 19  |...}...}........|
00000100  66 60 80 7e 02 00 0f 84  20 00 66 6a 00 66 50 06  |f`.~.... .fj.fP.|
00000110  53 66 68 10 00 01 00 b4  42 8a 56 40 8b f4 cd 13  |Sfh.....B.V@....|
00000120  66 58 66 58 66 58 66 58  eb 33 66 3b 46 f8 72 03  |fXfXfXfX.3f;F.r.|
00000130  f9 eb 2a 66 33 d2 66 0f  b7 4e 18 66 f7 f1 fe c2  |..*f3.f..N.f....|
00000140  8a ca 66 8b d0 66 c1 ea  10 f7 76 1a 86 d6 8a 56  |..f..f....v....V|
00000150  40 8a e8 c0 e4 06 0a cc  b8 01 02 cd 13 66 61 0f  |@............fa.|
00000160  82 74 ff 81 c3 00 02 66  40 49 75 94 c3 42 4f 4f  |.t.....f@Iu..BOO|
00000170  54 4d 47 52 20 20 20 20  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |TMGR    ........|
00000180  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
000001a0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 0d 0a 44 69  |..............Di|
000001b0  73 6b 20 65 72 72 6f 72  ff 0d 0a 50 72 65 73 73  |sk error...Press|
000001c0  20 61 6e 79 20 6b 65 79  20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74  | any key to rest|
000001d0  61 72 74 0d 0a 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |art.............|
000001e0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
000001f0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ac 01 b9 01 00 00 55 aa  |..............U.|
00000200


=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

cat: /tmp/BootInfo-e1FagNb7/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
  No volume groups found

[austin.texas]

You can pastebin it yourself.
It will create a text file named RESULTS.txt.
Paste the contents of that file at pastebin.ubuntu.com - and copy the resulting link to the forum.

[londrioca]

See above, but here's the link:
http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/24545749/

To be continued, it's bedtime in London...

[austin.texas]

I see that you have changed sda6 to ntfs.

The Boot Info Script shows your /etc/fstab (near the end of the file).
That was mounting the FAT partition with this line:
UUID=F6E3-6936 /dos vfat utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1

The Boot Info Script also shows that currently sda6 has a UUID of 546CB4976CB47578
So in the /etc/fstab file, the UUID needs to be changed to the new one, and the vfat reference has to be changed to ntfs

Boot the live Mint and double-click the Computer icon on the Desktop. That will open the file manager, displaying all of your partitions. Open your Mint root partition, sda5. You will see all of the basic directories - bin, boot, cdrom, and the rest... Right-click on the etc directory > Open In Terminal.
In the terminal, enter

Code: Select all

gksudo gedit fstab

That will open the fstab file in your text editor, allowing you to make the change I described above.
Replace:
UUID=F6E3-6936 /dos vfat utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
Change to:

Code: Select all

UUID=546CB4976CB47578 /dos   ntfs   defaults,nls=utf8,umask=000,uid=1000,windows_names  0  0

[londrioca]

Have done that:

Code: Select all

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
# / was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=d965f3af-e945-41d5-947c-0cfe14060bcc /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /boot/efi was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=66CB-65D8  /boot/efi       vfat    defaults        0       1
# /dos was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=546CB4976CB47578 /dos   ntfs   defaults,nls=utf8,umask=000,uid=1000,windows_names  0  0

but still not booting. Meanwhile here's current GParted, sda6 seems correct but sda4 (Windows partiton) now has warning symbol.

http://imgur.com/a/RV4lA

[austin.texas]

I don't have a UEFI system, but I did notice that your fstab does not include a reference to the ESP. Ordinarily, there should be an entry for the ESP in your /etc/fstab file.
It should look like this:

Code: Select all

# /boot/efi was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=66CB-65D8   /boot/efi       vfat    utf8,fmask=0133      0       1

(66CB-65D8 is the correct UUID for yor system)

Try including that.
Beyond that, you might try the rEFInd boot manager:
rEFInd boot manager intro by srs5694
rEFind for UEFI Windows dual boot by srs5694
How to use rEFInd & Dual-boot With Windows 10 - by srs5694
rEFInd tips

[londrioca]

Slightly confused, fstab includes:

Code: Select all

# /boot/efi was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=66CB-65D8  /boot/efi       vfat    defaults        0       1

So I just need to change the second line to:

Code: Select all

UUID=66CB-65D8   /boot/efi       vfat    utf8,fmask=0133      0       1

?

[austin.texas]

No, it is me who is confused. I missed that. I must have been looking at something else.
Your fstab is ok on that.
There are several ways to troubleshoot an EFI boot, but rEFInd might be the easiest solution. I know it has worked for some others who had similar problems.

[londrioca]

Now here's an odd thing; when I tried to boot using Mint 17 DVD it froze, just showing the icon so I ran 'Check media integrity' & tried again but no difference so then I tried an 18.1 DVD & it booted back into Mint on HDD, i.e. it kicked the tyres & cured whatever the problem was (don't ask me). However my original question remains, how to get sda6 to appear in Devices so I can use it.

[londrioca]

P.S. I've labelled sda6 as 'Data'. I see it's flagged ' msftdata', is that relevant?

[austin.texas]

"Data" is your label. "msftdata" is the filesystem detected.

my original question remains, how to get sda6 to appear in Devices so I can use it.

The quick, easy way to get it displayed in the sidebar is to open "File System", then open the /dos directory. Click on Bookmarks on the toolbar > Add bookmark.

The more complicated process would be to change the mount point. Right now you are mounting it at /dos. If you change the mount point in fstab to /media/dos (you would have to first create that directory), then it would show in Devices. Anything mounted in /media shows there.

[londrioca]

I assume if I use the first option & copy anything to it then that would also be accessible in Windows? I'd prefer the second option as it seems more akin to what I was always using, I mounted it at /dos as that was one of two options that appeared when I installed Mint, the other being /windows. Where do I create /media/dos though?

[austin.texas]

I assume if I use the first option & copy anything to it then that would also be accessible in Windows?

Yes, it is on the ntfs partition, and Windows can read that.

I'd prefer the second option as it seems more akin to what I was always using, I mounted it at /dos as that was one of two options that appeared when I installed Mint, the other being /windows. Where do I create /media/dos though?

/media is one of the root folders, the same as /boot and /etc and /home. You will see it in the file manager when you open File System.
To create a folder in media, open a terminal and enter

Code: Select all

sudo mkdir /media/dos

Then, of course, you would open /etc/fstab in your text editor:

Code: Select all

gksudo gedit /etc/fstab

and change the mount point.
Change:
UUID=546CB4976CB47578 /dos ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=000,uid=1000,windows_names 0 0
Change to:

Code: Select all

UUID=546CB4976CB47578  /media/dos   ntfs   defaults,nls=utf8,umask=000,uid=1000,windows_names  0  0

Then you should reboot, to unmount the partition from /dos and automatically mount it at /media/dos
Or, instead of rebooting, you can unmount it manually:

Code: Select all

sudo umount /dev/sda6

And activate the new mount:

Code: Select all

sudo mount -a

[londrioca]

Yes, that did it, thanks for your patience!