Unable to boot into Ubuntu: Buffer I/O error on /dev/sda4, logical block 0

Fuzzphorescent · 02-13-2023, 02:43 AM

I am unable to boot into Ubuntu 22.04 and am shown the message "Buffer I/O error on /dev/sda4". sda4 is the HDD partition where my home directory is mounted.

After referring to a few similar questions, I have run some of the suggested commands and attached their output:

1. $ fsck -a /dev/sda4

Code:

fsck from util-linux 2.38.1
/dev/sda4: 
The superblock could not be read or does not describe a valid ext2/ext3/ext4
filesystem.  If the device is valid and it really contains an ext2/ext3/ext4
filesystem (and not swap or ufs or something else), then the superblock
is corrupt, and you might try running e2fsck with an alternate superblock:
    e2fsck -b 8193 <device>
 or
    e2fsck -b 32768 <device>

Running e2fsck gave me similar errors.

2. $ mount /dev/sda4 /mnt/temp

Code:

mount: /mnt/temp: can't read superblock on /dev/sda4.
       dmesg(1) may have more information after failed mount system call.

3. $ smartctl -a /dev/sda4

Code:

smartctl 7.3 2022-02-28 r5338 [x86_64-linux-6.0.7-301.fc37.x86_64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-22, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Mobile HDD
Device Model:     ST1000LM035-1RK172
Serial Number:    WQ9AWWCF
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 0d4515054
Firmware Version: LFM3
User Capacity:    1,000,204,886,016 bytes [1.00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate:    5400 rpm
Form Factor:      2.5 inches
TRIM Command:     Available
Device is:        In smartctl database 7.3/5319
ATA Version is:   ACS-3 T13/2161-D revision 3b
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.1, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Sun Feb 12 04:03:09 2023 IST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
See vendor-specific Attribute list for marginal Attributes.

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)	Offline data collection activity
					was never started.
					Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)	The previous self-test routine completed
					without error or no self-test has ever 
					been run.
Total time to complete Offline 
data collection: 		(    0) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: 			 (0x71) SMART execute Offline immediate.
					No Auto Offline data collection support.
					Suspend Offline collection upon new
					command.
					No Offline surface scan supported.
					Self-test supported.
					Conveyance Self-test supported.
					Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)	Saves SMART data before entering
					power-saving mode.
					Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)	Error logging supported.
					General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine 
recommended polling time: 	 (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 ( 169) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities: 	       (0x3035)	SCT Status supported.
					SCT Feature Control supported.
					SCT Data Table supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   036   033   034    Pre-fail  Always   In_the_past 165182416
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   100   100   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   094   094   020    Old_age   Always       -       6158
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       8
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   069   060   045    Pre-fail  Always       -       17210113963
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   095   095   000    Old_age   Always       -       5092 (225 1 0)
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   097   097   020    Old_age   Always       -       3985
184 End-to-End_Error        0x0032   100   100   099    Old_age   Always       -       0
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   001   001   000    Old_age   Always       -       18151
188 Command_Timeout         0x0032   100   096   000    Old_age   Always       -       4295491592
189 High_Fly_Writes         0x003a   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   067   047   040    Old_age   Always       -       33 (Min/Max 30/39)
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       98
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   099   099   000    Old_age   Always       -       3234
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   083   083   000    Old_age   Always       -       34491
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   033   053   000    Old_age   Always       -       33 (0 24 0 0 0)
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       8
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   099   098   000    Old_age   Always       -       96
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   099   098   000    Old_age   Offline      -       96
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
240 Head_Flying_Hours       0x000f   096   096   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       3831 (52 158 0)
254 Free_Fall_Sensor        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 18120 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
	CR = Command Register [HEX]
	FR = Features Register [HEX]
	SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
	SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
	CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
	CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
	DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
	DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
	ER = Error register [HEX]
	ST = Status register [HEX]
Powered_Up_Time is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.

Error 18120 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5091 hours (212 days + 3 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 08 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:35.548  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:35.538  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      02:36:35.512  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:35.511  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:35.498  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 18119 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5091 hours (212 days + 3 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 08 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:33.822  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 00 08 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:33.822  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 00 08 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:33.821  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:33.802  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      02:36:33.775  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]

Error 18118 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5091 hours (212 days + 3 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 08 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:32.075  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:32.065  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      02:36:32.039  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:32.037  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:32.025  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 18117 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5091 hours (212 days + 3 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 08 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:30.350  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:30.340  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      02:36:30.313  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:30.312  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:30.300  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 18116 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 5091 hours (212 days + 3 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 20 ff ff ff 4f 00      02:36:28.246  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ea 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      02:36:28.243  FLUSH CACHE EXT
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      02:35:23.920  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      02:35:23.893  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      02:35:23.892  IDENTIFY DEVICE

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Short offline       Completed without error       00%      5091         -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
 SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

4. $ fdisk -l /dev/sda4

Code:

fdisk: cannot open /dev/sda4: Input/output error

5. $ lsblk

Code:

loop0         7:0    0   1.8G  1 loop 
loop1         7:1    0   7.6G  1 loop 
├─live-rw   253:0    0   7.6G  0 dm   /
└─live-base 253:1    0   7.6G  1 dm   
loop2         7:2    0    32G  0 loop 
└─live-rw   253:0    0   7.6G  0 dm   /
sda           8:0    0 931.5G  0 disk 
├─sda1        8:1    0   128M  0 part 
├─sda2        8:2    0 540.8G  0 part 
├─sda3        8:3    0   7.6G  0 part 
├─sda4        8:4    0 279.4G  0 part 
└─sda5        8:5    0 103.6G  0 part 
sdb           8:16   1  28.7G  0 disk 
└─sdb1        8:17   1  28.7G  0 part /run/initramfs/live
zram0       252:0    0   7.4G  0 disk [SWAP]
nvme0n1     259:0    0 119.2G  0 disk 
├─nvme0n1p1 259:1    0   260M  0 part 
├─nvme0n1p2 259:2    0    16M  0 part 
├─nvme0n1p3 259:3    0  97.8G  0 part 
├─nvme0n1p4 259:4    0  1000M  0 part 
└─nvme0n1p5 259:5    0  20.1G  0 part

6. $ sudo pvs; vgs; lvs

Code:

Error reading device /dev/sda4 at 0 length 4096.
WARNING: Running as a non-root user. Functionality may be unavailable.
/run/lock/lvm/P_global:aux: open failed: Permission denied
WARNING: Running as a non-root user. Functionality may be unavailable.
/run/lock/lvm/P_global:aux: open failed: Permission denied

I am able to boot into Windows, whose D: drive lies on the same HDD with the unencrypted sda4 partition. While Windows warned me about some kind of disk failure surrounding D: drive, I was still able to access and backup all my files present in it safely. I was expecting to be able to do the same thing with my ext4 Linux files, but can not find a way to read them.

pan64 · 02-13-2023, 05:26 AM

so you mean /dev/sda4 is your windows d: drive? Most probably it means it is not ext4, but ntfs. You need to check your fstab. Also you need to check it with e2fsck, that won't work.
Also /dev/sda4 is not a disk, but a partition, the disk itself is /dev/sda, so you need to use fdisk -l /dev/sda

kilgoretrout · 02-13-2023, 09:44 AM

Just to be sure, post the output of:

Code:

$ lsblk -f

That will verify that the filesystem on sda4 is ext4.
Assuming it is run the following on sda4 from a livecd after making sure that sda4 is not mounted:

Code:

$sudo fsck.ext4 -p /dev/sda4

The -p option will automatically repair any issues that can be safely repaired without user intervention.
If that doesn't work run:

Code:

$ sudo fsck.ext4 -fvy /dev/sda4

If you are asked a series of questions about what you want to do respond "yes".

You appear to be running your repair attempts from a livecd. All of the above commands need be run with admin privileges. If sudo is not configured on your livecd, then su to root before running these commands.

Arnulf · 02-13-2023, 04:18 PM

If a smartctl -a /dev/sda gives same output than your command smartctl -a /dev/sda4, your HDD dies:

Code:

  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       8

196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       8
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   099   098   000    Old_age   Always       -       96
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   099   098   000    Old_age   Offline      -       96

Backup any data you can and then replace this bad HDD.