I've recently installed ubuntu 16.04. Before installation, I've made a backup of my data (previous system was ubuntu 14.04). After installation I wanted to copy back my files, but I'm unable to access it. The disc doesn't appears in the files (on the left bar) under unity. Under mate I can see it, but if I try to open it, there is message unable to mount location.

sudo fdisk -l output is:

Disk /dev/sda: 298,1 GiB, 320072933376 bytes, 625142448 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x924cef05
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sda1 * 2048 617050111 617048064 294,2G 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 617052158 625141759 8089602 3,9G 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 617052160 625141759 8089600 3,9G 82 Linux swap / Solaris
Partition 2 does not start on physical sector boundary.
Disk /dev/sdb: 298,1 GiB, 320072933376 bytes, 625142448 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x000e1e9b
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1 2048 625141759 625139712 298,1G 83 Linux
maria@maria-Vostro-3360:/media$ sudo mount -t ntfs /dev/sdb1 /media/external

I've created mounting point in /media named external

I've run sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/external

The output is:

 mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sdb1, missing codepage or helper program, or other error In some cases useful info is found in syslog - try dmesg | tail or so.

I've tried mount -t ext4 /dev/sdb1 /media/external

Output:

mount: special device /dev/sdb1 does not exist
maria@maria-Vostro-3360:/media$ 

Is there other way I should try to access the data?

UPDATE

I was trying to see the disc in GParted. This shows unknown file system and under the details there is following:

Does it mean that my disc suddenly got broken?

UPDATE 3

Disk /dev/sdb - 320 GB / 298 GiB - CHS 38913 255 63 Partition Start End Size in sectors D Linux 0 32 33 38913 70 5 625139712 D Linux 1215 170 44 38913 70 5 605612032 D Linux 1490 100 19 38913 70 5 601198592 D Linux 19611 118 28 25015 239 56 86822912

UPDATE

Since it seems that the problem is not mounting but damaged filesystem, I've asked new question regarding data recovery: Data recovery - damaged filesystem.

1 Answer

You have two problems.

Problem #1

On your /dev/sda hard disk, partition sda2/sda5 is not properly aligned. This is a relatively easy fix, because it's your swap partition.

1. In gparted, you can select sda5 and issue a swapoff command
2. then delete sda5, then delete sda2
3. then recreate a fresh primary (not extended) swap partition, select the new partition, and issue a swapon command.
4. in terminal, type `sudo blkid` and note the UUID of the new swap partition.
5. still in terminal, edit your `/etc/fstab` with `gksudo gedit /etc/fstab` and find the line that contains the word "swap", and change the UUID to the new UUID. Save the file and quit gedit.
6. reboot the system, and in terminal, issue a `swapon` command to confirm that your new swap partition is working properly.

Problem #2

You need to recover your sdb1 partition, by changing it from unknown to EXT4. It's best to use testdisk.

1. in terminal, type `sudo apt-get update`
2. in terminal, type `sudo apt-get install testdisk`
3. in terminal, type `sudo testdisk`

You can learn more about the testdisk partition recovery by visiting .