1

Topic: Cannot format a froozen disk

Hello,

I have a special problem with a Flash Sata Disk were i do erase NTFS partitions but when reboot they still there, i did try to create an EXT4 partition but i get this error:

GParted 0.26.0 --enable-libparted-dmraid --enable-online-resize

Libparted 3.2
Create Primary Partition #1 (ext4, 4.77 GiB) on /dev/sdb  00:00:34    ( ERROR )
        
create empty partition  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
        
path: /dev/sdb1 (partition)
start: 2048
end: 10004479
size: 10002432 (4.77 GiB)
clear old file system signatures in /dev/sdb1  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
        
write 512.00 KiB of zeros at byte offset 0  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
write 4.00 KiB of zeros at byte offset 67108864  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
write 512.00 KiB of zeros at byte offset 5120720896  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
write 4.00 KiB of zeros at byte offset 5121179648  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
write 8.00 KiB of zeros at byte offset 5121236992  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
flush operating system cache of /dev/sdb  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )
set partition type on /dev/sdb1  00:00:01    ( SUCCESS )
        
new partition type: ext4
create new ext4 file system  00:00:33    ( ERROR )
        
mkfs.ext4 -F -L "" /dev/sdb1  00:00:33    ( ERROR )
        
Creating filesystem with 1250304 4k blocks and 312624 inodes
Filesystem UUID: 7da720c3-ff8b-4e42-904e-875039d4fed1
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736

Allocating group tables: done
Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (32768 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information:
mke2fs 1.42.13 (17-May-2015)

Warning, had trouble writing out superblocks.

========================================

And after reboot the partitions and data still there again like in a CD, that's why i tougth that it was a write protection issue,

I did also try to erase the disk with hdparm, testdisk and dd but it does not work, even i did try to rescue it with the windows diskpart tool in order to clear the froozen flag with no success. Everytime i thing i am getting the solution de disk comes with the input/output error so i have to reconnect it to start over.

the info of the disk:

ADATA    PREMIER PRO   SP600S3-128GB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/dev/sdb:

ATA device, with non-removable media
    Model Number:       ,iO�##i#/H�##�#P�9HA#�#�($�#�6�&7�##
    Serial Number:      �1#�#@Z�P
##f�=#
    Firmware Revision:  ##|p##`
    Media Serial Num:   S�����#��h#��>&�q�#�y��)�ª>"+#�U�t�
    Media Manufacturer: �ٗ�.�"�;���##y
hAl]
    Transport:          0xe0f2; Revision: 0x1302
Standards:
    Used: unknown (minor revision code 0x8645)
    Supported: 14 12 8 6
    Likely used: 14
Configuration:
    Logical        max    current
    cylinders    47617    48708
    heads        27375    54493
    sectors/track    63683    1990
    --
    CHS current addressable sectors: 1612857681
    LBA    user addressable sectors:   92274693
    Logical/Physical Sector size:           512 bytes
    device size with M = 1024*1024:      787528 MBytes
    device size with M = 1000*1000:      825783 MBytes (825 GB)
    cache/buffer size  = unknown
    Nominal Media Rotation Rate: 64178
Capabilities:
    LBA, IORDY(may be)(can be disabled)
    Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard
    R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 66    Current = ?
    Recommended acoustic management value: 118, current value: 71
    DMA: *mdma0 *mdma1 *mdma3 mdma7 udma0 *udma4 *udma7 (?)
    PIO: unknown
Commands/features:
    Enabled    Supported:
            Write cache
            WRITE_BUFFER command
       *    DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
            Removable Media Status Notification feature set
       *    SET_FEATURES required to spinup after power up
       *    SET_MAX security extension
            Device Configuration Overlay feature set
       *    unknown 76[0]
       *    Gen1 signaling speed (1.5Gb/s)
       *    Phy event counters
       *    READ_LOG_DMA_EXT equivalent to READ_LOG_EXT
       *    unknown 78[0]
            unknown 78[12]
       *    unknown 78[14]
       *    unknown 78[15]
       *    SMART Command Transport (SCT) feature set
       *    SCT Error Recovery Control (AC3)
       *    SCT Data Tables (AC5)
            unknown 206[7]
            unknown 206[8]
            unknown 206[10]
            unknown 206[11]
            unknown 206[14] (vendor specific)
       *    reserved 69[0]
       *    reserved 69[1]
       *    reserved 69[6]
       *    DOWNLOAD MICROCODE DMA command
       *    READ BUFFER DMA command
       *    Data Set Management TRIM supported (limit 26619 blocks)
       *    Deterministic read data after TRIM
        Removable Media Status Notification feature set supported
HW reset results:
    CBLID- below Vih
    Device num = 1 determined by the jumper
Integrity word not set (found 0xafdc, expected 0x6fa5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

when i try to mount it, this is what appears:

Error mounting /dev/sdb2 at /run/media/one/64008E56008E2EDC: Command-line `mount -t "ntfs" -o "uhelper=udisks2,nodev,nosuid,uid=1000,gid=1000" "/dev/sdb2" "/run/media/one/64008E56008E2EDC"' exited with non-zero exit status 14: Windows is hibernated, refused to mount.
Failed to mount '/dev/sdb2': Operation not permitted
The NTFS partition is in an unsafe state. Please resume and shutdown
Windows fully (no hibernation or fast restarting), or mount the volume
read-only with the 'ro' mount option.
.

do you have any idea of what should i do?

THANKS IN ADVANCE...

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Re: Cannot format a froozen disk

- Did you try to write a new partition table on the drive? (I see you did it).

- Is there any BIOS-based security system on the computer? (this is often the case in UEFI systems). In this case, unplugging and plugging back again the SATA cable can unlock the drive. Please, look if it is the case for you.

- Can you check the drive health by SMART ? Very often, failing drives behave strangely.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

3

Re: Cannot format a froozen disk

Hello, Thank you for answer!!

>>>>>>>>- Did you try to write a new partition table on the drive? (I see you did it).

Yes i did :S

>>>>>>>>- Is there any BIOS-based security system on the computer? (this is often the case in UEFI systems). In this case, unplugging and plugging back again the SATA cable can unlock the drive. Please, look if it is the case for you.

I did it too, while booting in USB, i did unplugged and plugged in back again, the hdparm showed me that it was NOT FROZEN, so i again did try to create the new partition but i get the input/output error :S

>>>>>>>>- Can you check the drive health by SMART ? Very often, failing drives behave strangely.
the smartctl shows me its everything fine :S

It is a very strange problem this superblock issue but i would like to do every trick before going for another one :'(

maybe i should try to somehow change the firmware...

Thank you again for your answer and tell me if you want me to try anything else

4

Re: Cannot format a froozen disk

From the information provided it appears that either the flash drive has a write protect switch and it is set in the READ-ONLY position.  If not, then the flash drive may be failing and is not longer writable.

Either way it appears to be a hardware issue.

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Re: Cannot format a froozen disk

gedakc wrote:

From the information provided it appears that either the flash drive has a write protect switch and it is set in the READ-ONLY position.  If not, then the flash drive may be failing and is not longer writable.

Either way it appears to be a hardware issue.

Thank you for answer,

As beeing SSD the only input/output cables are the SATA sata and power, no physical switches nor any visible service pin :S

Saddly i think you are right by the hardware issue, the strange thing is that i cannot understand why it failed.

Anyways, i will try to reload the firmware from the ADATA download page via Windows and if it does not work maybe i should use it to stand my office door.

Thank you again for your support,

best regards.

6

Re: Cannot format a froozen disk

The firmware can be another source of problems.
I would suggest that you look for any manufacturer's (ADATA, I guess) support forum. I just found this article from Intel for its own SSD drives. It can be similar for your drive too. What I remark there, is:

"Remove the SATA power cable from the drive and quickly reconnect it while the Intel® SSD Toolbox is running"

.
*Quickly*, means for me that you have to do this in, say, half a second or one second, not after several seconds. This is not easy.
Another remark is this "Intel toolbox". This means that you need probably use a software. The ADATA support page can provide more info, I hope.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***