I do not know which package I should file the bug for.
I am using Ubuntu MATE 20.04 LTS and Microsoft Windows 10.
On Microsoft Windows 10, no issue with safely remove any USB external HDD. When using Microsoft Windows 10, after safely remove my external HDD, the HDD will spin down.
But, on Ubuntu MATE 20.04 LTS, some issues occur after I try to safely remove my external HDD.
Tried different hard drive, different enclosures, and also some external hard drive that came bundled with enclosure. All having same or different issues after safely remove them in Ubuntu MATE.
Problems will also occur on those branded external HDD that came bundled with enclosure, for example, those Seagate Backup Plus drives ( https://www.seagate.com/as/en/consumer/backup/backup-plus/ ).
Here are the common problems after safely remove (in Ubuntu MATE):
1. The external HDD will spin down and then spin up again, and then being automatically remounted again. The "dmesg" command shows errors.
2. The external HDD will spin down and then spin up again, no remount. The LED on the enclosure keep flashing. The "dmesg" command shows errors. After you unplug the HDD, you can connect another HDD.
3. The external HDD will spin down and then spin up again, no remount. The LED on the enclosure keep flashing. The "dmesg" command shows errors. BUT, after you unplug the HDD, when you connect another HDD, the computer will not detect it and will not mount it until you reboot the computer. But, before reboot connecting another device (e.g. keyboard, mouse, etc) to the same USB port, the device works perfectly.
4. The external HDD will spin down and then spin up again, no remount. But, after a few seconds, it spin down again. But, still, the "dmesg" command shows errors.
Different HDD, different enclosure, show different symptoms or problems. Some HDD enclosures, number 1 above will occur. Some HDD enclosures, either number 2 or 3 above will occur. Sometimes, problem number 2 above will occur. Sometimes, problem number 3 will occur. Some enclosure, problem number 4 will occur.
Here, I will use the following enclosure as example in this bug report:
Product link: https://www.ugreen.com/products/usb-c-2-5-sata-iii-hard-drive-enclosure
Purchase link in my country: https://shopee.com.my/UGREEN-USB-3.1-To-SATA-III-External-Hard-Drive-Enclosure-(2.5-)-i.64923440.1583255569?position=1
Here are the steps to reproduce (for the enclosure above):
1. Connect the external HDD to any available USB 3.0 port. The HDD will be mounted. Caja (Ubuntu MATE default file manager) will launch.
2. Close the Caja window. Do not do anything on the HDD.
3. Use left or right hand, touch the HDD enclosure to feel the spinning. Do not let your hand leave the enclosure, so that you can continue feel the spinning.
4. Use your another hand to operate your computer.
5. Go to desktop.
6. Right click on the external HDD icon.
7. Click "Safely Remove Drive".
The HDD unmounted. Assume that one of your hands still touching the enclosure of the HDD, you will feel that the HDD will spin down and then spin up again. No remount. The LED indicator on the enclosure will keep flashing. These are described in problem number 2 and 3 above. Sometimes, after you unplug the drive and try to connect another drive, it will not be detected until you reboot your computer.
Almost all external HDDs I tested will cause "dmesg" command to shows "Buffer I/O error" and "Synchronize Cache(<a number>) failed" error after "Safely Remove Drive".
In Microsoft Windows 10, all above mentioned problems WILL NOT occur.
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC1: cshong 1059 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/controlC0: cshong 1059 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: MATE
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-11-23 (242 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
IwConfig:
lo no wireless extensions.
enp3s0 no wireless extensions.
MachineType: ASUS All Series
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.8.0-63-generic root=UUID=cad772fa-c02b-4268-bc15-e366825ac807 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-63.71~20.04.1-generic 5.8.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
linux-restricted-modules-5.8.0-63-generic N/A
linux-backports-modules-5.8.0-63-generic N/A
linux-firmware 1.187.15
RfKill:
Tags: focal
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-63-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 02/26/2016
dmi.bios.release: 4.6
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 2603
dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: H97-PLUS
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr2603:bd02/26/2016:br4.6:svnASUS:pnAllSeries:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnH97-PLUS:rvrRevX.0x:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.family: ASUS MB
dmi.product.name: All Series
dmi.product.sku: All
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUS
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC1: cshong 1059 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/controlC0: cshong 1059 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: MATE
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-11-23 (242 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
IwConfig:
lo no wireless extensions.
enp3s0 no wireless extensions.
MachineType: ASUS All Series
Package: linux-generic 5.4.0.80.84
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.8.0-63-generic root=UUID=cad772fa-c02b-4268-bc15-e366825ac807 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-63.71~20.04.1-generic 5.8.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
linux-restricted-modules-5.8.0-63-generic N/A
linux-backports-modules-5.8.0-63-generic N/A
linux-firmware 1.187.15
RfKill:
Tags: focal
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-63-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 02/26/2016
dmi.bios.release: 4.6
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 2603
dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: H97-PLUS
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr2603:bd02/26/2016:br4.6:svnASUS:pnAllSeries:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnH97-PLUS:rvrRevX.0x:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.family: ASUS MB
dmi.product.name: All Series
dmi.product.sku: All
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUS
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: MATE
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-11-23 (242 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
Package: linux-generic-hwe-20.04 5.8.0.63.71~20.04.45
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-63.71~20.04.1-generic 5.8.18
Tags: focal
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-63-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
apport information