How can I identify which drive is which?

Using TestDisk to repair the filesystem
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Norwegianwood
Posts: 11
Joined: 31 Dec 2020, 16:22

How can I identify which drive is which?

#1 Post by Norwegianwood »

Hi I'm new to this forum.
I've just ran testdisk.
I have 3 HDD and 2 are the same, so how can I tell which is which?

Thanks

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: How can I identify which drive is which?

#2 Post by recuperation »

You have to request the serial number for each of the drives in question.
Under Windows run smartmontools with the -i parameter:

smartctl -i /dev/sdX
Replace "X" by the drive letter in question.

Under Linux run
hdparm -i /dev/sdX

Norwegianwood
Posts: 11
Joined: 31 Dec 2020, 16:22

Re: How can I identify which drive is which?

#3 Post by Norwegianwood »

recuperation wrote: 31 Dec 2020, 18:33 You have to request the serial number for each of the drives in question.
Under Windows run smartmontools with the -i parameter:

smartctl -i /dev/sdX
Replace "X" by the drive letter in question.

Under Linux run
hdparm -i /dev/sdX
So I'm using W10, so where do I type in: smartctl -i /dev/sdX

Many thanks

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: How can I identify which drive is which?

#4 Post by recuperation »

Use the command prompt while being in the smartmontools folder.
If Windows 10 operates like Windows 7 you can key key in "cmd" into the box where you find the folder path.
You might possibly run this as an administrator.

Norwegianwood
Posts: 11
Joined: 31 Dec 2020, 16:22

Re: How can I identify which drive is which?

#5 Post by Norwegianwood »

recuperation wrote: 13 Feb 2021, 21:19 Use the command prompt while being in the smartmontools folder.
If Windows 10 operates like Windows 7 you can key key in "cmd" into the box where you find the folder path.
You might possibly run this as an administrator.
Many thanks for the reply.

Re: smartmontools
Is smartmontools part of W10, as I cant find it?

Norwegianwood
Posts: 11
Joined: 31 Dec 2020, 16:22

Re: How can I identify which drive is which?

#6 Post by Norwegianwood »

Norwegianwood wrote: 15 Feb 2021, 20:49
recuperation wrote: 13 Feb 2021, 21:19 Use the command prompt while being in the smartmontools folder.
If Windows 10 operates like Windows 7 you can key key in "cmd" into the box where you find the folder path.
You might possibly run this as an administrator.
Many thanks for the reply.

Re: smartmontools
Is smartmontools part of W10, as I cant find it?
Can anyone please advise ?
Many thanks

Norwegianwood
Posts: 11
Joined: 31 Dec 2020, 16:22

Re: How to ensure that you don't get an answer in this forum!

#7 Post by Norwegianwood »

recuperation wrote: 16 Feb 2021, 12:35 12. Avoid asking questions that could be solved by a minimum amount of research on your own. In this case one simple google request would have solved the question:

viewtopic.php?p=33140#p33140
Re: smartmontools
Is smartmontools part of W10, as I cant find it?
I assume I have a right to a polite reply?
Firstly: I appreciate your help.
Secondly: I guess it can become quite tedious answering the same questions, day after day.
But clarity (as you obviously are trying to point out here) saves everyone time, but that works both ways.

When I ask someone a question, and someone is gracious enough to reply with a practical answer,
then I assume they want to be helpful.

So your above comment about using smartmontools would have been a complete & practical answer for me & others reading my query (and saved you the time of having to create this rebuff) if:...
You had just added the helpful comment: 'which you can download from the web'

Rather than leaving me (and possibly others) guessing,
eg: for all I know, smartmontools could have been part of TestDisk or even Windows.

BTW: Some people just like to be friendly in their banter, and feel like they are having conversation with a friend, which quite often involves adding superfluous comments like: help, and, blimey what a day I've had etc,etc, etc,
Especially in these odd times.

In the written word, it's so easy for things to be misinterpreted, so please understand that no malice was intended in this reply.

Many thanks for you help.

recuperation
Posts: 2718
Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 09:48
Location: Hannover, Deutschland (Germany, Allemagne)

Re: How to ensure that you don't get an answer in this forum!

#8 Post by recuperation »

Norwegianwood wrote: 18 Feb 2021, 16:11
recuperation wrote: 16 Feb 2021, 12:35 12. Avoid asking questions that could be solved by a minimum amount of research on your own. In this case one simple google request would have solved the question:

viewtopic.php?p=33140#p33140
Re: smartmontools
Is smartmontools part of W10, as I cant find it?
I assume I have a right to a polite reply?
You are dead wrong - not at all. Obviously you missed out the hints by the creator of Testdisk and Photorec about the number of responses.
You are free to consult a paid recovery service - when paying them three to four digit figures they will be incredibly polite to you.

The sad thing is the more I am polite by answering not Testdisk related questions, accepting bad documentations, unreadible pictures, answering several time a day explaining any sub step the worse people behave.

Cross-reading the forum, reading the manual and the online documentation even if you feel like you understand nothing is something I expect.
When cross-reading the forum you will learn very fast the difference between a well documented question and a bad one.

In your case I had serious doubts about recovery chances when you had to ask me how to open the command prompt.

The easiest way in case of problems is not to answer anymore. It's a waste of time arguing. It always ends up of users accusing me of being not polite.

geordielad007
Posts: 7
Joined: 20 Feb 2021, 14:47

Re: How can I identify which drive is which?

#9 Post by geordielad007 »

I believe Recuperation has made some very valid points and realise there is some research done before he replies. So well done to Recuperation.
I'm anew member and the first thing that caught my eye was the administrators advice and that is look through all the post and topics before asking for advice, which is precisly what I am doing now.

I am unfamiliar with the TestDisk program that I am presently running, and want to be fully conversant with it before, I start asking questions.

Fortunately, I do know how to use the command prompt. :D

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