Bug#549647: "hda: dma_timer_expiry: dma status == 0x21" errors

[Goswin von Brederlow <goswin-v-b@web.de>]

Paolo Sala <paolo.sala@csaricerche.com> writes:

> Furthermore I can't understand why if I set dma (hdparm -d1 /dev/hda)
> on, the dma is on even after a reboot; and why if I shut down the pc
> when I power up again the dma is off again... your conclusion is the hd
> is failing?

While the IDE cable has a RESET line most drives do not fully reset
themself when that is triggered. It would not really surprise me that
the drive keeps its DMA status over a RESET signal, which is all the
drive sees from your reboot.

On the other hand if you power up again the drive is initited to
defaults and that seems to not include DMA. You can try to save
settings with hdparm if you see this again.

MfG
        Goswin