How-TO:Reveal Hidden Partition

The X04 series has a hidden partition on the hard drive, which contains the Operating System. This partition can be revealed to show it contents; that is the goal of this tutorial.

Requirements:

Linux

Hard Drive From Archos Unit _{(504 would be the easiest since it is a 2.5" hard drive, not a 1.8" hard drive)}

Hard Drive Enclosure

1. On the Linux machine, in a bash shell, type "ls /dev/hd*"

^Example:

Linux ~ # ls /dev/hd*
/dev/hda  /dev/hda1  /dev/hda2  /dev/hda3  /dev/hda4  /dev/hda5  /dev/hda6

1. Connect the enclosure with the hard drive to the Linux machine.
2. On the Linux machine, in a bash shell, type "ls /dev/hd*", again

^Example:

Linux~ # ls /dev/hd*
/dev/hda   /dev/hda2  /dev/hda4  /dev/hda6  /dev/hdc
/dev/hda1  /dev/hda3  /dev/hda5  /dev/hdb   /dev/hdc1

In this example, the Archos hard drive is /dev/hdc

1. Partition the Drive

Linux~ # cfdisk /dev/hdc

Notice the unallocated space at end of the hard drive. Select the unallocated space and select NEW. Make it a Primary Partition,and select WRITE.

1. Mount the partition

Make a directory for the new partition:

Linux~ # mkdir /mnt/archos

Mount the partition (as read-only)

Linux~ # mount /dev/hdc2 /mnt/archos  -o ro

1. Looking at the files

Linux~ # cd /mnt/archos
Linux~ # ls