Solving format and Samba issues (how-to)

[The Globule]

Here is the how-to solve PBO format issues and activate Samba on your HDD when you can't from the system menu.

You will need a PBO with the latest bootcode and firmware.

If your PBO has the old version 16 bootcode, send it back to the seller or RMA to Patriot! They need to be removed from the market.

I do not have Linux installed on my computer nor do I have any knowledge of it so here is what I found to resolve the issues I had with my 640GB Scorpio Blue drive:

1. Plug the drive in your computer (an USB external enclosure works fine) and delete all the partitions present on the drive with Partition Magic or similar partitioning utility.
2. Create a 1024MB unformated (or other) primary partition at the end of the drive space (important to put it at the end).
3. Delete and secure erase (important) the partition you just created.
4. Put the drive back in your PBO and launch the format process.
You may be asked to format the drive again after the first reboot, if that the case, just do it.

Your drive should now be recognized properly and you should not be asked again to format it after rebooting the PBO.

If you have a problem, plug the drive back in your computer and look at the partitions with Partition Magic.

You should see the following (starting from the end of drive):

- one blank partition of about 150MB (mine is 156.9MB)
- preceded by one Linux Ext3 partition of the same size
- preceded by one Linux Swap partition of the same size
- preceded by one NTFS partition taking the remaining of the space minus one block

The NTFS partition should be formated (if it is not, put the drive back in the PBO and follow the drive format process).

The Linux Ext3 partition should have plenty of free space, if it shows no space available, it is corrupted and you should restart the process at point #1

Your drive should now be properly formated.

To solve the Samba share issue you will need to have another HDD (under 500GB) and two USB external enclosures on hand.

1. Remove your "big" HDD and put it in an USB external enclosure
2. Put your temporary HDD (less than 500GB) in the PBO
2. Go through the HDD format process
3. Activate Samba
4. Remove the HDD and put it in another USB external enclosure
5. Plug both enclosures on your PBO USB ports and start it
7. You will see two partions on each USB drive (first is NTFS and second is EXT3)
6. Use the file copy function of the PBO to select and copy all the folders present on the EXT3 partition of the less than 500GB drive to the EXT3 partition of your more than 500GB drive
7. Put back your "big" drive in the PBO

You should now be able to activate and desactivate Samba on your drive.

I wish Patriot would have given some help with these frustrating issues, but that was not the case...


Update on Scorpio 640BG:
Although the drive is formated and recognized, it is extremely slow to write a file on it (about one hour to write a 4.5GB file).
The drive is recognized as a 500GB by Windows XP as well so it will go back to Newegg...
The first PBO will go back to Amazon...
I am so tired of this sh!t...

[aasoror]

Here is the how-to solve PBO format issues and activate Samba on your HDD when you can't from the system menu.

You will need a PBO with the latest bootcode and firmware.

Great post Globule, though it might be the hardest DIY posted *to date* in this forum, yet at least it resolves two of the most frustrating issues here.

One Q and one suggestion:
- how do you "secure erase" a partition .. and how is the different from just removing the partition using windows disk management tool ?
- if you still have the ext3 partition contents (i.e. the Samba) would it be possible to upload a zipped/rared file with these contents (rapidshare, megaupload .. etc)..? should be relatively small and would save others the need to use additional disks to get their drives working properly.

Thanks again for the how-to ..

[The Globule]

Great post Globule, though it might be the hardest DIY posted *to date* in this forum, yet at least it resolves two of the most frustrating issues here.

One Q and one suggestion:
- how do you "secure erase" a partition .. and how is the different from just removing the partition using windows disk management tool ?
- if you still have the ext3 partition contents (i.e. the Samba) would it be possible to upload a zipped/rared file with these contents (rapidshare, megaupload .. etc)..? should be relatively small and would save others the need to use additional disks to get their drives working properly.

Thanks again for the how-to ..

Secure erase is a function of Partition Magic and some other partition utilities. It will overwrite and then erase the entire segment of the hard drive where the partition was.

I will see what I can do for the Ext3 files

[tskitishvili]

...
The first PBO will go back to Amazon...
I am so tired of this sh!t...

So am I. I cannot return mine, but I might be able to sell it.

FYI. Xtreamer (Realtek 1283DD chip) is selling on eBay for $120-$135 range.