Re: hard drive problems

["Douglas A. Tutty" <dtutty@porchlight.ca>]

On Tue, May 06, 2008 at 07:10:34AM +1000, Alex Samad wrote:
> 
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2: timeout waiting for ADMA IDLE,
> stat=0x440
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct
> 0x7fffffff SErr 0x0 action 0x0
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: CPB resp_flags 0x11: , CMD error
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: cmd
> 61/08:00:42:e8:21/00:00:01:00:00/40 tag 0 ncq 4096 out
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel:          res
> 41/04:00:cd:7d:91/04:00:31:00:00/40 Emask 0x1 (device error)
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: error: { ABRT }
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: cmd
> 61/08:08:1a:e8:25/00:00:01:00:00/40 tag 1 ncq 4096 out
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel:          res
> 41/04:08:1a:e8:25/24:00:01:00:00/40 Emask 0x401 (device error) <F>
> May  5 23:31:46 hufpuf kernel: ata2.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
> 
> and finding my machine in a hung state (caps lock and the third led
> flashing) I have had to reset the machine (3 times now in the last 3
> weeks).
> 
> I am guessing it is a hard drive problem, cause I recently bought new
> hard drives.
> 
> I am trying to figure out is it sda or sdb can you tell from ata2.00
> ?(if so how)

First, ensure you have good recent backups.

Then install smartmontools and run a long S.M.A.R.T. test and check the
results.  

Why did you recently buy new drives?  If it was because old drives
failed, they may have damaged the controller and you're seeing
controller failure instead of drive failure.

Doug.