A friend gave me an eMachine, he couldnt get it to boot anymore. The machine had been running Windows Xp prior to its failure. The model is the T2865. Far as I can tell it seems impossible to write to the drive and only a small portion is read. Ubuntu install shows just over 8 gigs, of a 160 gig HDD. I really want to get this machine functional.

***************************************************************************

hdparm /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
multcount = 0 (off)
IO_support = 0 (default 16-bit)
unmaskirq = 0 (off)
using_dma = 0 (off)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 256 (on)
geometry = 16383/16/63, sectors = 16514064, start = 0

*****************************************************************************

hdparm -i /dev/hda

/dev/hda:

Model=WDC WD1600, FwRev=15.05R, SerialNo=
Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec SpinMotCtl Fixed DTR>5Mbs FmtGapReq }
RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=57600, SectSize=600, ECCbytes=74
BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=2048kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=off
(maybe): CurCHS=0/0/0, CurSects=0, LBA=no
IORDY=no
PIO modes: pio0
AdvancedPM=no

* signifies the current active mode

***************************************

hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:

read() failed: Input/output error
Timing buffered disk reads: read() failed: Input/output error

**********************************************
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
dd: writing to `/dev/hda': Input/output error
1+0 records in
0+0 records out
0 bytes transferred in 0.101011 seconds (0 bytes/sec



********************************************


dmesg | grep hda
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 320
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 328
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 336
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 344
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 352
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 360
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 368
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 376
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 384
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 392
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 400
Buffer I/O error on device hda, logical block 50
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 408
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 416
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 424
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 432
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 440
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 448
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 456
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 464
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 472
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 480
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 488
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 496
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 504
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 0
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 0
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
hda: drive not ready for command
hda: status error: status=0x10 { SeekComplete }
end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector 0
hda: drive not ready for command



************************************************

Thanks for your consideration. I hope we can conjure a way to wipe this drive and consequently restore it.

EDIT: its a Western Digital 1600AB

Have you tried putting the drive into another machine as a slave device?

Sadly, i havent another machine, save a laptop.

I can tell you that it seems to not have any partitions though. And it cant be partitioned. ( I havent found a way )

Thanks for the reply.

bump
thanks

Get the hard drive manufacturer's drive check utility and see what it says about the drive.

Also, what is the output of
Note that is a lowercase "L"

God you know your stuff.

There used to be an error under fdisk whereby it would limit non dos partitions to 8Gb due to it not using LBA.

You can download a new version of windows 95b or 98SE boot disk and run the fdisk facility on it.

You may have to delete the non DOS partition table, then create a new primary partition and it should automatically set the partition as active.

Drop to the command prompt reboot your sysem, when the system is back up and running at the command prompt type :

fisdk /mbr

and then format the C:

I had to do this on a 40Gb maxtor about 3 months ago and it has a working backup of one of my other drives on it now.

I hope this helps

The OP is attempting to install Ubuntu, which is not the same thing as restoring the MBR to a Windows-friendly state. Running the "fdisk -l" simply displays some basic info about the disk, most importantly how it is partitioned. Please see the man pages for more info.

Yup - If we could know the what geometry linux sees.

Firstly it needs to configured the right way in bios as well.

If possible send all three -

1- Geometry Details on Hard Drive.
2. Geometry details as recognized by BIOS
2. Geometry details as recognized by Linux.

And this linux here - did you install on same hard drive on some other computer and then may be lateron shifted this to this computer.

other option could be to try same hard drive in some other newer computer and see if it works.

and if you could also tell what kernel we are running here. Did you compile kernel or changed some io param.

the Hd manufacturers utilities claim its not a drive made by them lol. i had tried that first.

you can also try running TestDisk on it

thank you. i will try this. i do fear a hardware failure.

Disk /dev/uba: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/uba1 * 1 14593 11721841 c w95 fat32 (LBA)

The error message shown over and over is most consistent with a failure of the HD controller.

It could also be a silicon failure on the controller card that is mounted on the HD itself, but usually when I see this:

I am looking at a bad controller. In the case of an IDE drive, this usually means a mobo replacement. In the case of a SCSI drive, this usually means a new SCSI adapter.

Nonetheless, before committing, I would place the drive in a different machine and see if it works.