external NTFS - what next?

[bernieszu]

I have an external NTFS disk that is not recognised by my Kubuntu desktop system, or can't be mounted in Kubuntu. I looked through all the forums and tried all the suggested things, nothing works.

Something that Kubuntu did at one stage made my windows XP laptop unable to read the disk too, though I had checked it regularly and it had been working on windows even after I had tried to connect it to connect it to the desktop the first few times. No biggie, I had backed up most of the data on it anyway. I did a format on the drive in windows xp and it's working fine again on the laptop, still can't get it to mount in Kubuntu.

So after going through the forums and googling etc, I reached the conclusion that I should follow the advice to convert the drive to a fat 32 filesystem, since it seems that's the easiest way to make sure you can use the drive in both windows and linux systems.

BUT my windows laptop will not allow me to convert it to FAT 32. I can convert from FAT 32 to NTFS on the laptop, but it won't let me convert the other way. Microsoft site says there is a thing called disk converter in the XP programs/accessories/system tools menu, but not on my laptop! There is a way to convert through MS DOS command, but it will only work one way - FAT 32 to NTFS, it refuses to convert NTFS drives to anything else.

I'm completely stumped. What next?

[arochester]

Re: external NTFS - what next?

can't be mounted in Kubuntu

Why?

Have you come across " Mounting Windows Partitions in Ubuntu" by Psychocat at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/mountwindows

[marshallbanana]

Re: external NTFS - what next?

Its probably easier to reformat it to fat32 from linux (you don't need to mount it to do this).
Just use adept package manager to install qtparted, the same partition editor that is used by the live cd.

[bernieszu]

Re: external NTFS - what next?

"Have you come across " Mounting Windows Partitions in Ubuntu" by Psychocat at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/mountwindows"

Yes, I've wasted hours and hours trolling through all the forums I could find and trying to follow the instructions. Nothing they suggest works because my desktop doesn't seem to recognise the disk!!

"install qtparted" thanks, I'll try that and report back.

[bernieszu]

Re: external NTFS - what next?

installed qparted but the disk doesn't show up in that either.

If I do dmesg, here's what I get (have selected what seems to be relevant to usb)

[ 926.877397] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: removed
[ 4293.243259] usb 5-8: USB disconnect, address 3
[ 4316.337347] usb 5-8: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4325.043531] usb 5-8: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 4325.054933] scsi3 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
[ 4325.070605] usb-storage: device found at 4
[ 4325.070613] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[ 4330.066140] usb-storage: device scan complete
[ 4330.067018] scsi 3:0:0:0: Direct-Access * _y c i e PQ: 0 ANSI: 0 CCS
[ 4330.069474] SCSI device sdb: 3616786065 512-byte hdwr sectors (1851794 MB)
[ 4330.072490] sdb: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
[ 4330.072498] sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
[ 4330.073593] SCSI device sdb: 3616786065 512-byte hdwr sectors (1851794 MB)
[ 4330.076614] sdb: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
[ 4330.076622] sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
[ 4330.076629] sdb:<6>usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4398.940705] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4437.725208] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4476.509718] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4515.294213] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4554.074747] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4562.779823] sd 3:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000
[ 4562.779830] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0
[ 4562.779835] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 4562.779843] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1
[ 4562.779846] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2
[ 4562.779850] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3
[ 4562.779853] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4
[ 4562.779856] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5
[ 4562.779859] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6
[ 4562.779862] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7
[ 4592.855242] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4631.635740] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4670.428239] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4709.212739] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4747.997240] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4786.781744] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4795.486874] sd 3:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000
[ 4795.486881] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0
[ 4795.486887] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 4795.486894] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1
[ 4795.486898] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2
[ 4795.486901] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3
[ 4795.486904] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4
[ 4795.486907] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5
[ 4795.486910] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6
[ 4795.486913] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7
[ 4825.566258] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4864.350779] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4903.135255] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4941.919771] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 4980.704265] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5019.488780] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5028.193812] sd 3:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000
[ 5028.193820] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0
[ 5028.193825] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 5028.193831] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1
[ 5028.193834] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2
[ 5028.193838] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3
[ 5028.193841] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4
[ 5028.193844] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5
[ 5028.193848] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6
[ 5028.193851] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7
[ 5058.273270] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5097.053778] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5135.834294] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5174.614798] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5213.403291] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5252.187798] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5260.892893] sd 3:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000
[ 5260.892901] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0
[ 5260.892906] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 5260.892914] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1
[ 5260.892918] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2
[ 5260.892921] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3
[ 5260.892924] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4
[ 5260.892927] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5
[ 5260.892930] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6
[ 5260.892933] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7
[ 5290.972301] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 5326.160863] usb 5-8: USB disconnect, address 4
[ 5326.161033] BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000
[ 5326.161039] printing eip:
[ 5326.161042] c0258415
[ 5326.161044] *pde = 0eee1067
[ 5326.161048] Oops: 0000 [#1]
[ 5326.161049] SMP
[ 5326.161053] Modules linked in: nls_iso8859_1 nls_cp437 vfat fat appletalk ax25 ipx p8023 binfmt_misc rfcomm l2cap bluetooth ppdev speedstep_lib cpufreq_conservative cpufreq_ondemand cpufreq_powersave cpufreq_userspace cpufreq_stats freq_table tc1100_wmi sony_acpi dev_acpi pcc_acpi asus_acpi container video button sbs ac backlight battery dock i2c_ec ipv6 lp fuse snd_via82xx gameport snd_ac97_codec ac97_bus snd_pcm_oss snd_mixer_oss snd_pcm snd_page_alloc snd_mpu401_uart snd_seq_dummy snd_seq_oss snd_seq_midi snd_rawmidi snd_seq_midi_event parport_pc parport pcspkr snd_seq snd_timer snd_seq_device psmouse usblp snd i2c_viapro serio_raw shpchp pci_hotplug soundcore i2c_core via_agp agpgart af_packet tsdev evdev usb_storage libusual ext3 jbd mbcache sg ide_cd cdrom sd_mod generic via82cxxx floppy ehci_hcd via_rhine mii uhci_hcd usbcore ata_generic sata_via libata scsi_mod thermal processor fan fbcon tileblit font bitblit softcursor vesafb capability commoncap
[ 5326.161137] CPU: 0
[ 5326.161138] EIP: 0060:[<c0258415>] Not tainted VLI
[ 5326.161139] EFLAGS: 00010202 (2.6.20-16-generic #2)
[ 5326.161152] EIP is at make_class_name+0x35/0xa0
[ 5326.161155] eax: 00000000 ebx: ffffffff ecx: ffffffff edx: 0000000b
[ 5326.161158] esi: dc88ec91 edi: 00000000 ebp: 00000000 esp: dbd83e50
[ 5326.161160] ds: 007b es: 007b ss: 0068
[ 5326.161163] Process khubd (pid: 1987, ti=dbd82000 task=da7fb030 task.ti=dbd82000)
[ 5326.161166] Stack: c1488604 dc8a0ec0 c14885fc c1488604 dc8a0e40 c0258691 00000000 dc8a0ec8
[ 5326.161173] c14885fc c008dc00 00000246 ffffffed c0258718 c1488400 dc888a50 c1488400
[ 5326.161180] c008dc00 dc88612b c008dc30 c008dc00 dc880825 c008def4 c6cf1a18 dc940f60
[ 5326.161188] Call Trace:
[ 5326.161206] [<c0258691>] class_device_del+0xa1/0x120
[ 5326.161227] [<c0258718>] class_device_unregister+0x8/0x10
[ 5326.161236] [<dc888a50>] __scsi_remove_device+0x30/0x80 [scsi_mod]
[ 5326.161270] [<dc88612b>] scsi_forget_host+0x4b/0x60 [scsi_mod]
[ 5326.161297] [<dc880825>] scsi_remove_host+0x55/0xe0 [scsi_mod]
[ 5326.161325] [<dc932cae>] storage_disconnect+0xe/0x20 [usb_storage]
[ 5326.161342] [<dc863d20>] usb_unbind_interface+0x50/0xa0 [usbcore]
[ 5326.161378] [<c02579a8>] __device_release_driver+0x68/0xa0
[ 5326.161390] [<c0257ed3>] device_release_driver+0x23/0x40
[ 5326.161397] [<c025731c>] bus_remove_device+0x5c/0x90
[ 5326.161407] [<c0255772>] device_del+0x152/0x1b0
[ 5326.161425] [<dc8611ee>] usb_disable_device+0x7e/0xe0 [usbcore]
[ 5326.161454] [<dc85d597>] usb_disconnect+0x97/0x130 [usbcore]
[ 5326.161498] [<dc85e2ff>] hub_thread+0x26f/0xc20 [usbcore]
[ 5326.161572] [<c013ae00>] autoremove_wake_function+0x0/0x50
[ 5326.161601] [<dc85e090>] hub_thread+0x0/0xc20 [usbcore]
[ 5326.161616] [<c013ac4a>] kthread+0xba/0xf0
[ 5326.161626] [<c013ab90>] kthread+0x0/0xf0
[ 5326.161638] [<c01044c7>] kernel_thread_helper+0x7/0x10
[ 5326.161660] =======================
[ 5326.161662] Code: ff ff 89 6c 24 10 31 ed 89 d9 89 74 24 08 89 c6 89 7c 24 0c 89 c7 89 e8 89 14 24 f2 ae f7 d1 49 8b 04 24 89 ca 89 d9 8b 38 89 e8 <f2> ae f7 d1 49 8d 44 0a 02 ba d0 00 00 00 e8 d8 ac f1 ff ba f4
[ 5326.161695] EIP: [<c0258415>] make_class_name+0x35/0xa0 SS:ESP 0068:dbd83e50
[ 5326.161702] <6>sd 3:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00010000
[ 5326.161934] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0
[ 5326.161940] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 5326.161945] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1
[ 5326.161948] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2
[ 5326.161952] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3
[ 5326.161954] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4
[ 5326.161957] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5
[ 5326.161960] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6
[ 5326.161963] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7
[ 5326.161984] ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.
[ 5326.162020] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 5326.162024] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1
[ 5326.162118] Dev sdb: unable to read RDB block 0
[ 5326.162259] unknown partition table
[ 5326.162343] sd 3:0:0:0: Attached scsi disk sdb
[ 5326.162404] sd 3:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[ 5331.568624] printk: 556 messages suppressed.
[ 5331.568638] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 5336.622728] printk: 199 messages suppressed.
[ 5336.622742] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0
[ 5341.690498] printk: 199 messages suppressed.
[ 5341.690512] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0

Any suggestions?

[bernieszu]

Re: external NTFS - what next?

wasn't sure if I chose the right lines from dmesg, so here's what I got this morning when I connected the USB:

[ 2363.210652] usb 5-8: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2371.958858] usb 5-8: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

[ 2372.539516] usbcore: registered new interface driver libusual

[ 2372.568284] Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...

[ 2372.568388] scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices

[ 2372.568466] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage

[ 2372.568470] USB Mass Storage support registered.

[ 2372.568671] usb-storage: device found at 3

[ 2372.568674] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning

[ 2377.562216] usb-storage: device scan complete

[ 2377.563529] scsi 2:0:0:0: Direct-Access * _y c i a PQ: 0 ANSI: 0 CCS

[ 2377.568596] SCSI device sdb: 3616720531 512-byte hdwr sectors (1851761 MB)

[ 2377.574136] sdb: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled

[ 2377.574144] sdb: assuming drive cache: write through

[ 2377.575486] SCSI device sdb: 3616720531 512-byte hdwr sectors (1851761 MB)

[ 2377.579489] sdb: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled

[ 2377.579495] sdb: assuming drive cache: write through

[ 2377.579502] sdb:<6>usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2446.442809] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2485.226142] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2524.009484] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2562.792825] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2601.576152] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2610.281378] sd 2:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000

[ 2610.281385] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0

[ 2610.281390] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0

[ 2610.281398] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1

[ 2610.281401] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2

[ 2610.281404] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3

[ 2610.281407] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4

[ 2610.281410] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5

[ 2610.281413] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6

[ 2610.281415] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7

[ 2640.359503] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2679.142833] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2717.926170] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2756.709511] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2795.492844] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2834.276183] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2842.981330] sd 2:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000

[ 2842.981338] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0

[ 2842.981343] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0

[ 2842.981351] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1

[ 2842.981354] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2

[ 2842.981357] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3

[ 2842.981360] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4

[ 2842.981363] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5

[ 2842.981365] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6

[ 2842.981368] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7

[ 2873.071520] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2911.854858] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2950.638177] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 2989.421525] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3028.204860] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3066.988202] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3075.693268] sd 2:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000

[ 3075.693275] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0

[ 3075.693280] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0

[ 3075.693288] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1

[ 3075.693291] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2

[ 3075.693294] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3

[ 3075.693297] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4

[ 3075.693300] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5

[ 3075.693302] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6

[ 3075.693305] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7

[ 3105.771535] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3144.554877] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3183.338224] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3222.121551] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3260.904901] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3299.696210] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3308.401337] sd 2:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000

[ 3308.401344] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0

[ 3308.401350] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0

[ 3308.401357] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1

[ 3308.401360] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2

[ 3308.401363] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3

[ 3308.401366] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4

[ 3308.401369] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5

[ 3308.401372] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6

[ 3308.401374] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7

[ 3338.479552] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3377.262894] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3416.046224] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3454.829567] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3493.612904] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3532.396235] usb 5-8: reset high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3

[ 3541.101288] sd 2:0:0:0: SCSI error: return code = 0x00050000

[ 3541.101295] end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 0

[ 3541.101300] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 0

[ 3541.101308] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 1

[ 3541.101311] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 2

[ 3541.101314] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 3

[ 3541.101317] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 4

[ 3541.101319] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 5

[ 3541.101322] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 6

[ 3541.101325] Buffer I/O error on device sdb, logical block 7

[ 3541.101352] ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.

This disk is working perfectly well in windows. So what do I do next?

[arochester]

Re: external NTFS - what next?

So if you have the external disk plugged up and you issue the command

sudo fdisk -l

what does it say?

[bernieszu]

Re: external NTFS - what next? - an accidental solution!

I tried that command way back and it didn't show up anything - I can't remember, but I think it said it was an invalid command at first, and then when I ran it in root it gave me info about other disks on the system but didn't show the one in question - all hazy now because I tried EVERYTHING on the forums.

However, as I finished my last post here, I dropped the disk! I broke the little connector thingy that lets you insert the USB lead. I took it to the shop to see if it could be repaired (thankfully, the disk itself wasn't damaged) and while I was there I mentioned my NTFS/FAT32 problem. " No problem," says the shop guy, "you want me to format it for you in FAT32 now?" Hey presto, it's working fine on both systems now.

So the solution is, when you're getting nowhere go to the professionals - but maybe it would be better to do that before you've done some concussion engineering on it!