disk issues and ubuntu installation

insticator tech · 01-14-2013, 05:20 PM

I tried cleaning the partition which had Ubuntu installed (but was corrupted somehow and I wanted to reinstall) - I used gparted for it. After deleting the partitions which contained ubuntu (I had another partition for windows), I tried re-installing ubuntu 12 - however, the installation failed complaining that there was no /dev/sda. When I tried gparted again via live CD, its unable to find any devices on the computer. I will run disk utility to gather more information - any other thoughts that could possibly help me get to the point where I can re-install ubuntu on my computer. I noticed the option for reformatting on disk utility but I have not tried it yet.

Edit: I am assuming that I may have corrupted/deleted the NTFS partition somehow since I am unable to see any deviced on gparted now. I am not entirely sure whether I should try format volume or drive via dis utility. I will try running a bad blocks check as well.

thanks in advance

Update: I can neither format drive nor volume using disk utility - it complains about "Daemon is inhibited".

Update:

When I tried running benchmark drive performance, I received the following error:

Error benchmarking: helper exited with exit code 1: Error reading 104857600 bytes at 104857600 from /dev/sda when guesstimating buffer size: Input/output error

TobiSGD · 01-14-2013, 05:37 PM

It seems to me that your disk is faulty, which would also explain why the installation got corrupted in the first place. I would recommend to test the disk with the manufacturer's diagnosis tool, but you can have a first look at its state with booting the live-CD and launching the command

Code:

sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda

in a terminal.
If you don't know how to interpret the data just post it here, but please use code-tags (look in my signature) for posting that rather lengthy output.

insticator tech · 01-15-2013, 01:42 AM

Thanks for responding. Here are some of the messages when I ran the command you suggested:

ATA Error Count: 65535 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)

Error 65535 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5462 hours (227 days + 14 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle
After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
40 41 02 00 08 00 40 Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000800 = 2048

TobiSGD · 01-15-2013, 06:05 AM

We can't see much from that small part of output. Please post the complete output and use code-tags for posting it (see my signature for instructions how to use code-tags).

insticator tech · 01-15-2013, 11:01 PM

Hi
I have copied the response below - thank you for looking into this (mcuh appreciated):

Code:

smartctl 5.41 2011-06-09 r3365 [x86_64-linux-3.2.0-29-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-11 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Device Model:     TOSHIBA MK5056GSY
Serial Number:    40RYT2LAT
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000039 2720881fb
Firmware Version: LH503A
User Capacity:    500,107,862,016 bytes [500 GB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Device is:        Not in smartctl database [for details use: -P showall]
ATA Version is:   8
ATA Standard is:  Exact ATA specification draft version not indicated
Local Time is:    Wed Jan 16 04:58:46 2013 UTC
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)	Offline data collection activity
					was never started.
					Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (  20)	The self-test routine was aborted by
					the host.
Total time to complete Offline 
data collection: 		(  120) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: 			 (0x5b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
					Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
					Suspend Offline collection upon new
					command.
					Offline surface scan supported.
					Self-test supported.
					No Conveyance Self-test supported.
					Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)	Saves SMART data before entering
					power-saving mode.
					Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)	Error logging supported.
					General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine 
recommended polling time: 	 (   2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 ( 131) minutes.
SCT capabilities: 	       (0x0039)	SCT Status supported.
					SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
					SCT Feature Control supported.
					SCT Data Table supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000b   098   098   050    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  2 Throughput_Performance  0x0005   100   100   050    Pre-fail  Offline      -       0
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0027   100   100   001    Pre-fail  Always       -       2135
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       2886
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   050    Pre-fail  Always       -       12
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000b   100   100   050    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  8 Seek_Time_Performance   0x0005   100   100   050    Pre-fail  Offline      -       0
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   087   087   000    Old_age   Always       -       5472
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0033   156   100   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       2854
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       232
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       246
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       7715
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       42 (Min/Max 14/49)
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       12
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       1269
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0030   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       1
220 Disk_Shift              0x0002   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       243
222 Loaded_Hours            0x0032   089   089   000    Old_age   Always       -       4614
223 Load_Retry_Count        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
224 Load_Friction           0x0022   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
226 Load-in_Time            0x0026   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       285
240 Head_Flying_Hours       0x0001   100   100   001    Pre-fail  Offline      -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 65535 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
	CR = Command Register [HEX]
	FR = Features Register [HEX]
	SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
	SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
	CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
	CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
	DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
	DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
	ER = Error register [HEX]
	ST = Status register [HEX]
Powered_Up_Time is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.

Error 65535 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5472 hours (228 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 02 00 00 00 40  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 00 00 00 00 40 00      01:02:38.675  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:38.675  SET FEATURES [Reserved for Serial ATA]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      01:02:38.674  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:38.674  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:38.673  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 65534 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5472 hours (228 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 02 00 00 00 40  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 00 00 00 00 40 00      01:02:35.630  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 08 00 00 10 00 40 00      01:02:35.624  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:35.624  SET FEATURES [Reserved for Serial ATA]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      01:02:35.624  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:35.623  IDENTIFY DEVICE

Error 65533 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5472 hours (228 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 02 00 00 00 40  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 00 00 00 00 40 00      01:02:32.583  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:32.582  SET FEATURES [Reserved for Serial ATA]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      01:02:32.582  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:32.581  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:32.581  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 65532 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5472 hours (228 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 02 00 00 00 40  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 00 00 00 00 40 00      01:02:29.541  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:29.540  SET FEATURES [Reserved for Serial ATA]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      01:02:29.540  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:29.539  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:29.539  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 65531 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5472 hours (228 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 02 00 00 00 40  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 00 00 00 00 40 00      01:02:26.498  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:26.498  SET FEATURES [Reserved for Serial ATA]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      01:02:26.498  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:26.497  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      01:02:26.497  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Extended offline    Aborted by host               40%      3784         -
# 2  Short offline       Completed without error       00%      3783         -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
 SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

TobiSGD · 01-16-2013, 04:56 AM

Seeing the sheer amount of errors (the drive reports 65535 errors, but I am sure there were more, but not countable because the counter is only 8bit wide) I assume that this drive really is faulty. You can make a test with the manufacturer's diagnosis tool to be absolutely sure, but my advice would be to replace that disk.

insticator tech · 01-16-2013, 10:44 AM

Thank you for looking into this - much appreciated. I was able to reformat the volume and eventually re-install Ubuntu on the hard drive. I will not be surprised if the hard drive crashes in the very near future (I have an external drive and it seems like I might have to get an internal one pretty soon).

Danke