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Thread: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

  1. #1
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    Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    I have a 500 Gb external drive. It has a switch to use either USB or ESATA connection. I can use it okay with USB, but as there is a lot of files to copy to it, I would prefer to use the SATA/ESATA connection.

    Have modified /etc/fstab to include the mount parameters. Reboot and the computer just hangs for about 5 mins at post BIOS, trying to auto detect the external drive I think. It does into Ubuntu and a screen with options to Skip, Wait, etc. All up it will not recognise the drive in ESATA mode. When I try to do a manual mount, I get an error message:


    Code:
    sudo mount -a
    [sudo] password for fred: 
    mount: special device UUID=43eb-0004 does not exist
    Here is some info:

    fred@fred:~$ sudo blkid
    /dev/sda1: UUID="43eb-0001" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
    /dev/sda3: UUID="43eb-0002" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
    /dev/sda5: UUID="43eb-0003" TYPE="swap"
    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ ls /dev/disk/by-uuid/ -alh
    total 0
    drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 100 Feb 21 19:08 .
    drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 100 Feb 21 19:08 ..
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 21 19:08 43eb-0001 -> ../../sda1
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 21 19:08 43eb-0002 -> ../../sda3
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 21 19:09 43eb-0003 -> ../../sda5
    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ cat /etc/fstab
    # /etc/fstab: static file system information.
    #
    # Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
    # device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
    # that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
    #
    # <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
    proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
    # / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
    UUID=43eb-0001 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
    # /home was on /dev/sda3 during installation
    UUID=43eb-0002 /home ext3 defaults 0 2
    # swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
    UUID=43eb-0003 none swap sw 0 0
    # / external hard drive - 500Gb
    UUID=43eb-0004 /media/externaldisk ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
    /dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
    //192.168.1.100/Win95B /media/windowsshare cifs guest,uid=1000,iocharset=utf8 0 0
    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ sudo lshw -class disk
    [sudo] password for fred:
    *-cdrom
    description: CD-R/CD-RW writer
    product: CD-RW SOHR-5239S
    vendor: LITE-ON
    physical id: 0.0.0
    bus info: scsi@5:0.0.0
    logical name: /dev/cdrom2
    logical name: /dev/cdrw2
    logical name: /dev/sr1
    version: 2S08
    capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw
    configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
    *-disk
    description: ATA Disk
    product: ST3500320AS
    vendor: Seagate
    physical id: 0
    bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
    logical name: /dev/sda
    version: SD15
    serial: 9QM5N21A
    size: 465GiB (500GB)
    capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
    configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=0003fa35
    *-cdrom
    description: DVD-RAM writer
    product: DRW-2014S1T
    vendor: ASUS
    physical id: 1
    bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
    logical name: /dev/cdrom
    logical name: /dev/cdrw
    logical name: /dev/dvd
    logical name: /dev/dvdrw
    logical name: /dev/sr0
    version: 1.01
    capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
    configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
    *-disk
    description: SCSI Disk
    physical id: 0.0.0
    bus info: scsi@4:0.0.0
    logical name: /dev/sdb
    size: 2TiB (2199GB)
    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ sudo blkid -o full -s UUID
    /dev/sda1: UUID="43eb-0001"
    /dev/sda3: UUID="43eb-0002"
    /dev/sda5: UUID="43eb-0003"
    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ /usr/bin/udisks --mount /dev/sdb
    Mount failed: Error mounting: mount: you must specify the filesystem type

    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ mount
    /dev/sda1 on / type ext3 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
    proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
    sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
    none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
    none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
    none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
    udev on /dev type devtmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
    devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620)
    tmpfs on /run type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,size=10%,mode=0755)
    none on /run/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,size=5242880)
    none on /run/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
    /dev/sda3 on /home type ext3 (rw)
    gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/fred/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=fred)
    //192.168.1.100/Win95B on /media/windowsshare type cifs (rw)
    fred@fred:~$
    fred@fred:~$ ls -al /dev/disk/by-uuid/
    total 0
    drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 100 Feb 21 19:08 .
    drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 100 Feb 21 19:08 ..
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 21 19:08 43eb-0001 -> ../../sda1
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 21 19:08 43eb-0002 -> ../../sda3
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 21 19:09 43eb-0003 -> ../../sda5
    fred@fred:~$
    I can't figure out why this external drive won't mount in SATA mode. Hmm, GParted says /dev/sdb is 2 Tb (it's only 500 GB I think) and "unallocated" ??

    PLEASE note, wherever you see either 43eb-0001, 43eb-0002, 43eb-0003 or 43eb-0004, these are not the correct UUID, only for display purposes.
    Last edited by oygle; February 22nd, 2014 at 05:39 AM. Reason: make a note about UUID

  2. #2
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    The computer I'm using right now is booted from an SSD connected via eSATA. There should be no particular difficulties with eSATA.

    Your drive mounts properly when connected via USB. So the disk is OK, and the filesystem is OK.

    I think something is wrong with the eSATA connection:

    - the eSATA port in the computer (or electronics 'behind it')
    - the cable
    - the eSATA port in the external casing (or electronics 'behind it')

    Can you test the external drive in another computer with eSATA?

    Can you test with another cable?

    Can you take the disk out of the casing and test it directly in a SATA port?

  3. #3
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Quote Originally Posted by sudodus View Post
    The computer I'm using right now is booted from an SSD connected via eSATA. There should be no particular difficulties with eSATA.
    I have been looking at a replacement computer (Dell Optiplex 9020) and would like to get a SSD. Good to know others are using them.

    Quote Originally Posted by sudodus View Post
    Your drive mounts properly when connected via USB. So the disk is OK, and the filesystem is OK.
    The KDE partition manager says the drive has unallocated space ? I looked in the sys logs and found ..

    21/02/14 19:49:59 asus64 kernel [ 2530.037539] EXT3-fs (sdb): error: can't find ext3 filesystem on dev sdb.
    21/02/14 19:49:59 asus64 kernel [ 2530.062161] EXT4-fs (sdb): VFS: Can't find ext4 filesystem
    21/02/14 20:31:17 asus64 ata_id[4262] HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed for '/dev/sdb': Invalid argument
    Quote Originally Posted by sudodus View Post
    I think something is wrong with the eSATA connection:

    - the eSATA port in the computer (or electronics 'behind it')
    - the cable
    - the eSATA port in the external casing (or electronics 'behind it')

    Can you test the external drive in another computer with eSATA?

    Can you test with another cable?

    Can you take the disk out of the casing and test it directly in a SATA port?
    I will check all of that, except I don't have another cable and the other computer is only SATA (internal). I'm wondering if I should reformat it to EXT4 ? It does have todays latest backup on it though.

  4. #4
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Quote Originally Posted by oygle View Post
    The KDE partition manager says the drive has unallocated space ? I looked in the sys logs and found ..
    Maybe something is bad with the disk (physical or logical defect) after all
    I will check all of that, except I don't have another cable and the other computer is only SATA (internal). I'm wondering if I should reformat it to EXT4 ? It does have todays latest backup on it though.
    There are eSATA to SATA cables.

    If you do not intend to connect the drive to Windows, it will be more efficient to use ext4.

    If you want to or have to play very safely, you'll get another external drive, so that you will have a backup all the time. But I think the risk is small, that the computer (or file system) will be damaged while you re-format the external drive and make a new backup.

  5. #5
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Quote Originally Posted by sudodus View Post
    Maybe something is bad with the disk (physical or logical defect) after all
    Had to reboot numerous times, as a few boots just hung. One msg at BIOS was about HDD failure, so looks like that drive is on the way out. Last time I poweed down, powered off the external, powered up the external drive, rebooted, and a msg about 679 days since checking, so it went into checking the drive. I waiting 15 mins or so, then pressed "C", and when it booted up, the drive mounted okay. I can see it appear in Dolphin and KDE partition manager recognises it. Tried a few commands to see the UUID, and that worked out.

    I still think a reformat would be the best idea long term, to EXT4.

  6. #6
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Have you checked the S.M.A.R.T. information? If OK, then go ahead and reformat it with gparted!

    Good luck

  7. #7
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Thanks, yes I ran a quick test and all the S.M.A.R.T. information was okay. Will reformat it tomorrow as it's late at night here.

    Thanks for all your help.

  8. #8
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    fred@fred:~$ sudo blkid
    /dev/sda1: UUID="43eb-0001" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
    /dev/sda3: UUID="43eb-0002" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
    /dev/sda5: UUID="43eb-0003" TYPE="swap"
    Can someone explain to me how that's possible?

    A UUID in the form of '43eb-0001' is that of a Fat32 partition not a Linux partition which has the form of "076426af-cbc5-4966-8cd4-af0f5c879646"

    And this line references a UUID that does not exist:
    UUID=43eb-0004 /media/externaldisk ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
    You might want to run blkid in a way that resets its cache:
    Code:
    sudo blkid -c /dev/null

  9. #9
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Code:
    21/02/14 19:49:59 asus64 kernel [ 2530.037539] EXT3-fs (sdb): error: can't find ext3 filesystem on dev sdb.
    This error indicates you are trying to mount the entire device, /dev/sdb, as a filesystem. You must mount the partitions on the device, e.g., /dev/sdb1, not the device itself.
    If you ask for help, do not abandon your request. Please have the courtesy to check for responses and thank the people who helped you.

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  10. #10
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    Re: Problems with mounting external (SATA/USB) drive

    Quote Originally Posted by Morbius1 View Post
    Can someone explain to me how that's possible?

    A UUID in the form of '43eb-0001' is that of a Fat32 partition not a Linux partition which has the form of "076426af-cbc5-4966-8cd4-af0f5c879646"

    And this line references a UUID that does not exist:

    You might want to run blkid in a way that resets its cache:
    Code:
    sudo blkid -c /dev/null
    My apologies. I have made a note to ignore the actual UUID.

    Quote Originally Posted by SeijiSensei View Post
    Code:
    21/02/14 19:49:59 asus64 kernel [ 2530.037539] EXT3-fs (sdb): error: can't find ext3 filesystem on dev sdb.
    This error indicates you are trying to mount the entire device, /dev/sdb, as a filesystem. You must mount the partitions on the device, e.g., /dev/sdb1, not the device itself.
    Thanks for pointing that out. Am about to reformat the drive. Booting with it turned on takes a very long time, so I will just make one partition, and modify /etc/fstab accordingly to sdb1

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