fdisk: refresh

[CleanMachine1]

fdisk is a crucial disk editing command, which is key for setting up Arch Linux for example.

However it is not documented very well and is a useful command itself when things like GParted aren't available because someone doesn't have a desktop

My edits will need a little help

[CleanMachine1]

This needs to be looked at, the syntax for adding memory disk allocation is +{{size}}{{K|M|G|T|P}}

To a beginner and me, that is odd. I would put 500M or 500MB or 500 MB, then be confused that it didn't work and have to look it up on my phone, which is annoying enough (when installing arch, unable to use a web browser)

[CleanMachine1]

The only possible solution I can see is maybe putting that in the description

[sbrl]

fdisk is an interactive command, so you don't specify the syntax for the size of the partition here - I'm confused what you're referring to here?

[CleanMachine1]

At the command prompt, it is done during the command,

EG

$ sudo fdisk /dev/sda

new

Enter size of partition 1 +500M

[CleanMachine1]

You need to put a +, which IMO is an odd syntax

[navarroaxel]

Why you didn't add the g command?

[CleanMachine1]

Why you didn't add the g command?

Probably because I have never used it, I am a BIOS boot person. UEFI booting just annoys me + I use DOS

[CleanMachine1]

You could argue that both the MSDOS table and GPT are important, however in comparison to the others, they seem a little less useful since most people formatting their disks will already have a partition table, and just need to partition it correctly, however from a view point of just using the tool instead of GParted, then I could definitely see the use.

However which is more important can be decided, I'd say p is the least important (still really useful), however all the others are command that everyone using the tool needs to know like discarding if mistakes are made or writing when ready

[CleanMachine1]

Another thing that needs to be brought up here, do we make the commands long, i am pretty sure d can be turned into delete.

Making them long might make it easier for a user,

g - gpt

gpt makes more sense

[sbrl]

In this case @CleanMachine1 although it would be beneficial to have long options, then man page and help does not mention it, so it's not officially supported.

[CleanMachine1]

Open an fdisk (don't write to any disks) and type variations of commands, ne counts as n, so it seems to cover for the user regardless of typos

[marchersimon]

How about

Suggested change

	- Once partitioning a disk, create a partition:
	- Create a partition within `fdisk`:

Maybe also inside of or in

[CleanMachine1]

I don't like that. To me that just means,

when you use this command, it creates a partition.

or in tldr terms

• Create a partition:

[CleanMachine1]

It being interactive shows that you need a previous command to reach that stage

[marchersimon]

That's what the within fdisk is for. It tells you that you have to be inside of fdisk (running it) to be able to execute the command.

[CleanMachine1]

It guess, but I don't think it does as well

[CleanMachine1]

Suggested change

	- Once partitioning a disk, create a partition:
	- Once manipulating a disk, create a partition:

Suggested change

	- Once partitioning a disk, create a partition:
	- Once editing a disk, create a partition:

[marchersimon]

I prefer the original one in this case

[CleanMachine1]

Your suggestion?

[marchersimon]

If we're keeping that sentence structure, I'd prefer Once partitioning a disk, ... like it is right now.

[sbrl]

Open an fdisk (don't write to any disks) and type variations of commands, ne counts as n, so it seems to cover for the user regardless of typos

Yes, while I don't deny it works it's not officially documented, so it's not guaranteed that it's not going to change in the future.

Also, practically all modern operating systems use GPT partition tables - even without UEFI booting (which I might add still allows you to disable secure boot, which for me is what really annoys me)?

[navarroaxel]

Also, practically all modern operating systems use GPT partition tables - even without UEFI booting (which I might add still allows you to disable secure boot, which for me is what really annoys me)?

Yep, with UEFI and GPT you can still disable secure boot.

[marchersimon]

Looks good, thanks

[sbrl]

Thanks, @CleanMachine1!