ubuntu not recognize my usb flash drive?

[paritis]

Binary package hint: gphoto2

I've got a sandisk ultra backup 16GB usb drive. But Ubuntu doesn't even recognize it. It shows up on 'Computer' but when I click on it, it doesn't read it at all. I can't even mount it because it shows me an error

I tried the following as well:

dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ fdisk -l
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ fdisk *l

Unable to open *l
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ tail dmesg
tail: cannot open `dmesg' for reading: No such file or directory
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for dimitris:

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x5dbf4a9b

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 18706 150255913+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 18707 19457 6032407+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 18707 19457 6032376 82 Linux swap / Solaris
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ sudo mkdir /media/sdc1
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sdc1 /media/sdc1 -o umask=000
mount: special device /dev/sdc1 does not exist
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1 142G 2.3G 132G 2% /
tmpfs 1007M 0 1007M 0% /lib/init/rw
varrun 1007M 112K 1007M 1% /var/run
varlock 1007M 0 1007M 0% /var/lock
udev 1007M 148K 1007M 1% /dev
tmpfs 1007M 76K 1007M 1% /dev/shm
lrm 1007M 2.4M 1004M 1% /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volatile
/dev/sr1 6.8M 6.8M 0 100% /media/U3 System
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$

[borrell (borrell)]

You almost got the syntax right with dmesg. Plug the drive in and in a terminal, execute:

$ dmesg | tail

This should show you the last few lines of dmesg. Can you post the output of that?

[paritis (dparitis)]

dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ dmesg | tail
[ 6091.431397] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 6093.430847] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 6093.430851] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 6093.430853] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 6095.431052] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 6095.431055] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 6095.431057] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 6097.431758] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 6097.431761] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 6097.431763] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$

[paritis (dparitis)]

thank you Borril
I tryped this as well may be could help you more in solving my USP PR.

dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ dmesg |tail -n 20
[ 2925.913442] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2925.913444] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 2927.913073] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 2927.913076] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2927.913078] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 2929.913580] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 2929.913584] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2929.913586] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 2931.913715] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 2931.913719] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2931.913720] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 2933.913477] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 2933.913480] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2933.913482] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 2935.910359] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 2935.910363] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2935.910365] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 2937.913028] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 2937.913032] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 2937.913034] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda
[sudo] password for dimitris:

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x5dbf4a9b

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 18706 150255913+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 18707 19457 6032407+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 18707 19457 6032376 82 Linux swap / Solaris
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ ls -l /dev/sd*
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 0 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sda
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 1 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sda1
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 2 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sda2
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 5 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sda5
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 16 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sdb
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ ls -l /dev/sg*
crw-rw---- 1 root disk 21, 0 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sg0
crw-rw----+ 1 root cdrom 21, 1 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sg1
crw-rw---- 1 root disk 21, 2 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sg2
crw-rw----+ 1 root cdrom 21, 3 2009-08-12 17:06 /dev/sg3
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$

[paritis (dparitis)]

ubuntu not recognize my usb flash drive?

dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ dmesg | tail
[ 6091.431397] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 6093.430847] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 6093.430851] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 6093.430853] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 6095.431052] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 6095.431055] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 6095.431057] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 6097.431758] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[ 6097.431761] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[ 6097.431763] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$

[borrell (borrell)]

Ok, when the USB key has been inserted and you can see it in dmesg, run

$ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb

where sdb is what is shown in dmesg, this will give you a list of the partitions on the device.

[borrell (borrell)]

Please don't assign me to bugs.

[paritis (dparitis)]

On Fri, 2009-08-14 at 03:52 +0000, borrell wrote:
> sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb

my U3 system shown in my disk top. and its exe file, and it cant open
so I cant execute it.

/media/cdrom1/LaunchU3.exe

and I did what you said, and give me this:
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb
[sudo] password for dimitris:
dimitris@dimitris-desktop:~$

plz Mr. Borrell try to help me.
thank you

[paritis (dparitis)]

On Fri, 2009-08-14 at 03:52 +0000, borrell wrote:
> Ok, when the USB key has been inserted and you can see it in dmesg, run
>
> $ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb
>
> where sdb is what is shown in dmesg, this will give you a list of the
> partitions on the device.
>

when I typed dmsg, it gave me the following:
[11611.506658] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11613.508376] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11613.508381] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11613.508383] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11615.508102] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11615.508106] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11615.508109] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11617.507576] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11617.507581] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11617.507583] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11619.508339] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11619.508343] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11619.508346] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11621.507528] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11621.507532] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11621.507535] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11623.508384] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11623.508389] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11623.508392] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11625.506239] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11625.506243] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11625.506246] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11627.508088] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11627.508093] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11627.508096] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11629.507810] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11629.507814] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11629.507817] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11631.507038] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11631.507043] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11631.507046] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11633.506451] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11633.506455] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11633.506458] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11635.508117] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11635.508122] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11635.508124] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11637.507219] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11637.507224] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11637.507226] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11639.508341] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11639.508345] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11639.508348] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11641.508294] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11641.508299] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11641.508302] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[11643.507646] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[11643.507650] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 45 00 00 08
[11643.507653]...

[Kevin Havens (bootloop-deactivatedaccount)]

There could be two possible situations:

1. You didn't unmount the drive properly. That's some things new Linux users don't do. They assume if they just yank it out like they done in Windows, no harm, no foul. So, it's possible your partition table is screwed.

If you have backed it up, run gparted. You might see that the drive has a partition table that is messed up. Go to Devices > Create partition table and a warning will pop up informing you you will erase all that is on the device. Make sure 'msdos' is selected and then click OK. Then format it as fat32.

But if you haven't, apt-get install testdisk. The instructions are beyond the scope of this bug report.

2. Your USB disk is toast. This is not that common, but it does happen.