[SOLVED] USB HDD will not mount.

tredegar · 05-02-2023, 12:04 PM

I have an external USB HDD that no longer mounts. I knocked the cable whilst it was mounted.

It is (was?) a 4TB Seagate, formatted as /dev/sda1 = EFI partition and /dev/sda2 as ext4 IIRC. No encryption.

I am running updated Fedora38.

dmesg says

Code:

[4685.715457] usb 4-1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
[ 4685.728885] usb 4-1: New USB device found, idVendor=0bc2, idProduct=ab30, bcdDevice= 1.08
[ 4685.728896] usb 4-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 4685.728900] usb 4-1: Product: BUP BK
[ 4685.728902] usb 4-1: Manufacturer: Seagate
[ 4685.728905] usb 4-1: SerialNumber: NA9FB4W8
[ 4685.735674] scsi host0: uas
[ 4685.736331] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Seagate  BUP BK           0108 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
[ 4685.739088] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[ 4733.879326] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Spinning up disk...
[ 4754.959579] ...not responding...
[ 4927.646578] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] tag#11 uas_eh_abort_handler 0 uas-tag 1 inflight: CMD IN 
[ 4927.646589] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] tag#11 CDB: Read capacity(16) 9e 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00
[ 4927.657467] scsi host0: uas_eh_device_reset_handler start
[ 4927.773230] usb 4-1: reset SuperSpeed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
[ 4927.788494] scsi host0: uas_eh_device_reset_handler success
[ 4937.869348] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] tag#11 uas_eh_abort_handler 0 uas-tag 1 inflight: CMD 
[ 4937.869360] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] tag#11 CDB: Test Unit Ready 00 00 00 00 00 00
[ 4937.869364] scsi host0: uas_eh_device_reset_handler start
[ 4937.985099] usb 4-1: reset SuperSpeed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
[ 4938.001768] scsi host0: uas_eh_device_reset_handler success
[ 4938.001779] sd 0:0:0:0: Device offlined - not ready after error recovery
[ 4938.001891] sd 0:0:0:0: rejecting I/O to offline device
[ 4938.001905] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Read Capacity(16) failed: Result: hostbyte=DID_NO_CONNECT driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 4938.001908] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Sense not available.
[ 4938.001916] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Read Capacity(10) failed: Result: hostbyte=DID_NO_CONNECT driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 4938.001918] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Sense not available.
[ 4938.001924] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 0 512-byte logical blocks: (0 B/0 B)
[ 4938.001926] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 0-byte physical blocks
[ 4938.001934] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
[ 4938.001938] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Asking for cache data failed
[ 4938.001940] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 4938.001949] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Preferred minimum I/O size 4096 bytes not a multiple of physical block size (0 bytes)
[ 4938.001952] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Optimal transfer size 33553920 bytes not a multiple of physical block size (0 bytes)
[ 4938.003149] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk

fdisk, testdisk and photorec don't see it at all.

There is something at /dev/sda however:

Code:

[root@f38 ~]# file /dev/sda
/dev/sda: block special (8/0)

The following might be useful information

Code:

[root@f38 ~]# lsusb
Bus 004 Device 006: ID 0bc2:ab30 Seagate RSS LLC BUP BK <-- This is it

[root@f38 ~]# lsscsi -t
[0:0:0:0]    disk    usb:4-1:1.0                     /dev/sda 
[N:0:1:1]    disk    pcie 0x1c5c:0x174a                         /dev/nvme0n1

[root@f38 ~]# lsscsi -lll
[0:0:0:0]    disk    Seagate  BUP BK           0108  /dev/sda 
  device_blocked=0
  iocounterbits=32
  iodone_cnt=0x1b
  ioerr_cnt=0xb
  iorequest_cnt=0x1b
  queue_depth=30
  queue_type=simple
  scsi_level=7
  state=offline
  timeout=30
  type=0

Any suggestions as to how I might get this device to mount?

fatmac · 05-02-2023, 12:50 PM

Possibly, the cable broke, try another cable.

Maybe damaged the interface of the external enclosure, try using an external cable adapter to attach it.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=usb...ages&ia=images

tredegar · 05-02-2023, 03:07 PM

Thank you for your suggestion, but the cable is fine, as the device is seen, and correctly identified by lsusb and other utilities.

It just will not mount.

teckk · 05-02-2023, 03:22 PM

You could try fsck on it. Also, be sure the usb port didn't get bent a little when you hit it. I have had usb sockets that were wallowed out, and the plug had to be pushed it just right.

Pulll out the plug,
dmesg -w then slowly push in the usb plug and watch what happens.

You have /dev/sda

Code:

fdisk -i /dev/sda

Won't get you anything? Either the cable is broke, the usb socket is bent/broke, the drive board has died...

/dev/sda1 will be FAT.

lvm_ · 05-03-2023, 12:54 AM

Linux detects USB device so the USB stuff - the cable and such is ok, but cannot see any intelligent life behind it. This can happen if the disk cannot get enough enough power, disconnected or dead. Check SMART, if USB bridge in this disk lets you see SMART info - directly, otherwise disassemble it and connect to SATA port.

Soadyheid · 05-03-2023, 11:06 AM

Quote:

[ 4733.879326] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Spinning up disk...
[ 4754.959579] ...not responding...

If you hold the disk lightly between your fingers and thumb, can you feel it spinning? The above message implies that it's not. You can try using something like a long screw driver, handle in your ear, point on the disk, like a stethoscope. you should be able to hear it spinning. If it looks like it isn't spinning and is stuck, try holding the disk (while disconnected!) horizontally then flick your hand back and forth. The internal platter(s) should stay still due to inertia while you move the disk body back and forth freeing it off. We called it the "bean shake" after an old UK commercial. Some people used to hit a stuck disk to free it off but hey.... Head crash anyone?

Lastly, disks take the most power when spinning up, less needed once up to speed. Have you tried a different USB port which may supply more power or failing that, an external PSU?

Hope these suggestions help!

Play Bonny!

tredegar · 05-03-2023, 01:53 PM

Well, I thank you all for your sensible suggestions.

Newer USB ports (like on my Framework laptop) will supply sufficient power, but no joy there either.

I have changed the USB cable, and disassembled the external enclosure, which was tricky but youtube suggested brute force which worked for the glued parts.

I have since reattached the bare HDD to two different external 2.5" HDD enclosures, and it still isn't seen.

It is spinning (I gently put it to my ear) and clicking, so I think the HDD is broken.

Time for replacements. The last one lasted 5.5 years, though used very occasionally.
Most of the data was also backed up elsewhere, so not all is lost, just some.

Moral of this sorry story? Back up your backups!

I'll mark this as solved, if I can remember how to.

rknichols · 05-03-2023, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredegar

Well, I thank you all for your sensible suggestions.

Newer USB ports (like on my Framework laptop) will supply sufficient power, but no joy there either.

I have changed the USB cable, and disassembled the external enclosure, which was tricky but youtube suggested brute force which worked for the glued parts.

I have since reattached the bare HDD to two different external 2.5" HDD enclosures, and it still isn't seen.

It is spinning (I gently put it to my ear) and clicking, so I think the HDD is broken.

Clicking is a very bad sign. The drive has died.

Jan K. · 05-03-2023, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredegar

Moral of this sorry story? Back up your backups!

Never been a fan of giving each drive an enclosure, and seen too many of them fail...

Instead save some money, get a docking station and buy bulk drives.
Drives are easier to store and since they're disconnected, they are safe even during thunderstorms...

My docking station support both HDD and SSD, btw.

Valuable data deserves at least 3 copies, one preferable stored in another place.

But points for even having a backup!