HDD detected as 0 bytes

luca89 · 02-24-2024, 04:17 PM

Hi all!
I have a problem with and external USB 3.0 hard disk.
If connected to my pc this is what is shown in the dmesg:

Code:

[268998.150728] usb 5-2.4.4.4: new high-speed USB device number 13 using xhci_hcd
[268998.351536] usb 5-2.4.4.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0480, idProduct=a200, bcdDevice= 0.00
[268998.351544] usb 5-2.4.4.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=2, Product=3, SerialNumber=1
[268998.351549] usb 5-2.4.4.4: Product: External USB 3.0
[268998.351554] usb 5-2.4.4.4: Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
[268998.351558] usb 5-2.4.4.4: SerialNumber: 20170325021274F
[268998.352223] usb-storage 5-2.4.4.4:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[268998.352439] scsi host4: usb-storage 5-2.4.4.4:1.0
[268999.375860] scsi 4:0:0:0: Direct-Access     TOSHIBA  External USB 3.0 0    PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
[268999.376099] sd 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[269006.286222] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Media removed, stopped polling
[269006.287208] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] 0 512-byte logical blocks: (0 B/0 B)
[269006.287218] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] 0-byte physical blocks
[269006.288090] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
[269006.289085] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Asking for cache data failed
[269006.289092] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[269006.289861] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
[269029.191103] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Media removed, stopped polling

As you can see it seems the disk has a size of 0 bytes... so I can't even try to dd_rescue it.
I have also bought a new PCB, replaced it and still 0 bytes.
Do you have any suggestiong for trying to fix the problem to, at least, try to recover its content?

P.s.: the same happens with different cables (USB 2 or USB 3), on different PCs, with different OSes (linux or not).

wpeckham · 02-25-2024, 09:42 AM

If the electronics are fried, that may be all you get in the best case.

lvm_ · 02-25-2024, 11:35 AM

Nearly 7-second delay indicates that this is probably mechanical. SMART could be helpful.

jailbait · 02-25-2024, 12:48 PM

In a similar situation about two years ago I bought a new drive and restored my backup to my new drive. Then I used a sledge hammer to destroy the bad drive before I threw it into the dump.

beachboy2 · 02-28-2024, 06:29 AM

luca89,

Welcome to LQ forums.

I appreciate that you wish to recover data from this drive, but you could carry out a SMART test as recommended by lvm_.

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...to-fail-39072/

You could use your distro's installation media to try to recover data, but it may be a forlorn task:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...al-data-38094/

pan64 · 02-28-2024, 07:00 AM

probably the disk is ok, just the external usb enclosure is dead.
Did you try it on another host?

wpeckham · 02-28-2024, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan64

probably the disk is ok, just the external usb enclosure is dead.
Did you try it on another host?

At the bottom of the original post the OP states the behavior is the same on different PCs.
Enclosure or drive, something there smells!

business_kid · 02-28-2024, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luca89

[269006.286222] sd 4:0:0:0: [sdb] Media removed, stopped polling

That seems the pertinent line to me (a little past half way down your log snippet. It would indicate a loss of communication, which of course would set the system off bellyaching about the disk. But it may not actually be the disk.

USB drives are sata drives. Can you try it in a pc, or in another usb drive case? Ideally use nothing from the previous setup to check. If the drive works, check the old usb case piece by piece. Otherwise, use the wisdom in the previous answers.