Ubuntu

unable to read partition table (IDE) under 8.0.4

Asked by pi.f

I have a 250G SATA and a 320G IDE drive. I use the SATA for root, /boot, and /home. I use the IDE for backups and transient data.

Under a fresh 8.04 install (release candidate around April 19-20), I get "unable to read partition table" errors... it treats my WD320 IDE drive as a SATA (expected behaviour, I hear).

 /dev/sda is visible, but /dev/sda[1234] are not (under the older releases, these were /dev/hda[1234]).

Next, I re-install 7.10, no problem, works fine under 7.10
Next, I re-install 6.06, no problem, works fine under 6.06
Next, I re-install 8.0.4, install all the latest updates, still unable to read partition table.

So, this is a new problem under 8.0.4. I can still detect and read every partition of the IDE drive if I use the older releases, but I can't use the IDE drive under 8.0.4. This means that this isn't a hardware error.

Is there anything I can do to fix this, or should I wait it out for a few days hoping for a fix to be released, or should I revert to 7.10 and wait for 8.0.5? For the long term, I need both drives.

Any info or suggestions?

Thanks.

====================================================================================

Below, I've pasted some info out of /var/log/messages and dmesg.

Relevant entries from dmesg:

[ 24.138541] ata1.00: ATA-7: WDC WD3200AAJB-00TYA0, 00.02C01, max UDMA/100
[ 24.138545] ata1.00: 625142448 sectors, multi 16: LBA48
[ 24.153924] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 24.194553] usb 1-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 24.440503] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2
[ 24.472806] ata2.00: ATAPI: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N, RL00, max UDMA/66

[ 24.644429] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD3200AAJB-0 00.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5

[ 24.647951] sata_via 0000:00:0f.0: version 2.3
[ 24.647966] ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:0f.0[B] -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[ 24.648001] sata_via 0000:00:0f.0: routed to hard irq line 5
[ 24.648789] scsi2 : sata_via
[ 24.649238] scsi3 : sata_via

[ 24.658349] Driver 'sd' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
[ 24.658443] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
[ 24.658459] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 24.658462] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 24.658485] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 24.658545] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
[ 24.658559] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 24.658561] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 24.658584] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 24.658587] sda:<4>Driver 'sr' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
[ 24.666883] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 24.666887] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 24.666893] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 24.666894] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 24.666897] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 24.666900] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 24.666923] ata1: soft resetting link
[ 24.847974] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 24.847982] ata1: EH complete
[ 24.849775] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 24.849778] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 24.849783] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 24.849785] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 24.849788] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 24.849790] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 24.849811] ata1: soft resetting link

[ 25.035720] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 25.035728] ata1: EH complete
[ 25.040990] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 25.040993] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 25.040998] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 25.041000] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 25.041002] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 25.041004] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 25.041026] ata1: soft resetting link

[ 25.235492] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 25.235500] ata1: EH complete
[ 25.240516] ata1.00: limiting speed to UDMA/66:PIO4
[ 25.240520] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 25.240523] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 25.240529] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 25.240530] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 25.240533] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 25.240535] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 25.240557] ata1: soft resetting link

[ 25.427187] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
[ 25.427197] ata1: EH complete
[ 25.431731] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 25.431735] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 25.431740] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 25.431742] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 25.431744] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 25.431746] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 25.431768] ata1: soft resetting link
[ 25.618928] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
[ 25.618936] ata1: EH complete
[ 25.622946] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 25.622949] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 25.622955] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 25.622956] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 25.622959] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 25.622961] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 25.622982] ata1: soft resetting link
[ 25.806675] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
[ 25.806684] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_SENSE,SUGGEST_OK
[ 25.806688] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Sense Key : Aborted Command [current] [descriptor]
[ 25.806693] Descriptor sense data with sense descriptors (in hex):
[ 25.806696] 72 0b 47 00 00 00 00 0c 00 0a 80 00 00 00 00 00
[ 25.806706] 00 00 00 07
[ 25.806710] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Add. Sense: Scsi parity error
[ 25.806716] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 25.806719] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 25.806737] ata1: EH complete
[ 25.814191] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 25.814194] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 25.814199] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 25.814201] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 25.814203] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 25.814205] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 25.814227] ata1: soft resetting link

[ 25.997409] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
[ 25.997418] ata1: EH complete
[ 26.005406] ata1.00: limiting speed to UDMA/33:PIO4
[ 26.005409] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2
[ 26.005412] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x24
[ 26.005418] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 dma 4096 in
[ 26.005419] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 26.005422] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 26.005424] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 26.005446] ata1: soft resetting link
[ 26.064733] usb 1-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
[ 26.189140] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/33
[ 26.189146] ata1: EH complete
[ 26.196350] ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.
[ 26.196358] Dev sda: unable to read RDB block 0
[ 26.196441] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
[ 26.196735] unable to read partition table
[ 26.196791] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
[ 26.196853] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 26.196856] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 26.196882] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 26.196908] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
[ 26.196922] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 26.196924] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 26.196946] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA

Relevant entries from /var/log/messages:

Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 23.960915] ata1: PATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0x1f0 ctl 0x3f6 bmdma 0xfc00 irq 14
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.138541] ata1.00: ATA-7: WDC WD3200AAJB-00TYA0, 00.02C01, max UDMA/100
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.138545] ata1.00: 625142448 sectors, multi 16: LBA48
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.153924] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.644429] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD3200AAJB-0 00.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.647966] ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:0f.0[B] -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.648001] sata_via 0000:00:0f.0: routed to hard irq line 5
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658349] Driver 'sd' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658443] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658459] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658485] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658545] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658559] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658584] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.658587] sda:<4>Driver 'sr' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.666894] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.666923] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.847974] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.847982] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.849785] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 24.849811] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.035728] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.041000] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.041026] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.235492] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.235500] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.240516] ata1.00: limiting speed to UDMA/66:PIO4
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.240530] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.240557] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.427187] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.427197] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.431742] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.431768] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.618928] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.618936] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.622956] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.622982] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806675] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806684] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_SENSE,SUGGEST_OK
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806688] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Sense Key : Aborted Command [current] [descriptor]
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806693] Descriptor sense data with sense descriptors (in hex):
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806696] 72 0b 47 00 00 00 00 0c 00 0a 80 00 00 00 00 00
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806706] 00 00 00 07
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806710] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Add. Sense: Scsi parity error
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806716] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.806737] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.814201] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.814227] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.997409] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 25.997418] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.005406] ata1.00: limiting speed to UDMA/33:PIO4
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.005419] res 51/84:00:07:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.005446] ata1: soft resetting link
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.189140] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/33
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.189146] ata1: EH complete
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196358] Dev sda: unable to read RDB block 0
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196441] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196735] unable to read partition table
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196791] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196853] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196882] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196908] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 625142448 512-byte hardware sectors (320073 MB)
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196922] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.196946] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Apr 23 23:22:16 langouste kernel: [ 26.228110] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0

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pi.f
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Revision history for this message
Brewster Malevich (brews) said : 		#1

Try the alternative install cd for 8.04.

Revision history for this message
pi.f (flinderpi) said : 		#2

I tried it. Completely repartitioned the SATA drive and reinstalled from the alternative cd.

Didn't solve anything. I still have the same problem under the fresh install. dmesg and /var/log/messages look the same. still unable to read partition table. My IDE drive remains unusable. I'll need it to restore my last backup of /home.

[ 26.132246] ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.
[ 26.132254] Dev sda: unable to read RDB block 0
[ 26.132611] unable to read partition table
[ 26.132663] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk

Apr 24 21:23:41 homard kernel: [ 26.132254] Dev sda: unable to read RDB block 0
Apr 24 21:23:41 homard kernel: [ 26.132611] unable to read partition table

Revision history for this message
pi.f (flinderpi) said : 		#3

thanks for trying

Revision history for this message
Brewster Malevich (brews) said : 		#4

File it as a bug report.

Revision history for this message
pi.f (flinderpi) said : 		#5

done. bug 221677.

thanks again.

Revision history for this message
pi.f (flinderpi) said : 		#6

As I also described in the bug report, the problem went away after I replaced my IDE cable and removed an unnecessary jumper from the drive.

Revision history for this message
numerone (numerone) said : 		#7

I had the same problem.
I have noticed that the disk had a little partition recognized as "linux", but AFAIR i did not create it, so i delete it and now kubuntu 8.04 does recognize partitions on disk.

Revision history for this message
activo1969 (activo1969) said : 		#8

I have the same problem.

I have a 120 GB IDE disk whose partition table cannot be read by Ubuntu 8.04 (and some prev releases). I think Ubuntu 7.x was enable to read it.

I'm sure my disk is NOT faulty because it is read properly (and used) by other O.S. as Windows XP.
In fact I think it's a kernel bug because I used a "System Rescue CD" (based on a kernel release 2.6.31) and it read the partition table and mounted properly its NTFS partitions.

What Ubuntu release will be able to read my disk's partition table?
What kernel release is used by Ubuntu 9.10?

Revision history for this message
activo1969 (activo1969) said : 		#9

I opened a thread in Ubuntuforums.org some time ago

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1260850&page=2

but no one gave me a solution.
Therfore I remove my Ubuntu partition from my desktop computer and I won't install back further unless Ubuntu uses a kernel release proper to read my disk.

I'm interested now in other Linux distributions as Fedora.