"Buffer I/O error on device sda" Help!

[maciekwpl]

Hello. Here is the copy of a thread I made on Ubutnuforums (nobody replied since then) :

Hello! Recently (5 minutes ago) i wanted to install Ubuntu 7.10 Polish (don't know if it does make any difference, I don't think so) And during booting LiveCD it gave me a bunch of errors. I started like this: chose CD-ROM to be first boot device, then after restart, i chose to boot from CD. After waiting few minutes in front of the loading Ubuntu screen, it gave me this error in text mode:

Code:

[ 164.774278] ata5.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x2 frozen

Then, about 10 seconds later:

Code:

[ 164.774325] ata5.00 cmd c8/00:00:08:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0cdb 0x0 data 4096 in

Then, these messages shown 2 times more (with about 10 second break between a new one)
After that (around 10 seconds again) I got:
Code:

[ 225.234980] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0

And then the two previous messages reappear. (Each new one comes after 10 seconds)

Note: I'm only a human, I could have done some mistakes when re-writing this from computer screen. So sorry, if i ddi some. I still hope you can help me

PS.: I have 4 partitions:

-20 GB one, Windows XP on it (Xp works fine)

-20 GB one , raw (unformatted, I wanted to install Ubuntu on it)

-30 GB one, raw (unformatted, I wanted to install Mac OS X Leopard () on it)

-227 GB one, NTFS (for my games etc.)

Strange thing is, Ubuntu already worked on that HDD (I suppose it causes problems)
I recently ahd problems with HDD and linux, but i thought it would be over as soon as i format everything (cause i changed my PC, only old DVD drive and HDD remained)

Hope you can help me I really wanted to use compiz fusion again :P


I heard that this error may be caused by dying HDD, but i think screenshot below explains that my HDD is not dying at all.


Changing SATA cables (I heard that it might help) also didn't do it.

Ubuntuforums thread:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=674188

PS.: I heard that newer kernel could solve the problm, so I'm downloading Hardy right now and I'll see if it'll help.

[Deciare]

Unfortunately, a study (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,2096737,00.asp) has shown that the S.M.A.R.T. functionality built into hard drives (and relied upon by the program in your screenshot) is not generally an accurate indicator of how much longer your drive is likely to survive.

You may really be looking at an approaching hardware failure...

[maciekwpl]

HDD Life is made to work with every HDD, so maybe it's not that accurate, but I also used SeaTools program which is provided by the manufacturer of my HDD (Seagate) and my HDD passed test that said they are "short" . I'm not trying these "Long" ones. I suppose this program is made to work with Seagate hard drives, so I believe it shows real state of my drive. They are named "Drive Self Test" and "Short Generic", so i suppose they don't rely on S.M.A.R.T. It's what at least i hope for.

Well, that sounds really scary. I already spent to much money for PC parts than I wanted (my rams arrived broken, needed to buy 2 GB more) and I really don't want to buy new hard drive. I hope I won't have to.

[Oasisgames]

I suppose this program is made to work with Seagate hard drives, so I believe it shows real state of my drive. They are named "Drive Self Test" and "Short Generic", so i suppose they don't rely on S.M.A.R.T.
Those are SMART tests, and no, they aren't very reliable, regardless of what drive it is.

[maciekwpl]

Okay, and is there any other way to discover my hard drive health without test based on S.M.A.R.T. ?