Me too. Tried installing Fedora 11 Beta, then Fedora 10 (Fedora is my usual distribution) and had NO luck whatsoever. Installed the latest Ubuntu out of sheer frustration and it Just Worked - except that when Grub boots, it'll hang for about 30 seconds, flash the "soft rest failed" messages for both drives, then boot. So far, no other issues. I have 2 WD 1TB Caviar Black SATA drives. They are currently partitioned identically with a 200 Mb ext2 partition (/boot and /boot 2) a 2000 Mb swap partition, a 200 Gb partition for / (and /sysback) and a partition taking up the rest of the drive for /home (and /homeback) My intent is to set up the second drive as software RAID 5 for the /home and /root partitions, but the Ubuntu installer did not provide that as an option the way Fedora does. As an aside, if anybody can provide a pointer on how to migrate my current setup to software RAID 5 on the / and /home partitions, that would be great.... Back to the original problem - I tried switching the SATA mode in the BIOS from IDE to AHCI and that made no difference. Motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-MA780G-UD3H Processor is a Phenom 2 950 3.0 Ghz (and is not overclocked) $lspci 00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 Host Bridge 00:01.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (int gfx) 00:0a.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 5) 00:11.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 SATA Controller [AHCI mode] 00:12.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 USB OHCI0 Controller 00:12.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700 USB OHCI1 Controller 00:12.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 USB EHCI Controller 00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 USB OHCI0 Controller 00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700 USB OHCI1 Controller 00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 USB EHCI Controller 00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 SMBus Controller (rev 3a) 00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 IDE Controller 00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) 00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 LPC host controller 00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge 00:14.5 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB700/SB800 USB OHCI2 Controller 00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h [Opteron, Athlon64, Sempron] HyperTransport Configuration 00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h [Opteron, Athlon64, Sempron] Address Map 00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h [Opteron, Athlon64, Sempron] DRAM Controller 00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h [Opteron, Athlon64, Sempron] Miscellaneous Control 00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h [Opteron, Athlon64, Sempron] Link Control 01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon HD 3200 Graphics 01:05.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc RS780 Azalia controller 02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 02) 03:0e.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB43AB23 IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link) Extract of hd stuff from dmesg: [ 64.758777] ahci 0000:00:11.0: version 3.0 [ 64.758795] ahci 0000:00:11.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 22 [ 64.758928] ahci 0000:00:11.0: AHCI 0001.0100 32 slots 6 ports 3 Gbps 0x3f impl SATA mode [ 64.758930] ahci 0000:00:11.0: flags: 64bit ncq sntf ilck pm led clo pmp pio slum part [ 64.759338] scsi0 : ahci [ 64.759415] scsi1 : ahci [ 64.759455] scsi2 : ahci [ 64.759492] scsi3 : ahci [ 64.759536] scsi4 : ahci [ 64.759573] scsi5 : ahci [ 64.759635] ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 irq_stat 0x00400000, PHY RDY changed irq 22 [ 64.759638] ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f180 irq 22 [ 64.759641] ata3: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f200 irq 22 [ 64.759643] ata4: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f280 irq 22 [ 64.759646] ata5: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f300 irq 22 [ 64.759649] ata6: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f380 irq 22 [ 65.644128] ata1: softreset failed (device not ready) [ 65.644161] ata1: failed due to HW bug, retry pmp=0 [ 65.808136] ata1: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300) [ 65.809140] ata1.00: ATA-8: WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B0, 05.00K05, max UDMA/133 [ 65.809142] ata1.00: 1953525168 sectors, multi 16: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32) [ 65.810411] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/133 [ 66.308129] ata2: softreset failed (device not ready) [ 66.308160] ata2: failed due to HW bug, retry pmp=0 [ 66.472370] ata2: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300) [ 66.473523] ata2.00: ATA-8: WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B0, 05.00K05, max UDMA/133 [ 66.473524] ata2.00: 1953525168 sectors, multi 16: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32) [ 66.474724] ata2.00: configured for UDMA/133 [ 66.808145] ata3: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) [ 67.144144] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) [ 67.480172] ata5: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) [ 67.816146] ata6: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) [ 67.832195] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD1001FALS-0 05.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5 [ 67.832248] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) [ 67.832258] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off [ 67.832259] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 [ 67.832272] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA [ 67.832310] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) [ 67.832317] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off [ 67.832319] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 [ 67.832331] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA [ 67.832333] sda: sda1 sda2 sda3 sda4 < sda5 > [ 67.876405] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk [ 67.876431] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0 [ 67.876463] scsi 1:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD1001FALS-0 05.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5 [ 67.876510] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) [ 67.876517] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off [ 67.876519] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 [ 67.876530] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA [ 67.876554] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) [ 67.876561] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off [ 67.876563] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00 [ 67.876574] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA [ 67.876576] sdb: sdb1 sdb2 sdb3 sdb4 < sdb5 > [ 67.902929] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk [ 67.902947] sd 1:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0 [ 67.903118] pata_atiixp 0000:00:14.1: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16 [ 67.903215] scsi6 : pata_atiixp [ 67.903263] scsi7 : pata_atiixp Extract from /var/log/messages: Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.758795] ahci 0000:00:11.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.758928] ahci 0000:00:11.0: AHCI 0001.0100 32 slots 6 ports 3 Gbps 0x3f impl SATA mode Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.758930] ahci 0000:00:11.0: flags: 64bit ncq sntf ilck pm led clo pmp pio slum part Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759338] scsi0 : ahci Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759415] scsi1 : ahci Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759455] scsi2 : ahci Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759492] scsi3 : ahci Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759536] scsi4 : ahci Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759573] scsi5 : ahci Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759635] ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 irq_stat 0x00400000, PHY RDY changed irq 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759638] ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f180 irq 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759641] ata3: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f200 irq 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759643] ata4: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f280 irq 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759646] ata5: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f300 irq 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 64.759649] ata6: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f380 irq 22 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 65.644161] ata1: failed due to HW bug, retry pmp=0 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 65.808136] ata1: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 65.809140] ata1.00: ATA-8: WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B0, 05.00K05, max UDMA/133 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 65.809142] ata1.00: 1953525168 sectors, multi 16: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 65.810411] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/133 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 66.308160] ata2: failed due to HW bug, retry pmp=0 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 66.472370] ata2: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 66.473523] ata2.00: ATA-8: WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B0, 05.00K05, max UDMA/133 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 66.473524] ata2.00: 1953525168 sectors, multi 16: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 66.474724] ata2.00: configured for UDMA/133 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 66.808145] ata3: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.144144] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.480172] ata5: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.816146] ata6: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832195] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD1001FALS-0 05.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832248] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832258] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832272] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832310] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832317] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832331] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.832333] sda: sda1 sda2 sda3 sda4 < sda5 > Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876405] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876431] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876463] scsi 1:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD1001FALS-0 05.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5 Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876510] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876517] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876530] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876554] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 1953525168 512-byte hardware sectors: (1.00 TB/931 GiB) Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876561] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876574] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.876576] sdb: sdb1 sdb2 sdb3 sdb4 < sdb5 > Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.902929] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk Apr 24 22:01:21 karzai kernel: [ 67.902947] sd 1:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0 So far, no additional messages in the logs about SATA resets... DG