Creating a copy operation puts the system unusable until its done

[Alusa]

When creating a copy of a folder with 820 items, totalling 158,1 GB from one harddrive to another where the system is installed puts the system literally unusable until it's done, firefox web-browsing is next to impossible.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-22-generic 3.8.0-22.33
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-22.33-generic 3.8.11
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-22-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: andre 2075 F.... pulseaudio
                      andre 6709 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: andre 2075 F.... pulseaudio
                      andre 6709 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: command ['iw', 'reg', 'get'] failed with exit code 1: nl80211 not found.
Date: Thu May 30 04:36:24 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=2842a811-41a3-41e4-945f-ff113a4d3b6b
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-04-19 (40 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Alpha amd64 (20130418)
IwConfig:
 wwan0 no wireless extensions.

 ppp0 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-22-generic root=UUID=6f2fe3da-80a8-4e4a-bfa2-f94182507c61 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-22-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-22-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.106
RfKill:

SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/14/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1908
dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: P8Z77-V DELUXE
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev 1.xx
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr1908:bd03/14/2013:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnP8Z77-VDELUXE:rvrRev1.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.10 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10-rc3-saucy/

[Alusa (alusa)]

The UI appears more responsive under 3.10-rc4 ( it is running on llvmpipe, fglrx was removed) but it is still too slow opening an app for example like firefox or system monitor takes more than 10 minutes.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alusa, as per http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8Z77V_DELUXE/#support_Download_8 an update is available for your BIOS (2003). If you update to this, does it change anything?

If not, could you please both specify what happened, and provide the output of the following terminal command:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date

Thank you for your understanding.

[Alusa (alusa)]

The update didn't solve the problem, I think it is a IO scheduler bug in the kernel.

The command returns only this:
2003
05/09/2013

To reproduce the problem is only needed to have 2 identical HDDs connected by SATA, one with the system installed and the other as backup of files and them copying the files from the backup to the system HDD.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alusa, could you please test the latest upstream kernel (v3.11-rc4) available following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Please do not test the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.11-rc4

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, please comment as to why specifically you were unable to test it and add the following tags:
kernel-unable-to-test-upstream
kernel-unable-to-test-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Alusa (alusa)]

Tested kernel 3.11-rc4 and the bug is still present, I tried to copy a folder from a USB 3.0 HDD to the system HDD and the same happens.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alusa, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Raring?

[Alusa (alusa)]

I don't remember but I think so.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alusa, for regression testing purposes, could you please test Lucid via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/ ?

[Alusa (alusa)]

I will test lucid and report, I just been waiting for ubuntu 13.10 before doing so.

[Alusa (alusa)]

I tested ubuntu 10.04.4 and the bug was non existing, I also reformatted the HDD with ubuntu gnome 13.04 and them 13.10, what I can say is that 13.10 is smoother and the new installation of 13.04 didn't show the severe slowdown when copying files but was still not smooth as it should.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alusa, would you need a backport to a release prior to Saucy, or may we close this as Status Invalid?

[Alusa (alusa)]

It can be closed, I will stay on 13.10 and see if I can reproduce the bug with time, as far as I remember I think the bug originally didn't appear right after installation and may have been caused by a software update later on.