Help Troubleshoot failed HDD?

[JesusLinux]

Hello,

I'm having a problem with an HP laptop that I recently installed MX Linux.
This machine dual boots Win11 and MX Linux.
This HP has a 240GB SSD where Win11 is installed along with MX Linux EFI/boot partition (GRUB), root/partition and /swap.
It has a 500GB HDD where mx/home and a data partition.

Everything was working fine until this morning. Dual boot was working fine.
Now I can't boot to MX Linux it stays in loop for a while saying messages errors a then login appears and after password it goes back to login.

I can boot to Win11 fine. I went to W11 disk management and the 500GB is not recognized (says unallocated).

I suspect MX Linux is not mounting the 500GB HDD where /home is located.

I'm asking for help to troubleshoot this problem.
I intend to open the laptop reconnect the HDD.

Thank you for any advice.

[Eadwine Rose]

According to the forum rules (please read): Please provide full Quick System Info, use copy for forum button, no edits.

LiveUSB version is OK if needed.

[j2mcgreg]

If the QSI shown in post #17 of this thread:
viewtopic.php?p=811172#p811172
is still valid, that Hitachi HDD is around twelve years old and has likely died. See here for age confirmation:
https://hdd.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest ... 5050A7E380
You might try removing it from the laptop and then try to access it via a SATA adaptor or dock but I wouldn't advise you to spend much money in the attempt.

[JesusLinux]

If the QSI shown in post #17 of this thread:
viewtopic.php?p=811172#p811172
is still valid, that Hitachi HDD is around twelve years old and has likely died. See here for age confirmation:
https://hdd.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest ... 5050A7E380
You might try removing it from the laptop and then try to access it via a SATA adaptor or dock but I wouldn't advise you to spend much money in the attempt.

Yes that is the drive sdb hitachi

[JesusLinux]

According to the forum rules (please read): Please provide full Quick System Info, use copy for forum button, no edits.

LiveUSB version is OK if needed.

System info from live USB snapshot, sdb is not mounting. Does not show on gparted:

Code: Select all

Snapshot created on: 20250202_2320
System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-28-amd64 [6.1.119-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0 parameters: lang=en_US
    kbd=pt tz=Europe/Lisbon
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.3_x64 Libretto August 15  2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Pavilion g6 Notebook PC
    v: 0791100000205610000620100 serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 1840 v: 56.32 serial: <superuser required> UEFI-[Legacy]: Insyde
    v: F.27 date: 09/07/2016
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Pentium B970 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Sandy Bridge level: v2 built: 2010-12
    process: Intel 32nm family: 6 model-id: 0x2A (42) stepping: 7 microcode: 0x28
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 128 KiB desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB
    L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB L3: 2 MiB desc: 1x2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 917 high: 980 min/max: 800/2300 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 980 2: 855 bogomips: 9178
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX unsupported
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
  Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT disabled
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; STIBP: disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not
    affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-6 code: Sandybridge process: Intel 32nm built: 2011 ports:
    active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0106 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: AMD Thames [Radeon HD 7500M/7600M Series] vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: N/A
    alternate: radeon, amdgpu arch: TeraScale-2 code: Evergreen process: TSMC 32-40nm built: 2009-15
    pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 8 link-max: lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6840
    class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.20.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 362x204mm (14.25x8.03") s-diag: 416mm (16.36")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: LG Display 0x02f2 built: 2011 res: 1366x768 hz: 60 dpi: 101 gamma: 1.2
    size: 344x194mm (13.54x7.64") diag: 395mm (15.5") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1366x768
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 2000 (SNB GT1)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard 7
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1e20 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-28-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Ralink vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: rt2800pci v: 2.3.0 modules: wl pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 07:00.0 chip-ID: 1814:539a class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: r8169
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 3000 bus-ID: 08:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8136
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 747.93 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Kingston model: SA400S37240G size: 223.57 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 1103 scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Hitachi model: HTS545050A7E380 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    rev: A7A0
  ID-3: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 type: USB model: N/A size: 58.59 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 2.00 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
  Message: No partition data found.
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 8.59 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 dev: /dev/sda7
    maj-min: 8:7
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 46.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2291 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2282 libs: 1159
    tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,gnome-software,nala,synaptic pm: rpm pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 9
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb https://ftp.rnl.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/pub/mxlinux-packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list
    1: deb http://repository.spotify.com stable non-free
Info:
  Processes: 209 Uptime: 9m wakeups: 2 Memory: 7.65 GiB used: 2.22 GiB (29.0%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: BIOS (legacy, CSM, MBR)
Video Tweaks:
Detected possible Hybrid Graphics

[JesusLinux]

This is what I get when I try to boot to mx.

[CharlesV]

I would run

Code: Select all

sudo  smartctl -a /dev/sdb

and post those results.

You could try a to run fsck on it, but it looks like your HD has indeed failed. Smartctl results may show us for sure

[DukeComposed]

You could try a to run fsck on it, but it looks like your HD has indeed failed. Smartctl results may show us for sure

This is what it looks like to me as well.

System info from live USB snapshot, sdb is not mounting. Does not show on gparted

If sdb is not mounting, your course of action is to:

1. Verify the partition table is correct with "fdisk -l /dev/sdb " and "parted /dev/sdb p"
2. Prove that all partitions are visible with "lsblk -f"
3. Run a fsck on the errant partition if possible
4. Start reading up on ddrescue and prepare to transition from repair to recovery.

This presumes that Windows still does boot as expected and not that safe-mode, takes 10 minutes to get to a login screen, failover kind of boot, either. If the drive is 12 years old its best days are behind it and you should set your expectations realistically based on that fact.

[Eadwine Rose]

Do not link to QSI when asked for it. Always post IN the thread, thanks.

[JesusLinux]

Hello again, here are the results about the drive:

Code: Select all

$ sudo  smartctl -a /dev/sda
smartctl 7.3 2022-02-28 r5338 [x86_64-linux-6.1.0-28-amd64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-22, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Hitachi/HGST Travelstar Z5K500
Device Model:     Hitachi HTS545050A7E380
Serial Number:    TE85323Q2BLE4W
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000cca 6e4e17440
Firmware Version: GG2OA7A0
User Capacity:    500,107,862,016 bytes [500 GB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate:    5400 rpm
Form Factor:      2.5 inches
Device is:        In smartctl database 7.3/5319
ATA Version is:   ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 6
SATA Version is:  SATA 2.6, 3.0 Gb/s
Local Time is:    Tue Mar 25 19:45:45 2025 WET
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
See vendor-specific Attribute list for marginal Attributes.

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)	Offline data collection activity
					was never started.
					Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)	The previous self-test routine completed
					without error or no self-test has ever 
					been run.
Total time to complete Offline 
data collection: 		(   45) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: 			 (0x5b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
					Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
					Suspend Offline collection upon new
					command.
					Offline surface scan supported.
					Self-test supported.
					No Conveyance Self-test supported.
					Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)	Saves SMART data before entering
					power-saving mode.
					Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)	Error logging supported.
					General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine 
recommended polling time: 	 (   2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 ( 111) minutes.
SCT capabilities: 	       (0x003d)	SCT Status supported.
					SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
					SCT Feature Control supported.
					SCT Data Table supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x002f   086   086   062    Pre-fail  Always       -       11862016
  2 Throughput_Performance  0x0025   100   100   040    Pre-fail  Offline      -       0
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0023   214   100   033    Pre-fail  Always       -       1
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   097   097   000    Old_age   Always       -       5484
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   005    Pre-fail  Always       -       664 (0 82)
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x002f   100   100   067    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  8 Seek_Time_Performance   0x0025   100   100   040    Pre-fail  Offline      -       0
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   043   043   000    Old_age   Always       -       25077
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0033   100   100   060    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   097   097   000    Old_age   Always       -       5053
183 Runtime_Bad_Block       0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
184 End-to-End_Error        0x0033   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   001   001   000    Old_age   Always       -       27715562045620
188 Command_Timeout         0x0032   100   099   000    Old_age   Always       -       68727865362
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   076   043   045    Old_age   Always   In_the_past 24 (Min/Max 15/24)
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate      0x0032   095   095   000    Old_age   Always       -       1488
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       2228258
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   050   050   000    Old_age   Always       -       508751
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       82
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       32
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0030   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x0036   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
223 Load_Retry_Count        0x002a   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 180 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
	CR = Command Register [HEX]
	FR = Features Register [HEX]
	SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
	SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
	CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
	CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
	DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
	DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
	ER = Error register [HEX]
	ST = Status register [HEX]
Powered_Up_Time is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.

Error 180 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 25077 hours (1044 days + 21 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 08 00 00 00 00  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 20 00 00 00 40 00      00:01:42.995  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 05 fe 00 00 00 40 00      00:01:42.995  SET FEATURES [Enable APM]
  ef 10 03 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:42.995  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:42.982  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:42.980  IDENTIFY DEVICE

Error 179 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 25077 hours (1044 days + 21 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 08 00 00 00 00  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 e8 00 00 00 40 00      00:01:38.538  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 08 e0 20 60 38 40 00      00:01:38.535  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 08 d8 80 5f 38 40 00      00:01:38.501  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ec 00 01 00 00 00 00 00      00:01:38.499  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 10 03 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:35.592  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]

Error 178 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 25077 hours (1044 days + 21 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 08 00 00 00 00  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 68 00 00 00 40 00      00:01:32.092  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 03 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:32.092  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:32.081  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:32.080  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:32.080  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 177 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 25077 hours (1044 days + 21 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 08 00 00 00 00  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 b8 00 00 00 40 00      00:01:28.583  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 08 b0 20 60 38 40 00      00:01:28.580  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  60 08 a8 80 5f 38 40 00      00:01:28.266  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 03 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:25.568  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:25.558  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]

Error 176 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 25077 hours (1044 days + 21 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 41 08 00 00 00 00  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00000000 = 0

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 08 a0 00 00 00 40 00      00:01:22.068  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  ef 10 03 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:22.068  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ef 10 02 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:22.057  SET FEATURES [Enable SATA feature]
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:22.056  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 45 00 00 00 a0 00      00:01:22.056  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     21353         -
# 2  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     21318         -
# 3  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     21230         -
# 4  Short offline       Aborted by host               40%     21182         -
# 5  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     21024         -
# 6  Short offline       Aborted by host               30%     20919         -
# 7  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     20779         -
# 8  Short offline       Aborted by host               60%     20755         -
# 9  Short offline       Aborted by host               40%     20704         -
#10  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     20606         -
#11  Short offline       Aborted by host               40%     20486         -
#12  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     20457         -
#13  Short offline       Completed without error       00%      3605         -
#14  Short offline       Completed without error       00%      3599         -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
 SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.