Hello all;

since installation of Ubuntu 9.20, along with other problems, I repeteadly obtain a notification of "hard disk" error in my 40GB ATA hard disk. This disk works fine, but I am obtaining this error continously since I have installed the new version of Ubuntu. How can I manage to avoid this message everytime I use my PC?

test your disk with a live linux cd (parted magic or Ubuntu )

Post output of

#hdparm -I /dev/sda

#smartctl -a /dev/sda

(or /dev/hda)

Once assumes you mean 9.10...but anyway...

Is it the release version or a late Beta or RC? I know that the RC and Beta both reported SMART errors on HDDs erroneously. I'm running 9.10 now and don't have that issue.

HTH,
-Ray

sorry for the error , I meant 9.10.
I assume I am running the final version, I downloaded it from Ubuntu web site when it was published..

Please do as amani asked...more help would surely be forthcoming.

Also, as amani suggested running smartctl on the drive which should output any SMART errors found. While this is a good gauge, its not the end-all to the information available nor should its output be used to decide (on its own) how to proceed....at least not in my opinion.

What program is it that's reporting the HDD errors?

-Ray

Here are the outputs for both instructions:

#hdparm -I /dev/sdb

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:

ATA device, with non-removable media
Model Number: ST340810A
Serial Number: 5FB06PJN
Firmware Revision: 3.34
Standards:
Supported: 6 5 4
Likely used: 6
Configuration:
Logical max current
cylinders 16383 16383
heads 16 16
sectors/track 63 63
--
CHS current addressable sectors: 16514064
LBA user addressable sectors: 78165360
Logical/Physical Sector size: 512 bytes
device size with M = 1024*1024: 38166 MBytes
device size with M = 1000*1000: 40020 MBytes (40 GB)
cache/buffer size = 2048 KBytes
Capabilities:
LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard
R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16 Current = 16
Advanced power management level: 254
Recommended acoustic management value: 128, current value: 128
DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
Cycle time: no flow control=240ns IORDY flow control=120ns
Commands/features:
Enabled Supported:
* SMART feature set
Security Mode feature set
* Power Management feature set
* Write cache
* Look-ahead
* Host Protected Area feature set
* WRITE_BUFFER command
* READ_BUFFER command
* DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
* Advanced Power Management feature set
SET_MAX security extension
* Automatic Acoustic Management feature set
* Device Configuration Overlay feature set
* SMART error logging
* SMART self-test
Security:
Master password revision code = 65534
supported
not enabled
not locked
not frozen
not expired: security count
not supported: enhanced erase
HW reset results:
CBLID- above Vih
Device num = 1 determined by the jumper
Checksum: correct

#smartctl -a /dev/sdb -> command not found

Thank you for all in advance