fun [02:41:04]~
gleesond>mount
/dev/sda1 on / type ext3 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/sys on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
procbususb on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.17-10-386/volatile type tmpfs (rw)
/dev/hdb1 on /stash type ext3 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
fun [02:46:49]~
gleesond>sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 74.3 GB, 74355769344 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9039 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        8669    69633711   83  Linux
/dev/sda2            8670        9039     2972025    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            8670        9039     2971993+  82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/hdb: 163.9 GB, 163928604672 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19929 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hdb1               1       19929   160079661   83  Linux
fun [02:47:26]~
gleesond>sudo mkfs -V -t ext3 /dev/sda5p1
mkfs version 2.12r (Oct 12 2006)
mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda5p1 
mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006)
Could not stat /dev/sda5p1 --- No such file or directory

The device apparently does not exist; did you specify it correctly?
fun [02:47:32]~
gleesond>