[gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to have locked 
itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and purposes I cannot write to 
it in any conceivable way.

I tried to delete /dev/sdb1 with c/fdisk, the dd zeros into /dev/sdb1, 
/dev/sdb and also the first 512B to delete the partition table, but nothing 
seems to work.

/dev/sdb1 is still there no matter how I try to delete/format/overwrite it.

Is there a way of resetting whatever needs resetting in the USB flash chip to 
make it work again?
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Michael Mol]

On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 11:32 AM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to have locked
> itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and purposes I cannot write to
> it in any conceivable way.
>
> I tried to delete /dev/sdb1 with c/fdisk, the dd zeros into /dev/sdb1,
> /dev/sdb and also the first 512B to delete the partition table, but nothing
> seems to work.
>
> /dev/sdb1 is still there no matter how I try to delete/format/overwrite it.
>
> Is there a way of resetting whatever needs resetting in the USB flash chip to
> make it work again?
> --
> Regards,
> Mick

Was it a drive with U3 on it? If so, there are tools you might use,
but I can't remember their name.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3

--
:wq

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Friday 04 Jan 2013 16:48:41 Michael Mol wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 11:32 AM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to have
> > locked itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and purposes I
> > cannot write to it in any conceivable way.
> > 
> > I tried to delete /dev/sdb1 with c/fdisk, the dd zeros into /dev/sdb1,
> > /dev/sdb and also the first 512B to delete the partition table, but
> > nothing seems to work.
> > 
> > /dev/sdb1 is still there no matter how I try to delete/format/overwrite
> > it.
> > 
> > Is there a way of resetting whatever needs resetting in the USB flash
> > chip to make it work again?
> > --
> > Regards,
> > Mick
> 
> Was it a drive with U3 on it? If so, there are tools you might use,
> but I can't remember their name.
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3

No, it's a normal USB flash stick:

Bus 002 Device 006: ID 1307:0163 Transcend Information, Inc. 256MB/512MB/1GB 
Flash Drive
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x1307 Transcend Information, Inc.
  idProduct          0x0163 256MB/512MB/1GB Flash Drive
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           1 USBest Technology
  iProduct                2 USB Mass Storage Device
  iSerial                 3 08032204c2f5fd
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           39
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower               80mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           3
      bInterfaceClass         8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass      6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol     80 Bulk-Only
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               8
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
  bLength                10
  bDescriptorType         6
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  bNumConfigurations      1
Device Status:     0x000a
  (Bus Powered)
  Remote Wakeup Enabled

Is there some cryptic hdparm command I could run on it to reset it?  I mean, 
it's bricked as is anyway, so it can't get *much* worse.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Paul Hartman]

On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is there some cryptic hdparm command I could run on it to reset it?  I mean,
> it's bricked as is anyway, so it can't get *much* worse.

"hdparm -z /dev/sdX" will force kernel to re-read the partition table,
which should be the same that happens when you plug it in, but maybe
it'll help... I had a SD card that I had to issue that command every
time I plugged it in, the first read always failed.

Otherwise, Transcend have a recovery utility (for Windows) that claims
it can recover some dead flash drives. Might be worth a try if you
have access to Windows box or a virtual machine:

http://www.transcend-info.com/Products/online_recovery_2.asp

Good luck.

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Friday 04 Jan 2013 17:32:14 Paul Hartman wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Is there some cryptic hdparm command I could run on it to reset it?  I
> > mean, it's bricked as is anyway, so it can't get *much* worse.
> 
> "hdparm -z /dev/sdX" will force kernel to re-read the partition table,
> which should be the same that happens when you plug it in, but maybe
> it'll help... I had a SD card that I had to issue that command every
> time I plugged it in, the first read always failed.
> 
> Otherwise, Transcend have a recovery utility (for Windows) that claims
> it can recover some dead flash drives. Might be worth a try if you
> have access to Windows box or a virtual machine:
> 
> http://www.transcend-info.com/Products/online_recovery_2.asp
> 
> Good luck.

Thank you Paul!  It seems that I'm running out of luck.

I tried the transcend tool, which failed to detect the drive, as well as any 
hdparm command I could think of to reset/restore the darn thing.  I think its 
condition is terminal.  :-(

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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[gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[James]

Mick <michaelkintzios <at> gmail.com> writes:

> Is there some cryptic hdparm command I could run on it to reset it?  I mean, 
> it's bricked as is anyway, so it can't get *much* worse.


Try putting it on a windows system and delete what you can.
Then try various tools to mount or reformat the usb stick.

I've had a few and I just had to hack at them for a while.

It helps if you can remember/determine, how the drive was set up.
Fat? Fat32? NTFS? ext3?

then test with appropriate tools

parted may work, or tell you something about the stick.

hth,
James

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Friday 04 Jan 2013 18:43:48 James wrote:
> Mick <michaelkintzios <at> gmail.com> writes:
> > Is there some cryptic hdparm command I could run on it to reset it?  I
> > mean, it's bricked as is anyway, so it can't get *much* worse.
> 
> Try putting it on a windows system and delete what you can.
> Then try various tools to mount or reformat the usb stick.
> 
> I've had a few and I just had to hack at them for a while.
> 
> It helps if you can remember/determine, how the drive was set up.
> Fat? Fat32? NTFS? ext3?
> 
> then test with appropriate tools
> 
> parted may work, or tell you something about the stick.
> 
> hth,
> James

Thanks James, no luck with parted either.  It'll see the old vfat partition in 
there, but it will not delete it, reformat it on in any way change it.

Different MSWindows tools also fail to operate on it.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Walter Dnes]

On Fri, Jan 04, 2013 at 07:16:51PM +0000, Mick wrote

> Thanks James, no luck with parted either.  It'll see the old vfat
> partition in there, but it will not delete it, reformat it on in
> any way change it.
> 
> Different MSWindows tools also fail to operate on it.

  Under the heading of "grasping-for-straws"... does it have a physical
write-protect switch?  If such a switch was engaged, that would explain
things.

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
I don't run "desktop environments"; I run useful applications

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Friday 04 Jan 2013 20:27:38 Walter Dnes wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 04, 2013 at 07:16:51PM +0000, Mick wrote
> 
> > Thanks James, no luck with parted either.  It'll see the old vfat
> > partition in there, but it will not delete it, reformat it on in
> > any way change it.
> > 
> > Different MSWindows tools also fail to operate on it.
> 
>   Under the heading of "grasping-for-straws"... does it have a physical
> write-protect switch?  If such a switch was engaged, that would explain
> things.

Hi Walter,

No, it doesn't, but just in case it had some virtual lock I tried 
(successfully) to run 'hdparm -L 0 /dev/sdb'.  It did not make a difference.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Walter Dnes]

On Fri, Jan 04, 2013 at 11:56:44PM +0000, Mick wrote
> On Friday 04 Jan 2013 20:27:38 Walter Dnes wrote:
> > 
> >   Under the heading of "grasping-for-straws"... does it have a physical
> > write-protect switch?  If such a switch was engaged, that would explain
> > things.
> 
> Hi Walter,
> 
> No, it doesn't, but just in case it had some virtual lock I tried 
> (successfully) to run 'hdparm -L 0 /dev/sdb'.  It did not make a difference.

  One last gasp... were you doing this as root?  Regular users cannot dd
directly to a device, for obvious reasons.

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
I don't run "desktop environments"; I run useful applications

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Saturday 05 Jan 2013 02:26:18 Walter Dnes wrote:

>   One last gasp... were you doing this as root?  Regular users cannot dd
> directly to a device, for obvious reasons.

Yes, also tried it as root.  No change.  BTW, with the device mounted I 
shouldn't have a problem with dd on a file.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Walter Dnes]

On Sat, Jan 05, 2013 at 10:05:29AM +0000, Mick wrote
> On Saturday 05 Jan 2013 02:26:18 Walter Dnes wrote:
> 
> >   One last gasp... were you doing this as root?  Regular users cannot dd
> > directly to a device, for obvious reasons.
> 
> Yes, also tried it as root.  No change.  BTW, with the device mounted I 
> shouldn't have a problem with dd on a file.

  Whoa... you should *NOT* have it mounted when trying to dd to the
device.  I.e., it must be mounted if you're trying...

dd if=~/foo of=/media/usbstick/bar

  But it must *NOT* be mounted if you want to...

dd count=1 bs=512 if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx

  Do you run with an automounter?

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>
I don't run "desktop environments"; I run useful applications

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Monday 07 Jan 2013 03:13:30 Walter Dnes wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 05, 2013 at 10:05:29AM +0000, Mick wrote
> 
> > On Saturday 05 Jan 2013 02:26:18 Walter Dnes wrote:
> > >   One last gasp... were you doing this as root?  Regular users cannot
> > >   dd
> > > 
> > > directly to a device, for obvious reasons.
> > 
> > Yes, also tried it as root.  No change.  BTW, with the device mounted I
> > shouldn't have a problem with dd on a file.
> 
>   Whoa... you should *NOT* have it mounted when trying to dd to the
> device.  I.e., it must be mounted if you're trying...
> 
> dd if=~/foo of=/media/usbstick/bar
> 
>   But it must *NOT* be mounted if you want to...
> 
> dd count=1 bs=512 if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx

Yes, of course, we're saying the same thing.


>   Do you run with an automounter?

Nope!  It would drive me insane ...
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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[gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Nikos Chantziaras]

On 04/01/13 18:32, Mick wrote:
> I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to have locked
> itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and purposes I cannot write to
> it in any conceivable way.

Can you elaborate on that?  Do you get any error messages from dd or in 
dmesg?

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Friday 04 Jan 2013 19:12:18 Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> On 04/01/13 18:32, Mick wrote:
> > I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to have
> > locked itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and purposes I
> > cannot write to it in any conceivable way.
> 
> Can you elaborate on that?  Do you get any error messages from dd or in
> dmesg?

dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/iso/bigfile.txt bs=512
dd: writing ‘/mnt/iso/bigfile.txt’: Input/output error
376705+0 records in
376704+0 records out
192872448 bytes (193 MB) copied, 1.01944 s, 189 MB/s

rm /mnt/iso/bigfile.txt
rm: cannot remove ‘/mnt/iso/bigfile.txt’: Read-only file system


The output of mount:

/dev/sdb1 on /mnt/iso type vfat (rw)

(was mounted rw as root just in case).


This is what dmesg shows:

hub 2-1:1.0: state 7 ports 8 chg 0000 evt 0002
hub 2-1:1.0: port 1, status 0101, change 0001, 12 Mb/s
hub 2-1:1.0: debounce: port 1: total 100ms stable 100ms status 0x101
hub 2-1:1.0: port 1 not reset yet, waiting 10ms
usb 2-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 8 using ehci_hcd
hub 2-1:1.0: port 1 not reset yet, waiting 10ms
usb 2-1.1: default language 0x0409
usb 2-1.1: udev 8, busnum 2, minor = 135
usb 2-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=1307, idProduct=0163
usb 2-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
usb 2-1.1: Product: USB Mass Storage Device
usb 2-1.1: Manufacturer: USBest Technology
usb 2-1.1: SerialNumber: 08032204c2f5fd
usb 2-1.1: usb_probe_device
usb 2-1.1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
usb 2-1.1: adding 2-1.1:1.0 (config #1, interface 0)
usb-storage 2-1.1:1.0: usb_probe_interface
usb-storage 2-1.1:1.0: usb_probe_interface - got id
scsi10 : usb-storage 2-1.1:1.0
scsi 10:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Ut163    USB2FlashStorage 0.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
sd 10:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] 1974271 512-byte logical blocks: (1.01 GB/963 MiB)
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 00 00 00 00
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Asking for cache data failed
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Asking for cache data failed
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
 sdb: sdb1
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Asking for cache data failed
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
sd 10:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk


I can't recall the hdparm errors (run it on a different box) but if important 
I can get these for you.

Thanks.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Alan McKinnon]

On Fri, 4 Jan 2013 16:32:14 +0000
Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:

> I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to
> have locked itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and
> purposes I cannot write to it in any conceivable way.
> 
> I tried to delete /dev/sdb1 with c/fdisk, the dd zeros
> into /dev/sdb1, /dev/sdb and also the first 512B to delete the
> partition table, but nothing seems to work.
> 
> /dev/sdb1 is still there no matter how I try to
> delete/format/overwrite it.
> 
> Is there a way of resetting whatever needs resetting in the USB flash
> chip to make it work again?


USB sticks don't last long. When they do that, they are nuked.

They cost about as much as a packet of smokes. Chuck it in the bin, buy
a new one, move on. It's not worth the time to even attempt to fix it. 

-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan.mckinnon@gmail.com

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Resetting USB flash

[Mick]

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On Friday 04 Jan 2013 22:31:53 Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Fri, 4 Jan 2013 16:32:14 +0000
> 
> Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I was trying to zero out a USB stick and at some point it seems to
> > have locked itself up.  By that I mean that for all intends and
> > purposes I cannot write to it in any conceivable way.
> > 
> > I tried to delete /dev/sdb1 with c/fdisk, the dd zeros
> > into /dev/sdb1, /dev/sdb and also the first 512B to delete the
> > partition table, but nothing seems to work.
> > 
> > /dev/sdb1 is still there no matter how I try to
> > delete/format/overwrite it.
> > 
> > Is there a way of resetting whatever needs resetting in the USB flash
> > chip to make it work again?
> 
> USB sticks don't last long. When they do that, they are nuked.
> 
> They cost about as much as a packet of smokes. Chuck it in the bin, buy
> a new one, move on. It's not worth the time to even attempt to fix it.

Yep, you're right.  I have come to the conclusion that it is terminal.  Out of 
sheer good luck I ran a backup just a day before it croaked!  :-)
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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