Hi. I bought a “WD My Passport Essential 320 GB” usb drive. When I plug it in (suse 11.2 x86_64 gnome version), it won’t automount, a message appears “…/dev/sr2 is not a valid block device”, I can not mount it manually neither 
Don’t have a clue how to proceed in solving this issue. The drive is a bit strange though, it has some software on it for protecting data, which I wont need, but can’t get rid of it neither. However when I connected it to my laptop running ubuntu 9.10 x86_64, the drive automounted ok, so I guess I must be missing some additional software on my suse. The drive was initially NTFS formated, but I did reformat it to FAT with ubuntu, but this doesn’t seem to help :(. Please help.
Look at the messages appearing in file /var/log/messages when you insert it.
su
tail -f /var/log/messages
Also, see the output of the following command:
lshal
The output will be long. So, just save to a file and study:
lshal > lshal.out
What does “fdisk -l” (<- thats L) show you?
Is it the same computer you are trying to mount it in suse and ubuntu ?
There is a lot of output but don’t know how to parse something useful from lshal command or from /var/log/messages. What should I search for exactly.
What does “fdisk -l” (<- thats L) show you?
Is it the same computer you are trying to mount it in suse and ubuntu ?
fdisk doesn’t show any info about the usb drive. It is a different computer.Thanks again for your help.
This piece of /var/log/messages might help
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.337129] usb 1-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 74
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.452506] usb 1-4: New USB device found, idVendor=1058, idProduct=070a
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.452549] usb 1-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.452567] usb 1-4: Product: My Passport 070A
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.452582] usb 1-4: Manufacturer: Western Digital
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.452597] usb 1-4: SerialNumber: 575846304138394432373531
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.452888] usb 1-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.454309] scsi64 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.460031] usb-storage: device found at 74
Jan 24 15:38:39 Kanin kernel: 3075.460039] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.461073] scsi 64:0:0:0: Direct-Access WD My Passport 070A 1028 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.461568] sd 64:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg4 type 0
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.463183] scsi 64:0:0:1: CD-ROM WD Virtual CD 070A 1028 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.493653] sr2: scsi3-mmc drive: 51x/51x caddy
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.494045] sr 64:0:0:1: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr2
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.494243] sr 64:0:0:1: Attached scsi generic sg5 type 5
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.505684] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] 623769600 512-byte logical blocks: (319 GB/297 GiB)
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.506708] scsi 64:0:0:2: Enclosure WD SES Device 1028 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.506964] ses 64:0:0:2: Attached Enclosure device
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.507252] ses 64:0:0:2: Attached scsi generic sg6 type 13
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.524449] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.524497] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 23 00 10 00
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.524505] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.530155] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.530201] sdc: sdc1
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.532233] usb-storage: device scan complete
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.539663] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.539708] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685800] usb 1-4: USB disconnect, address 74
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685914] BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0000000000000040
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685939] IP: <ffffffff813ad993>] usb_hcd_unlink_urb+0x63/0x130
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685968] PGD 12e43f067 PUD 12e43e067 PMD 0
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685988] Oops: 0000 #1] PREEMPT SMP
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.686005] last sysfs file: /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/usb1/1-4/1-4:1.0/uevent
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.686027] CPU 0
Any clue maybe? Thanks again.
It looks like your kernel encountered a bug and then, it is disconnecting the USB. Do you have another USB port on the machine? Can you try there and see if you are getting the same bug?
If you are encountering the same bug, you may have to file a bug report.
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.539663] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.539708] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685800] usb 1-4: USB disconnect, address 74
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685914] BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0000000000000040
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685939] IP: <ffffffff813ad993>] usb_hcd_unlink_urb+0x63/0x130
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685968] PGD 12e43f067 PUD 12e43e067 PMD 0
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.685988] Oops: 0000 #1] PREEMPT SMP
I have a WD Passport 50GB that came with security software preinstalled. Since I wasn’t wanting to use it in windoze, I repartitioned it with parted, with gnome you probably have gparted which would do the same thing.
Use
fdisk -l
to find the device name. Then try
parted /dev/sdx
Change x to your device (no number). Then “print” will give you detailed info about the drive partitions. From that point you can make changes. Read
man parted (or gparted)
I have a WD Passport 50GB that came with security software preinstalled. Since I wasn’t wanting to use it in windoze, I repartitioned it with parted, with gnome you probably have gparted which would do the same thing.
ok I can give it a try with gparted on Ubuntu. What parition type did you format to? I need FAT for windows compatibility.
It looks like your kernel encountered a bug and then, it is disconnecting the USB. Do you have another USB port on the machine? Can you try there and see if you are getting the same bug?
I’ll try it.
Jan 24 15:38:40 Kanin kernel: 3076.539708] sd 64:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk
this seems very strange, It looks like the drive tries to emulate SCSI disk, which is probably because of security software on it. Can I format it somehow, so that I would wipe out security software?
USB disks are generally mounted via a SCSI emulation layer and nothing wrong with that message.
Also, another thing I noticed in that message log is that, it is recognizing a CD-ROM too. That could happen because certain USB devices can emulate multiple devices. Just try manually mounting the following devices and see:
mount -t auto /dev/sr2 somewhere
ls somewhere
mount -t auto /dev/sdc1 some_other_point
ls some_other_point
I gave up, nothing mentioned did help, so I took the drive back to the computer store and got my money back. I saw that all new usb drives, well at least those available in that store, are shipped including some security/backup-restore software (hp,wd,toshiba),which might be causing the problem. I own also an older version of toshiba usb hard drive with capacity 320 GB as well, which is “clean” and hasn’t caused me troubles with recognizing on any machine yet. So I’ll try to buy an older version, if I find it somewhere. This extra software on most new usb drives might be useful for protecting data, viruses, etc, at least that is what the store seller told me, however I prefer using a “normal” version of the drive, the one which works out of the box 
Thanks anyway for your efforts trying to help.
I’ve got a problem with this problem. You keep mentioning security software. But, if it’s software, why not just format the drive with a new partition? Is this like ROM-only programming on the control chip?
It is normal that manufacturers sell these drives with some Windoze software on it. I have even seen USB harddisks with a “special button” that triggers a Windoze backup process when pressed. But, I never faced with any problems when used them under Linux. I generally reinitialize them with some Linux file system (Anyway, I don’t have any Windoze machines to share my data with).
But, if it’s software, why not just format the drive with a new partition? Is this like ROM-only programming on the control chip?
The problem is that formating doesn’t delete the software on it, I guess it must be loaded on some extra chip, maybe ROM, don’t know.
That is definitely strange. I would expect parted to “see” all the partitions, and to be able to delete any of them. If that is not the case, then the hdd mfrs must indeed be playing games with ROM and the controller chips.
I suppose you might be able to go “deeper”, maybe using fdisk or dd. But if the instruction set is coded on the controller, then you would have to flash that chipset, if that were even possible.
Did you know you can buy a hard drive and buy separately an external USB enclosure for it? That should stop that hidden partition nonsense. I used a laptop hdd for an ultra small external that way.
BTW, I’m not sure this is related to your issue, but you might also look at udev and udev rules. Issues could be coming up with the device name and file permissions. See Writing udev rules. This thread has a similar problem with syncing a Palm, but gives a rule example that might help Getting j-pilot to sync with Sony Clie. Also, for possible problem-tracking, check out using udevmonitor while you try to connect. I’ve also seen dmesg recommended to help you determine where the drive is trying to connect to in /dev.
All if, of course, you even decide to pursue the issue farther. Making your own external using a casing or finding one on the market as you mentioned would save you time, assuming they “just work”.
If you don’t mind pursuing this some more, I’m having the same problem, but with a drive that I can mount on another laptop running OpenSuSE 11.0/Windows.
The new computer is having the mount problem.
/var/log/messages reports:
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.365032] usb 1-3: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 8
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.479098] usb 1-3: New USB device found, idVendor=0d49, idProduct=7310
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.479117] usb 1-3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.479130] usb 1-3: Product: OneTouch
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.479140] usb 1-3: Manufacturer: Maxtor
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.479149] usb 1-3: SerialNumber: XXXXXXXX
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.479356] usb 1-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.480336] scsi11 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.480576] usb-storage: device found at 8
Jan 28 00:16:06 my_computer kernel: 4244.480582] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.480898] scsi 11:0:0:0: Direct-Access Maxtor OneTouch 0122 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.481269] sd 11:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.489494] usb-storage: device scan complete
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.489547] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] 1465149168 512-byte logical blocks: (750 GB/698 GiB)
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.490132] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.490148] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 2d 08 00 00
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.490153] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.491884] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.491905] sdc: sdc1 sdc2 sdc3 sdc4
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.526251] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer kernel: 4245.526271] sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk
Jan 28 00:16:07 my_computer multipathd: sdc: add path (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX: load table [0 1465149168 multipath 0 0 1 1 round-robin 0 1 1 8:32 1000]
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX: event checker started
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: sdc path added to devmap 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-1: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-0: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-0: devmap already registered
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-2: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-4: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-3: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-2: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-1: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-4: add map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:16:08 my_computer multipathd: dm-3: add map (uevent)
So, it looks like I’m not getting the kernel bug that the other person had.
I get 3 icons on my desktop, but get the message
When I unplug the drive, I get these messages in /var/log/messages:
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer kernel: 4888.008700] usb 1-3: USB disconnect, address 8
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: sdc: remove path (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX: devmap removed
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX: stop event checker thread (139871330302224)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX: removed map after removing all paths
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-2: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: 1Maxtor OneTouch XXXXXXXX: event checker exit
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-2: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-2: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-2: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-1: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-1: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-1: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-1: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-4: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-4: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-4: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-4: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-3: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-3: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-3: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-3: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-0: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-0: devmap not registered, can’t remove
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-0: remove map (uevent)
Jan 28 00:26:50 my_computer multipathd: dm-0: devmap not registered, can’t remove
I get error messages for each partition when I plug in the drive:
Unable to mount “Maxtor2”:
mount /dev/sdc2 already mounted or /media/Maxtor
But, if I try
umount -fv /dev/sdc2
umount -fv /media/Maxtor2
it complains with:
umount2: Invalid argument
umount: /dev/sdc2: not mounted
I tried grepping for "sd" in the output of "mount -av", but found only the internal disk.
What sort of filesystems do you have on those 4 partitions?
Can you unmount all of them and try mounting them manually, one by one?
Last night I could not. As I said up above,
umount -fv /dev/sdc2
complained:
umount2: Invalid argument
umount: /dev/sdc2: not mounted
This morning mounting is working. Also, last night I had my droid plugged into one of the usb ports. In the morning it was drained…it did not charge. I wonder if the usb port wasn’t configured correctly???
I have just picked up a StorE steel by toshiba after hearing problems with inbuilt security on new WD drives. I will post reply after testing tonight.
Unfortunatly the WD security cannot be removed as it is a CD like image on the HD.
Hi
If it’s like the U3 image that was on a san cruzer, it can be removed
with some mucking around in fdisk
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.42-0.1-default
up 14 days 10:27, 4 users, load average: 0.22, 0.46, 0.28
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.53
Deleted the trial McAfee security program, and used without formatting. I have just backed up my precious photos from MCE2005 and opened them up from within Dolphin. 
Alls well.