Hi,

I bought 2 new 1,5TB sata disks for my server. But when I plug them in my debian gives a error message: ata2: SRST failed error -16

The debian runs from an old 500GB ide disk and a 160Gb ide disk for the home dirs.

I tried antoher cable, but that is not the problem(or is that other cable also broken...). I also tried all sata modes in bios, auto, enhanced, sata-only. I also tried booting an ubuntu 9.10 live cd. But in gparted the disks won't show up.

What can I do?

Is it possible that the sata controller of the motherboard is to slow. Would it help if i fix the disk to 1,5Gbs? But how can I do this, the manual refers to some kind of software.

Could you post your kernel version (uname -a) and any other errors surrounding that one? Perhaps the results of 'egrep -i 'ata|sda /var/log/syslog' would be helpful too.

I found the software to lower the speed. But it still doesn't work.

Linux debian-server 2.6.26-2-686

I can't find anything usefull in the syslogs, hm. Maybe linux even starts, could it be a grub problem?

Just to be sure I attached the last part of the syslog. Sometimes I try to boot with te sata disk, then I get the error and i get no login screen. Sometimes I boot without the sata disk, then everything is fine. I hope I make sense.

Attached Files

syslog.txt (202.8 KB, 10 views)

I don't see your original error in that log file. Are the drives still attached?

Check your BIOS after you install the new drives and make sure the original boot HD is still the first boot device.

Cheers, Lou

EDIT: Also, make sure your BIOS detects the new drive/s.

we have found the problem, in the bios the drives don't show up. I suppose they have to at the secondary master and slave.
Would it help if I flash the bios to a newer version?
I have this motherboard:
http://www.albatron.com.tw/English/p...Overview&no=52

I believe that the terms Master and Slave pertain to IDE drives only. Your new drives should still show up in somewhere in your BIOS as SATA drives and there should be a Boot Priority setting where you can set which IDE or SATA drive boots first.

I'm thinking that when you added the new SATA drive, it automatically assumed a higher boot priority and your system then tried to boot from it rather than your original IDE drive. The BIOS should allow you to override this and revert back to the IDE drive.

I will see if I can find the manual for your BIOS and check this out.

Later, Lou

I found the manual I was looking for at the link you provided.

In your BIOS, go to Peripherals->OnChip IDE Devices->On-Chip Serial ATA. Make sure it is not set to Disabled. Your BIOS should then be able to detect your SATA drive. Make sure your settings under Advanced->Hard Disk Boot Priority have not changed as I indicated they might.

Let me know how you make out.

Luck, Lou

I already checked that:
And when I try to boot, grub loads and debian begins booting. It displays some kernel messages like, [2,whatever]unable to enumerate usb shit on port 2. Andafter 30 seconds or so, I get the sata eroor.

I tried running the disk in 1,5Gbs mode by using te bootable hardware utility cd from samsung by plugging it in my own computer. I also tried some random jumpers(only two possibilities :P). But that havn't helped either.

Are your new drives internal or external HDs? It almost sounds like your drive is connected to a USB port rather than the onboard SATA port.

it are internal drives. That usb error comes from my mouse and has nothing to do with the sata disks. I justed wanted to show what kind of (error)message it was.

The only other thing I can suggest is to try booting from a live DVD. If the problem still persists, then you have hardware issues. To boot from DVD you must make sure your BIOS has the appropriate boot priorities.

Stumped, Lou