[SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

j0z3ph0s · 2016-02-24 06:34:56

Okay. So I wanted to install BunsenLabs on my Compaq A900. Currently it runs Ubuntu 12.04. After using the system today I powered off and expected to back up a few files tonight and then to begin install.

But now I can't get Ubuntu to boot into the desktop. It hangs up after the progress bar animation and does nothing. In tty1, it continually displays:

[ 1848.737889] sd 5:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 1901.559143] sd 5:0:0:0: [sdb] Asking for cache data failed

The numbers in the left brackets constantly change (you all prolly already knew that). I remember a system upgrade today and that it needed a restart. I do not remember what packages were being installed. This all happened after the restart.

My questions are:

1. What happened?
2. How can I boot into the desktop?
3. If #2 is not an option, how can I backup my home folder to a USB via terminal?

I have searched the Ubuntu forums here , but when I attempted to

 mkdir /media/$USER/external

I got

 mkdir: cannot create directory '/media/joe/external': No such file or directory

Suggestions?

Last edited by j0z3ph0s (2016-02-25 06:14:10)

ohnonot · 2016-02-24 07:26:34

this is all a little unclear.
have you actually installed bunsenlabs or not?
assuming you did, how (installer options)? dual boot with ubuntu?
and then you reboot and can boot into bunsenlabs, but not into ubuntu?

the message it displays - i get the same message every time i boot up my machine, but i think it comes only once. so, i have no clue how that could be related to a borked install. or whatever the problem really is here.

you made a system upgrade on the ubuntu install? since this is 12.04 (LTS i presume, have you checked if it's still supported), may i ask how long since the last upgrade?
not remembering what you upgraded is ok, but you should be able to access the info on your machine.

ps:
let's leave backup aside for a while, i think you want to try and fix your system first.

don't panic.

j0z3ph0s · 2016-02-24 07:39:34

No, I have not installed BL yet. I attempted to boot up my system (with Ubuntu 12.04) so I could back up some files to prepare to install. But (perfect timing) Ubuntu won't boot up all the way. It gets past the splash screen (or whatever it's called) with the dotted progress bars, and then goes black. From there, I've been able to login to terminal, and the output is the [sdb] dialogue I described above. This continually displays over and over and over. in fact, when I try to enter commands, I have to type quickly or else the [sdb] dialogue will interrupt me.

Yes, 12.04 is LTS, and it is still supported. I upgrade system daily (or whenever prompted).

PS - I was able to backup my desired files via the terminal. I am curious to the problem. This is not an emergency, but I would like to know what went wrong. Thanks for the reply.

PPS - I did not see your comment to put the backup efforts aside until after I successfully made the backup. I apologize if I sounded like I was scoffing at advice.

Last edited by j0z3ph0s (2016-02-24 07:45:04)

ohnonot · 2016-02-24 07:45:40

does the message go away when you change to another tty, so that you can use the machine in text mode?
if so, i'd try to fix it first.
by the way, you'll still be able to use your shell despite the constant messages.
is ubuntu installed on sdb? if no, i'd tell ubuntu to ignore sdb (maybe evtl. physically remove sdb and try again). if yes, the question arises: what's on sda?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-02-24 07:47:09

What happens if you run:

startx

You can use the BunsenLabs live session on the ISO image to access and retrieve any data on your machine.

j0z3ph0s · 2016-02-24 08:00:47

When I

startx

it returns:

x: cannot stat /etc/x11/x (No such file or directory), aborting
xinit: giving up
xinit: unable to connect to x server: no such file or directory
xinit: server error

Sound serious.

j0z3ph0s · 2016-02-24 08:25:09

does the message go away when you change to another tty, so that you can use the machine in text mode?

no it does not go away.

is ubuntu installed on sdb? if no, i'd tell ubuntu to ignore sdb (maybe evtl. physically remove sdb and try again). if yes, the question arises: what's on sda?

Good question.

fdisk -l

returns, in part,

Device Boot .............. System
/dev/sda1 ................ Linux
/dev/sda2 ................ Extended
/dev/sda5 ................ Linux swap / Solaris

It's way past my bedtime and my brain has checked out. Sorry for the lack of clarity; I'm still learning the lingo. See ya'll tomorrow.

Last edited by j0z3ph0s (2016-02-24 08:25:58)

j0z3ph0s · 2016-02-24 09:03:51

I pushed on, and found this:

apt-get install -reinstall xserver-xorg

And I'm back in business! That's my display server, right? Not sure how I lost it. Thanks, HOAS, for the hint. Thanks, everybody, for the the encouragement.

ohnonot · 2016-02-25 06:06:30

good!
now please edit your first post and mark it [SOLVED] and hopefully you will install bunsenlabs now!

j0z3ph0s · 2016-02-25 06:16:30

ohnonot wrote:

now please edit your first post and mark it [SOLVED]

Oops. Sorry. Totally forgot.

#1 2016-02-24 06:34:56

[SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#2 2016-02-24 07:26:34

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#3 2016-02-24 07:39:34

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#4 2016-02-24 07:45:40

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#5 2016-02-24 07:47:09

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#6 2016-02-24 08:00:47

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#7 2016-02-24 08:25:09

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#8 2016-02-24 09:03:51

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#9 2016-02-25 06:06:30

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

#10 2016-02-25 06:16:30

Re: [SOLVED] [sdb] assuming drive cache data failed

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