Can't create and format partition

[jave]

Hi
Running Linux Mint 20.2 Cinnamon and loving it.

But I want to back up my data. So I bought an external 4TB Seagate drives for AUD$99.

Partition on the drive is NTFS but I want it either ext4 or exFAT. Which is better?

I tried using Gparted, but I get an error when trying to create a big ext4 partition.

I also tried using the "Disks" utility, but get an error also - "gdbus-error-quark 4" is the error.

How do I get my external drive partitioned and formatted to use as a backup?

[Moonstone Man]

I tried using Gparted, but I get an error when trying to create a big ext4 partition.

ext4 is the best if you don't intend to share the contents by plugging the drive into a Windows machine.

To properly partition the drive, delete the existing partition, then create a new partition table, which Disks erroneously calls "Format the disk", then add the ext4 partition.

[jave]

Hey. This are the errors I get when trying to format as ntfs:

Code: Select all

Device:	/dev/sdb
Model:	Seagate Expansion Desk
Serial:	none
Sector size:	512
Total sectors:	7814037167
 
Heads:	255
Sectors/track:	2
Cylinders:	15321641
 
Partition table:	msdos
 
Partition	Type	Start	End	Flags	Partition Name	File System	Label	Mount Point
========================================

Create Primary Partition #1 (ntfs, 3.64 TiB) on /dev/sdb  00:00:00    ( ERROR )
    	
create empty partition  00:00:00    ( ERROR )
    	
libparted messages    ( ERROR )
    	
partition length of 7814033408 sectors exceeds the msdos-partition-table-imposed maximum of 4294967295

[jave]

Fixed it. Created a new partition table - GPT!!!

[Moonstone Man]

Hey. This are the errors I get when trying to format as ntfs:

Code: Select all

	
partition length of 7814033408 sectors exceeds the msdos-partition-table-imposed maximum of 4294967295

Use a GPT partition table, and why are you attempting to format an NTFS partition when you had one to start with.

Don't answer that, it's rhetorical.

[jave]

Hey. This are the errors I get when trying to format as ntfs:

Code: Select all

	
partition length of 7814033408 sectors exceeds the msdos-partition-table-imposed maximum of 4294967295

Use a GPT partition table, and why are you attempting to format an NTFS partition when you had one to start with.

Don't answer that, it's rhetorical.

Ha ha me just getting rid of the Seagate/Windows junk they put on the drive. All good now.

[Moonstone Man]

All good now.

Not really, no. NTFS support in Linux isn't exactly kosher, and it's why Linus Torvalds has asked Paragon to submit their promised NTFS driver. It would have been better to simply delete the rubbish from the file manager and leave the Windows created NTFS partition just as it was. I'm only telling you that for future reference, until and if Paragon ever follow through with their promise.

[jave]

No, seriously - all good. I formatted the partition as ext4. I have no other Windows machines and this backup drive is just for me.