"ioctl(HDIO_GETGEO) failed:" Could be more helpful.

[baruch]

I tried to use gpart for a quick check whether it could recover the
broken partition table from a (relatively unimportant) USB stick
image. I was greeted with the error message

*** Fatal error: ioctl(HDIO_GETGEO) failed: Invalid argument.

I admit this is sufficient for the initiated.

However, it will lead the uninitiated towards using the device itself,
instead of the image. At least that is what I did, being in the hurry I
was. That got rid of the message all right - allthough I feel using the
device instead of the copy is somehow the "wrong way". Also, the "device
itself" is rather slow in my paticular case.

In my view, an addition to the error message would be helpful.

I suggest something like the following:

*** Fatal error: ioctl(HDIO_GETGEO) failed: Invalid argument.
Disc geometry information could not be read.
(Maybe you want to try either the -C or the -g option.)

Regards, and thank you for providing fine software

Andreas

(ticket copied from Debian BTS #341935)