#Format hdd for raspberry pi samba how to#
#Format hdd for raspberry pi samba install#
#Format hdd for raspberry pi samba free#

For this example, I have an empty USB key, without partition (fdisk -l):.

Here are the steps to follow to create a new partition: If you need to create a partition or want to rebuild a new partition table, you have to use fdisk again.

#Format hdd for raspberry pi samba free#

Find the virtual drive nameīefore doing anything else, you need to find the device name.Īre you a bit lost in the Linux command line? Check this article first for the most important commands to remember and a free downloadable cheat sheet so you can have the commands at your fingertips. Format USB drives with a command lineĪs usual, doing the same thing on Raspberry Pi OS Lite isn’t as straightforward.

#Format hdd for raspberry pi samba install#

Check this article if you want to discover the most useful you should install on your Raspberry Pi.

There are many great apps on Raspberry Pi OS with Desktop that can make your life easier. I have a complete guide about Gparted on Raspberry Pi, click on the link to learn more about it. If you don’t already have a partition on your drive, it’s the same process (as simple as right-click > new).

#Format hdd for raspberry pi samba how to#

That’s it, you now know how to format a USB drive on Raspberry Pi OS Desktop.

Click on the green tick on top to confirm and apply changes.

Then right-click on the partition and choose “Format to” to select the file system you want to use.

Enter your password, and you’ll get a window like this:.

Once Gparted installed, open the main menu again, and go to System tools > GParted.

Feel free to read it and follow the steps on your computer if you prefer. I already have it on Raspberry Pi OS Full, but I don’t thing it’s installed by default on other versions.Īnother option would be to prepare the USB drive on your other computer, for example I have an article on this website explaining how to create partitions on Ubuntu.

If needed, install “gparted” from the main menu > Preferences > Add / Remove software.

You have a tool named “gparted” that does all the work for you: Using the desktop interface is the easiest way to format USB drives. If you are still here, I’ll show you how to format a USB drive from both environments (Desktop or Lite). So, if your drive is correctly formatted, and you just want to mount it on the Raspberry Pi, you can skip this part and go directly to the mounting step. There isn’t really a right order in which way to show you the format and mount. PartitionsĪnother thing to understand is “partition”.Īs the name says, a partition is a specific part of the disk.įormat the USB drive from the Raspberry Pi Get all the information on this page if you are interested. You’ll also do your first project with me, just to make sure you are ready for the next level. I’ll help you use the perfect hardware, plug everything in and install your first system.

If you need help getting started on Raspberry Pi, I have an entire course to guide you through your first steps. Most of the time you will use EXT4 to keep your USB drive on Linux / Raspberry Pi OS, and one of the others if you want to make it readable on another platform. Here are the most used file systems right now:Įach file system has its own advantages and disadvantages, but this isn’t the focus of today’s post. Sometimes it may require an additional package, but it is possible. It’s a convention on how files are stored on the disk.Įach operating system has its favorite file system, but Linux, and so Raspberry Pi OS, can read and write any file system. It doesn’t matter if it’s a USB drive, a hard disk or an SD card. File systemsīasically, file systems are the way your files will be saved on the device. Let’s start with a short introduction about everything you need to understand before going further. The first third of the book teaches you the basics, but the following chapters include projects you can try on your own. It’s a 30-day challenge where you learn one new thing every day until you become a Raspberry Pi expert. If you’re looking to quickly progress on Raspberry Pi, you can check out my e-book here. I’ll start with a file system introduction, and then walk you through the 3 steps above. In this guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know, so you don’t need any prior knowledge. After that, Raspberry Pi OS should mount the USB drive automatically (on Desktop versions). Then it can be formatted with a tool like Gparted. Today, I’ll show you how to format and mount a USB drive on your Raspberry Pi, whether in terminal or graphic mode.įirst, you must properly identify the device to use (name, partition and file system). This is especially true if you are on a console-only operating system, like Raspberry Pi OS Lite.

Mounting and formatting USB drives on Linux isn’t the easiest thing to do.