pendrive restoration

metaschima · 03-21-2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

I really wouldn't recommend using dban to try to troubleshoot mounting issues on a known-good USB stick and I'm worried that it has even been suggested.

DBAN was never suggested, search the whole thread. The only thing I suggested was to wipe with zeros. This is because writing to the drive may help the microcontroller remap bad blocks, and I wanted to get rid of any corrupt partition data. I've had flash drives that started working normally after wiping with zeros, so it's not completely unfounded. It doesn't always work tho, depending on the cause of the problem.

273 · 03-21-2015, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metaschima

DBAN was never suggested, search the whole thread. The only thing I suggested was to wipe with zeros. This is because writing to the drive may help the microcontroller remap bad blocks, and I wanted to get rid of any corrupt partition data. I've had flash drives that started working normally after wiping with zeros, so it's not completely unfounded. It doesn't always work tho, depending on the cause of the problem.

My apologies, I see that DBAN was only mentioned by the OP. However, suggesting that somebody overwrite a drive with zeros because it's not mounting on one system seems a little extreme. I know that the OP wasn't all that clear so I can understand that the issue was misunderstood but, then, surely troubleshooting begins with collecting facts?
Sorry, I am not trying to be critical of your posts but just trying to point out the general lack of caution seen here.

69Rixter · 03-21-2015, 07:48 PM

Fellas, I don't know what else can be done to salvage the drive. I'm open to suggestions, but just the fact that DBAN wouldn't work, nor dd if=/dev/zero of=/devsdb, nor dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=1M count=10 says to me the pendrive is cooked(?). Unless you know of some other method of restoration or have a way of mounting the drive, then I would surmise it's demise(?). I'm using LM17.1 & Gparted also, Gparted could not accomplish anything with the drive. Another O.S....well I did try to use MSWin, but again, with no success. Look, if you can suggest something that'll regenerate this drive I'm all for it, but as for me, I know of nothing else to try/use. As per my discussion with 273 concerning the status of this laptop, I feel it's a faulty USB port(s) and/or faulty comp. hardware, yet that is my opinion. Do not debate among yourselves. I alone took it upon myself to use DBAN. BTW there are 5 different methods on that CD to use and I choose the short DoD...which did nothing more than give me a readout of faulty I/O. I highly doubt I've done anything 'extreme" to the pendrive as nothing has worked or attempted to work, to my knowledge. Well, there it is, if you should want/need any specs or more info concerning the pendrive or laptop, then please request, but I think the drive is history and the problem lies within the laptop.
Stay Sharp:
Rick

273 · 03-21-2015, 07:53 PM

Assuming this USB stick works fine with other computers then just stop using things like gparted and dban as the stick is fine. I did ask something about this also:

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

I have to reiterate, have you more than one OS on the laptop you can try to access the USB stick from? I wouldn't rule out a software issue unless you have tried more than one OS -- I have been on the verge of writing off hardware in the past only to discover it was a driver issue wit ha particular Linux version, for example.

If yuo cannot access the USB stick, which works with other computers, from any OS on the laptop then the laptop has faulty USB ports. That's as simple as I can put it. If that is the case then there is nothing you can do with software so you have to either have the laptop repaired or resign yourself to the fact that you can't use the USB ports.

69Rixter · 03-21-2015, 08:07 PM

I didn't say I could access the drive with other O.S's. I said I tried another O.S with the same results as LM17..that was ..no results. MSWin was the O.S. that reported the drive had "healthy patitions" and the drive was 'good". Gparted could 'see" the drive, but couldn't mount it to 'fix" it. With Gparted, I also was able to "see" what was on the drive (the individual files") but it could not delete any partion, nor re-build any partition, nor format. Same with MSWin. Let me ask this of you or ANYONE... do you know if HP has a "portchip" or card that can be replaced? I've searched around and haven't been able to obtain this info. The laptop is a HP2000-210US. I'm going to keep looking but due to it's age (5 yrs.) I'm finding it difficult to obtain an owners manual. Thank You for all the help.
Stay Sharp:
Rick

273 · 03-21-2015, 08:16 PM

I would doubt that it is possible for a home user to replace the chip responsible for providing USB ports:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I/O_Controller_Hub
However, it is worth checking that the cables which connect to the USB ports are in tact and connected properly and, silly as it may sound, you haven't a build-up of dirt on the terminals within the USB port itself.

astrogeek · 03-21-2015, 08:30 PM

Since this is a recurring theme that seems related to this one laptop, is it possible that you have one of the FTDI-update destroyed chips in that machine possibly damaging the pendrives stuck into it?

I offer the following links for your own consideration, not saying this looks like the problem necessarily, but related and timely (Oct 2014)...

Windows Update bricks fake USB chips

FTDI admits to bricking innocent users' chips in silent update

FTDI uses Windows Update to disable devices using counterfeit chips

It just seems to me that with recurring, elusive USB problems this might be worth looking into.

69Rixter · 03-22-2015, 02:19 PM

To Everyone:

A bit of good news (maybe). This laptop does have a USB Board and it's replacement is realtively inexpensive. Although it does pose another question/problem. This laptop has 3 USB ports and the replacement "board" is for just the 2 on the right side of the machine. I'm sure I could "figure this out" but curiously, anyone have an explanation? Also, am gonna call HP and find out if I can upgrade the MoBo, for I found one on Ebay @ a good price. This laptop may be worth rebuiling after all(?).
THANX:
Rick

metaschima · 03-22-2015, 04:16 PM

Do a full read and write test using a large file on the USB stick from another computer to confirm that the USB stick is good.

From what I've seen USB ports that fail do so completely such that anything plugged into that port is not seen at all.

Also eliminate software issues by trying a recent live CD/DVD and using the USB stick.

69Rixter · 03-24-2015, 05:51 PM

Hey All:

Ok, just found out this bit of info. The pendrive has "lost it's boot signsture". Been checking net, but finding a 'fix" has been rather confusing. And, most the the threads refer to MSWin, which, I can access, but would like to use my own laptop(LM17.1), if possible. Anyway, this'll be the final 'go around" with this pendrive. If I can't find a way to mend the "lost boot signature", then I'm done with it.
THANX:
Rick

Hey astrogeek:

Thanx for the info. Ahm...I've not run any "updates" from HP for they will not update anything when using Linux. I appreciate what you said, but might there some other cause you may know of? And, I did find a replacement 'board" for 2 of the 3 ports and it was fairly inexpensive. Do you think that might 'straighten out" the USB ports problem? As far as the pendrive and the ports, I just found out the pendrive has "lost it's boot signature". So, I guess this is what the port(s) is doing to the pendrive(s) (???) Now, I'm trying to find out how to repair the pendrive!
Thanx:
Rick