Use LaCie Ruged Mini 2TB external drive on Ubuntu 16.04?

Question

I just purchased a Lacie Rugged Mini 2TB external drive assuming that I would be able to use it on Linux because I've never had problems with external drives before. When I plug it in, it mounts as a directory with the name "Lacie Setup", which contains .exe files, some other stuff, and a Readme.txt file that states only "Before using your drive, LaCie Setup software must be launched." Will I be able to use this drive from my Ubuntu 16.04 machine at all?

If so, what setup is required?

Internet search isn't turning up a lot of information on this, but this thread has me nervous: https://malwaretips.com/threads/how-to-install-lacie-prosche-design-hard-drive-setup-software-on-ubuntu-15-10.57661/, specifically, this quote:

"[just deleting all the partitions and formatting it with Partition Editor on Linux is a] good suggestion, but I have looked it up already. People on AskUbuntu say once they do that to their Lacie drives (any model), it kills the drive completely, the software is necessary for the drive to run and the software I use, MKUSB kills drives usually."

Solution 1

from the comments: I can't think of any reason that you shouldn't be able to use it... but I don't have any specific Lacie experience. And now's the time to try it, and if it doesn't work, return it. Keep a copy of the Windows utilities before you wipe it. They usually include a backup program, and maybe a SMART utility.

Use a GPT partition table, because it's a 2TB drive.

edit: MBR partition table disks can only have 4 partitions, and typically are used with older BIOS computers with small hard disks. GPT partition table disks can have 128 (I don't remember the max) partitions, and typically are used with newer UEFI computers with large hard disks.

Solution 2

Based on reassurance from @heynnema, I went ahead and used the Ubuntu disk utility Disks to delete the "LaCie Setup" partition and add a new Ext4 partition, and things seem to be working fine now.

(At the moment I still have an MBR partition table, not GPT.)

Comments

[Boris Hamanov]

I can't think of any reason that you shouldn't be able to use it... but I don't have any specific Lacie experience. And now's the time to try it, and if it doesn't work, return it. Keep a copy of the Windows utilities before you wipe it. They usually include a backup program, and maybe a SMART utility. Use a GPT partition table, because it's a 2TB drive.

[user1521655]

@heynnema, thanks for your input. If you post your response as an answer, I'd be happy to "accept" it in order to give you credit. A bit more information on why you are recommending GPT would be helpful too - so far I'm still using MBR and haven't run into problems, and am wondering if I should go back an change that.

[wazoox]

you must install ntfs-3g for Linux to support NTFS.