Hi All,

I seem to be having a strange problem lately. My computer has a debian distro on a 512MB CF card. It has no HDD. It runs properly until sometimes when I see

(these messages are from /var/log/kern.log. The startup of my machine has same messages and then a kernel panic message)
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Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121590, sector=121590
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121590
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121592, sector=121592
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121592
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121594, sector=121594
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121594
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121596, sector=121596
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121596
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121598, sector=121598
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121598
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121600, sector=121600
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121600
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121602, sector=121602
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121602
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121604, sector=121604
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121604
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121606, sector=121606
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121606
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121608, sector=121608
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121608
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121610, sector=121610
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121610
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121612, sector=121612
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121612
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121614, sector=121614
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121614
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121616, sector=121616
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121616
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121618, sector=121618
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121618
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121620, sector=121620
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121620
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121622, sector=121622
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121622
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121624, sector=121624
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121624
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: hdc: task_in_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=121566, sector=121566
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev hdc, sector 121566
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 352, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6f8c
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1bdbe9f, size 74a6
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 186, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0x6fab
Apr 11 09:36:52 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 1be3345, size 7ac9
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 786, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0xf317
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read fragment cache block [3cbf8ed]
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 3cbf8ed, size 63d9
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: zlib_inflate returned unexpected result 0xfffffffd, srclength 65536, avail_in 786, avail_out 65536
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: sb_bread failed reading block 0xf317
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read fragment cache block [3cbf8ed]
Apr 11 09:42:58 localhost kernel: SQUASHFS error: Unable to read page, block 3cbf8ed, size 63d9
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Kernel panic message is
switch_root: Bad init 'sbin/init'
Kernel panic - not syncing: attempting to kill init

I did some searching on this but couldn't figure out the way forward. Any help from linux gurus wud be appreciated...

thanks in advance

Regards,
unev_21

At first sight I would agree with the log file: the CF card is faulty. It has to be replaced.

jlinkels

thanx jlinkels.
Any idea when a CF can get screwed like this? This CF card phenomenon is not new to me. It happens once in a while and the whole card become unusable. Is it because if too many R/Ws or heating, because I see the card gets very hot sometimes.

could i run fsck thru live CD to get some clues?

Unlike hard disks CF cannot be written to indefinitely, they wear out. If you have Debian installed on this CF card, did you just plain install it like the CF card is a hard disk, or did you take special measures as to prevent writing of log files and temporary data? And for certain you should not have a swap area installed on the CF card.

As a matter of fact you should treat the CF card as a CD, that is, during operation data should not be written to it, but to a RAMdisk which is created during operation. This of course is not true for your own files and configuration data which may be written to the card, but such writing is rather sporadic.

I have tried to make a Debian installation on CF card / USB stick myself taking these demands into account. It was extremely difficult to find clear documentation on the Internet how to do this, and what I found was fairly complicated. I have to admit my attempt failed and instead I am using 2.5" hard disks instead of CF cards.

I also know that some small computers, netbooks and nettops ignore the fact that CF cards should be not written onto and simply install Ubuntu or Debian on the CF card just like onto any hard disk. I don't think that is correct.

On the other hand, if you want to do it correctly, and also want to include a GUI you are facing a rather complicated task. Development on tools to achieve proper CF card installation continues however and the situation might have improved over the last few months. But so did the number of allowed write cycles on CF cards, so your CF card life time might improve if you keep replacing them by more recent types.

jlinkels