Hi,
Am wanting to use this 640GB WD disk for backup so I can up to 17 but I am getting this message when I want to format it.
Error synchronizing after initial wipe. Timed out waiting for object (udisks-error-quark,0)
In Disks it shows as 640GB - Partition 2 286 GB Unknown - Free Space 370GB
/dev/sdd Unallocated Space.
The disk used to be a Win 10 disk but I want it to be just the Z16 back up nothing else.
Please direct me.
Thanks
oz
Would you be able to include a screenshot of your drive from within say Gparted? Select the drive and then we can see the partitions and what's going on with them.
Since you say the drive used to be for Windows, I'm assuming that it's presently formatted as NTFS. In Linux land we prefer not to use that, as it can cause a whole host of issues. If you'd be alright with wiping the whole drive, you could reformat it into something more usable for Linux (such as ext4) and should be good at that point. But the screenshot of the drive in Gparted would help us to see more.clearly what's going on.
In addition to @applecheeks37's suggestion to use Gparted, which I agree would be better for formatting; Please ensure that the drive is unmounted prior to trying to format it. A drive can be wiped while mounted (with caveats and is unsafe), but cannot be formatted while mounted.
As an Addition to the Comments of @applecheeks37 and @Aravisian, I would suggest to plug in the Drive and then use a USB Stick with Zorin on it, start it, choose the ''Try Zorin'' Mode and in the Live Mode, You can use GParted to delete and format the Drive.
Many thank guys. I have attached 3 screens of the 3 partitions of the 640GB disk so you can see what goes on.
Also a df -h list.
Is that 540 mounted yet?
I agree!
I think your best option is to boot up off a USB stick, try Zorin OS mode, then format your 640GB disk in EXT4 GPT. Then install Zorin OS onto that, and the installer should be able to handle the rest.
Thanks. What size USB should I use ?
Also BTW to be sure I have all the backups I need prior to 17 install, in case of problems, how much disk space do I need. I have the VB installed on the primary too.
I'm a bit confused about this thread...You have already installed Zorin 16 on your normal drive, or not? And you don't want to install Zorin on the WD-drive but only use it to make a backup of Zorin 16 on it.
Why there is a Live USB Stick is recommended I don't understand (just later to install Zorin 17 if you don't want to make an inplace upgrade but a fresh install). Why not install gparted on the normal drive (if it isn't installed yet) and then use it to format the other drive?
How much space you'll need depends on what you want to save - the complete system, home directory with personal datas or only your personal datas. And only you know how much storage is used now on your normal drive with Zorin 16. At disks or gparted you can see the size of your partitions.
Well, that depends how much Data to safe You have. You can use a BackUp Program; maybe some People here can recommend some. Or You make it the manual Way, grab an external HDD or SSD and simply copy Your Data (Music, Videos, Documents etc.) on it.
When You want create a bootable Stick with Zorin on it? I would say 8GB. 4Gb could maybe a bit tight.
Thank you guys. Apologies if I have confused anyone 
I have 16+ Pro with 16+ Lite on a VB.
I want to upgrade to 17 both os but as I am not too good with Linux, want to be sure when I upgrade, that I don't crash the either of those os's.
I had the Z Backup working for years then a few weeks ago after a PSU problem, it now will not back up. There is still plenty of space on the separate backup drive.
As I write I changed the Backup location but it needed another 238GB so went back to the original and now it gives me this.. so maybe (hopefully) it is correcting whatever was wrong.
I will be back !
Oh no.. didn't work.. just got this error opening file.
Checked Permissions and see this.
You could check if fast startup in Windows is enabled. If yes, please turn it off. Perhaps it helps.
Do I understand you correctly? You have installed Zorin 16 pro and lite as virtual machines in virtualbox. What OS do you use? Linux or Windows or both (=Dualboot)?
And now you want to backup them to this hard drive?
When Your BackUp Drive is this:
the Problem could be that it is in NTFS Format. It should work, yes. But depending what You do with this Drive the ext4 Format could be better.
Thank you.
Yes I have Z16 Pro as my main os and I have a VB on that with Z16 Lite in it.
I have been using The BackUp app in Z but after a power failure and a failed PSU, it has decided not to accept backing up. Possibly something to do with NTFS or just a corruption.
As the Backup drive is a separate drive, where can I format over it as ext4 ?
In the Disk app ?
Then mayvbe it will work. There is only a previous Backup on it anyway now out of date.
I want to back up in case the Update to Z17 has a problem. I don't want to lose it all. For example I have live websites on the VB Z lite.
You can make it in Disks, yes. Or You can use GParted, too. When You have a bootable USB Stick with Zorin on it, start it, choose the ''Try Zorin'' Mode and search for it. Open it, choose Your Drive, delete it and then format it in ext4.
