scripsit Robert Wultsch:
> James Mabry wrote:
> 
> >>"tune2fs: Bad magic number in super-block while trying to open 
> >>/dev/hda7 couldn't find valid filesystem superblock."
> 
> The greatest reason that linux is better than anything else:
> 
> Error messages!

Quite right.  That is one of the reasons Linux is better than anything
else on the desktop.  Even if I haven't the foggiest idea what it's on
about (because of my own lack of knowledge) I greatly appreciate
detailed, informative error messages.  I could use a Mac and get `Error
No -237' and a little bomb graphic, or I could use Windows and get my
favourite `An error occurred'...

> What is a magic number? Who though of such a stupid term?

I assume it's the same thing on a superblock as on a file:  a
distinctive byte pattern that lets you recognize what type of file or
filesystem you're looking at.  man file and man magic for more
information...

-- 
Pax vobiscum; pax cum omnibus.

Thanasis Kinias
tkinias at asu.edu
Doctoral Student, Department of History
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A.