Swap..............Failed

**mikebravo** · February 16th, 2009

A couple of years ago I built a computer for the fun of it, and with references like 'Linux for the Brain Dead' and Ubuntu for the Terminally Stupid', I installed Fiesty as a learning experience. I have upgraded with each new release, fully expecting I would mung something up to the point I would have to blow it away and start over. Strangely, that hasn't happened. Ubuntu is reasonably forgiving, but I recall that at one time I had followed someones instructions on how to change a file so that I could watch the boot process instead of a boring splash screen. All was cool but alas, it disappeared with the next upgrade. I am a 'set it and forget it' fan (i.e. can't remember what I did) so the hell with it, but them, I recently discovered StartUp-Manager which is almost as good. The trouble is that in StartUp-manager, just after a line that says"Setting Kernel Variables...OK" and just before a line that says "Checking Root File System...OK" it gives me a line that says "Activating Swap....Fail".
I have searched around the forum and found mcduck's reply to Bendihossan asking 'Is my swap working?'. In short, I think mine is but I have appended the files most likely to matter in case someone would be kind enough to comment.

mike@mike-linux:~$ cat /proc/swaps
Filename Type Size Used Priority
/dev/sda5 partition 4883720 5120 -1
/dev/sdb5 partition 4883720 0 -2
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ sudo blkid
[sudo] password for mike:
/dev/sda1: UUID="d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: TYPE="swap" UUID="bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="BBA0-0073" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb5: TYPE="swap" UUID="b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c"
/dev/sdb3: UUID="7F701E343F8049D5" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda6: UUID="16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: UUID="daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda8: UUID="60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda9: UUID="ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda10: UUID="63E4-C9C6" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda2: UUID="b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sdc1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="CANON_DC" UUID="6EDD-59F7" TYPE="vfat"
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 1008 951 56 0 16 472
-/+ buffers/cache: 463 544
Swap: 9538 5 9533
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00015cda

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 12 96358+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 13 2444 19535040 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 2445 30407 224612797+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 2445 3052 4883728+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 3053 4268 9767488+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 4269 4876 4883728+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 4877 6092 9767488+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 6093 24328 146480638+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda10 24329 30407 48829536 b W95 FAT32

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0001dd79

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 2432 19535008+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdb2 2433 3040 4883760 5 Extended
/dev/sdb3 3526 4861 10731420 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb5 2433 3040 4883728+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ sudo blkid -c /dev/null
[sudo] password for mike:
/dev/sda1: UUID="d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda2: UUID="b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: UUID="bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda6: UUID="16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: UUID="daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda8: UUID="60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda9: UUID="ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda10: UUID="63E4-C9C6" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="BBA0-0073" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb3: UUID="7F701E343F8049D5" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c" TYPE="swap"
mike@mike-linux:~$ free
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 1032336 990228 42108 0 22032 475644
-/+ buffers/cache: 492552 539784
Swap: 9767440 5096 9762344
mike@mike-linux:~$

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda2
UUID=b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro,relatime 0 1
# /dev/sda1
UUID=d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32 /boot ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sdb1
UUID=BBA0-0073 /dos vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sda9
UUID=ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f /home ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda6
UUID=16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968 /tmp ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda8
UUID=60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b /usr ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda7
UUID=daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40 /var ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda10
UUID=63E4-C9C6 /windows vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc none swap sw 0 0
# /dev/sdb5
UUID=b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/sdb5 /media/sdb5 swap sw 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 vfat defaults 0 0
/dev/sdb3 /media/sdb3 ntfs defaults 0 0

**wolfen69** · February 17th, 2009

on the second page of this thread, a problem like yours was solved.

**ajgreeny** · February 17th, 2009

You can easily check if your swap is enabled by running

Code:

free -m

in terminal. This is my output with the last line showing the current state of swap usage. If yours is not enabled the size will be nil (0)

Code:

 total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          1011        995         15          0         15        573
-/+ buffers/cache:        406        604
Swap:         1192         38       1153

**taurus** · February 17th, 2009

Originally Posted by mikebravo

mike@mike-linux:~$ sudo blkid
[sudo] password for mike:
/dev/sda1: UUID="d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: TYPE="swap" UUID="bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="BBA0-0073" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb5: TYPE="swap" UUID="b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c"
/dev/sdb3: UUID="7F701E343F8049D5" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda6: UUID="16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: UUID="daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda8: UUID="60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda9: UUID="ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda10: UUID="63E4-C9C6" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda2: UUID="b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sdc1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="CANON_DC" UUID="6EDD-59F7" TYPE="vfat"
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 1008 951 56 0 16 472
-/+ buffers/cache: 463 544
Swap: 9538 5 9533
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00015cda

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 12 96358+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 13 2444 19535040 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 2445 30407 224612797+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 2445 3052 4883728+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 3053 4268 9767488+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 4269 4876 4883728+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 4877 6092 9767488+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 6093 24328 146480638+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda10 24329 30407 48829536 b W95 FAT32

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0001dd79

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 2432 19535008+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdb2 2433 3040 4883760 5 Extended
/dev/sdb3 3526 4861 10731420 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb5 2433 3040 4883728+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
mike@mike-linux:~$

mike@mike-linux:~$ sudo blkid -c /dev/null
[sudo] password for mike:
/dev/sda1: UUID="d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda2: UUID="b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: UUID="bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda6: UUID="16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: UUID="daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda8: UUID="60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda9: UUID="ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda10: UUID="63E4-C9C6" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="BBA0-0073" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sdb3: UUID="7F701E343F8049D5" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c" TYPE="swap"
mike@mike-linux:~$ free
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 1032336 990228 42108 0 22032 475644
-/+ buffers/cache: 492552 539784
Swap: 9767440 5096 9762344
mike@mike-linux:~$

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda2
UUID=b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro,relatime 0 1
# /dev/sda1
UUID=d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32 /boot ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sdb1
UUID=BBA0-0073 /dos vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sda9
UUID=ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f /home ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda6
UUID=16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968 /tmp ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda8
UUID=60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b /usr ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda7
UUID=daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40 /var ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda10
UUID=63E4-C9C6 /windows vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc none swap sw 0 0
# /dev/sdb5
UUID=b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/sdb5 /media/sdb5 swap sw 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 vfat defaults 0 0
/dev/sdb3 /media/sdb3 ntfs defaults 0 0

The mount point is wrong. Should have said none.

**mikebravo** · February 17th, 2009

Originally Posted by wolfen69

on the second page of this thread, a problem like yours was solved.

On the third page of that post, NeoFax said that can be caused by mixing PATA with SATA as I have done.

**mikebravo** · February 19th, 2009

Changed mount point as tarus suggested. No joy. Still get Activating Swap....Failed. Change to fstab as shown:

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda2
UUID=b1ef39e9-7e43-493a-bf2f-166cd9fbb7e1 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro,relatime 0 1
# /dev/sda1
UUID=d7f2743e-5dc0-434a-8fa1-3625b2204c32 /boot ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sdb1
UUID=BBA0-0073 /dos vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sda9
UUID=ee812a1f-9c79-4986-9c0d-30fccdee7f1f /home ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda6
UUID=16b005ab-a5d9-4b48-bf0b-87bcec653968 /tmp ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda8
UUID=60c57548-b534-49a2-aa7b-847e678a2a1b /usr ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda7
UUID=daaf74c7-2149-48ad-8285-9626df99ec40 /var ext3 defaults,relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda10
UUID=63E4-C9C6 /windows vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=bf145a28-5fae-43a0-907f-f8bd2d2fd1bc none swap sw 0 0
# /dev/sdb5
UUID=b7ca8233-a229-4104-8c9c-beddc2bf876c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/sdb5 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 vfat defaults 0 0
/dev/sdb3 /media/sdb3 ntfs defaults 0 0

How come there exists this line for the swap on sdb5 but not a matching line for sda5 ? I think I need to talk to neofax.