diff --git a/plugins/partition/partition.py b/plugins/partition/partition.py
index 3a090ee..c60f089 100644
--- a/plugins/partition/partition.py
+++ b/plugins/partition/partition.py
@@ -440,7 +440,8 @@ class partition(cryptobox.plugins.base.CryptoBoxPlugin):
         (output, error) = proc.communicate()
         fdisk_status = proc.returncode
         if fdisk_status != 0:
-            self.cbox.log.debug("partitioning failed: %s" % error)
+            self.cbox.log.error("partitioning of '%s' failed: %s" % \
+                    (self.blockdevice.get_device(), error))
         ##Every time we update a partition table, force the kernel
         ##to reread it and update /proc/partitions. This particularly
         ##applies to internal hard disks.
@@ -450,16 +451,17 @@ class partition(cryptobox.plugins.base.CryptoBoxPlugin):
             stdout = subprocess.PIPE,
             stderr = subprocess.PIPE,
             args = [
-            self.cbox.prefs["Programs"]["super"],
-            self.cbox.prefs["Programs"]["CryptoBoxRootActions"],
-            "plugin",
-            os.path.join(self.plugin_dir, "root_action.py"),
-            "rereadpt",
-            self.blockdevice.get_device()])
+                self.cbox.prefs["Programs"]["super"],
+                self.cbox.prefs["Programs"]["CryptoBoxRootActions"],
+                "plugin",
+                os.path.join(self.plugin_dir, "root_action.py"),
+                "rereadpt",
+                self.blockdevice.get_device()])
         (output, error) = rereadpt_proc.communicate()
         rereadpt_status = rereadpt_proc.returncode
         if rereadpt_status != 0:
-            self.cbox.log.info("failed to reread the modified partition table: %s" % error)
+            self.cbox.log.warn("failed to reread the modified partition table "
+                    + "of '%s': %s" % (self.blockdevice.get_device(), error))
         # refresh the device list
         self.cbox.reread_container_list()
         # update the current blockdevice - especially the new partitioned children
diff --git a/plugins/partition/root_action.py b/plugins/partition/root_action.py
index fd61868..1d9ed48 100755
--- a/plugins/partition/root_action.py
+++ b/plugins/partition/root_action.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ __revision__ = "$Id$"
 ## necessary: otherwise CryptoBoxRootActions.py will refuse to execute this script
 PLUGIN_TYPE = "cryptobox"
 
-BLKDEV_BIN = "/sbin/blockdev"
 SFDISK_BIN = "/sbin/sfdisk"
 MKFS_BIN = "/sbin/mkfs"
 LABEL_BIN = "/sbin/e2label"
@@ -40,6 +39,9 @@ def __partitionDevice(device):
     ## do not use the "-q" flag, as this spoils the exit code of sfdisk (seems to be a bug)
     proc = subprocess.Popen(
         shell	= False,
+        stdin	= subprocess.PIPE,
+        stdout	= subprocess.PIPE,
+        stderr	= subprocess.PIPE,
         args	= [
             SFDISK_BIN,
             "-uM",
@@ -47,16 +49,21 @@ def __partitionDevice(device):
     proc.wait()
     return proc.returncode == 0
 
+
 def __rereadPartitions(device):
     proc = subprocess.Popen(
         shell = False,
+        stdin	= subprocess.PIPE,
+        stdout	= subprocess.PIPE,
+        stderr	= subprocess.PIPE,
         args  = [
-        BLKDEV_BIN,
-        "--rereadpt",
-        device])
+            SFDISK_BIN,
+            "-R",
+            device])
     proc.wait()
     return proc.returncode == 0
 
+
 def __formatPartition(device, type):
     import time, threading
     result = True
diff --git a/src/cryptobox/core/blockdevice.py b/src/cryptobox/core/blockdevice.py
index 72eaa1e..ea0b2ad 100644
--- a/src/cryptobox/core/blockdevice.py
+++ b/src/cryptobox/core/blockdevice.py
@@ -207,8 +207,8 @@ class Blockdevice:
             if os.path.exists(dev):
                 return dev
         # none of the device nodes exists
-		self.cbox.log.warn("No valid device node found for %s out of %s" % \
-				(self.name, str(self.devnodes)))
+        LOGGER.warn("No valid device node found for %s out of %s" % \
+                (self.name, str(self.devnodes)))
         return None
 
 
@@ -970,25 +970,6 @@ def find_lvm_pv():
     return result[:]
 
 
-def get_sorted_devices(names):
-    """return the names of devices in a sorted order
-
-    e.g.: "hda1", "hda5", "hda6", ..., "hda10", "hda11"
-    """
-    # TODO: implement this for devicenames like "hda12"
-    def compare_device_names(x, y):
-        if x.name < y.name:
-            return -1
-        elif x.name == y.name:
-            return 0
-        else:
-            return 1
-        
-    result = names[:]
-    result.sort(cmp=compare_device_names)
-    return result
-
-
 def _load_preferences():
     prefs = cryptobox.core.settings.get_current_settings()
     if not prefs is None: