Re: Is my hard disk dying?

[linux <linux@austrialpinusa.com>]

Jamie L. Penman-Smithson wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Recently I've been seeing messages like this in kern.log:
>
> Oct 16 14:42:42 oasis kernel: hda: dma_timer_expiry: dma status == 0x21
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: DMA timeout error
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: dma timeout error: status=0x58 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest }
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: status error: status=0x58 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest }
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: drive not ready for command
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: status error: status=0x58 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest }
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: drive not ready for command
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: status error: status=0x58 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest }
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: drive not ready for command
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: status error: status=0x58 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest }
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:42:52 oasis kernel: hda: drive not ready for command
> Oct 16 14:43:06 oasis kernel: ide0: reset: success
> Oct 16 14:43:56 oasis kernel: hda: DMA disabled
>
> ..I tried disabling DMA on the drive, but the problems keep happening:
>
> Oct 16 14:45:24 oasis kernel: hda: irq timeout: status=0xd0 { Busy }
> Oct 16 14:45:24 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:45:59 oasis kernel: ide0: reset timed-out, status=0xd0
> Oct 16 14:45:59 oasis kernel: hda: status timeout: status=0xd0 { Busy }
> Oct 16 14:45:59 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:45:59 oasis kernel: hda: drive not ready for command
> Oct 16 14:46:18 oasis kernel: ide0: reset: success
> Oct 16 14:51:08 oasis kernel: hda: irq timeout: status=0xd0 { Busy }
> Oct 16 14:51:08 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:51:43 oasis kernel: ide0: reset timed-out, status=0xd0
> Oct 16 14:51:43 oasis kernel: hda: status timeout: status=0xd0 { Busy }
> Oct 16 14:51:43 oasis kernel:
> Oct 16 14:51:43 oasis kernel: hda: drive not ready for command
> Oct 16 14:51:48 oasis kernel: ide0: reset: success
>
> In addition, it keeps making alarming clicking sounds, so I'm assuming
> that it's about the die on me. Considering that this laptop isn't even a
> year old (10 months), it's annoying.
>
> The drive itself is a Toshiba MK6021GAS. Leaving the laptop powered down
> for a few hours seems to fix the problem, but it seems to reappear after a
> week or two.
>
> Any ideas, or suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
>
>  
I have a Hitachi disk giving the same error, googled for it. Used the 
manufacturers diagnostic tool and called tech support,
Result: Dead Disk.
Will be replaced by Hitachi. I recomend doing the same before it si too 
late. Back it up ASAP, preferably into a machine on your network and 
when you get a new disk just restore it.
ed.