vfat file time incorrect on usb stick

[Piotr]

I use the USB stick (2GB) formatted as vfat. Often, when I edit a file (or just touch it), and remove and re-insert the stick, the time reported is one second less than originally set. See the sequence below.

Note

1. 'touch' is not needed, it is just any edit that can trigger the error
2. I report this from 9.10, but I have the same error on fully patched 10.04
3. Error is only on vfat, never experienced on ext2 -formatted memory sticks
4. If the time isreported one second less, it stays like this at subsequent removals/insertions
---
log, commented
#
# two files created: a1.txt and a2.txt
#
pco@rodan-desktop:/media/CORSAIR$ ls -l --time-style=full-iso a*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 0 2010-08-31 08:46:44.000000000 +0100 a1.txt
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 0 2010-08-31 08:46:44.000000000 +0100 a2.txt
#
# a1.txt edited
#
pco@rodan-desktop:/media/CORSAIR$ ls -l --time-style=full-iso a*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 4 2010-08-31 10:12:37.000000000 +0100 a1.txt # new time correct
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 0 2010-08-31 08:46:44.000000000 +0100 a2.txt
#
# a2 touched with a1 - this is the original situation where I discovered the error
#
pco@rodan-desktop:/media/CORSAIR$ touch -r a1.txt a2.txt
pco@rodan-desktop:/media/CORSAIR$ ls -l --time-style=full-iso a*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 4 2010-08-31 10:12:37.000000000 +0100 a1.txt # new time correct
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 0 2010-08-31 10:12:37.000000000 +0100 a2.txt # touch works properly
pco@rodan-desktop:/media/CORSAIR$ cd ..
#
# memory stick removed and re-inserted
#
pco@rodan-desktop:/media$ cd CORSAIR
pco@rodan-desktop:/media/CORSAIR$ ls -l --time-style=full-iso a*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 4 2010-08-31 10:12:36.000000000 +0100 a1.txt # !!! time reported is one second less!!
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pco pco 0 2010-08-31 10:12:36.000000000 +0100 a2.txt # for both files

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Tue Aug 31 16:42:07 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
Package: software-center 1.0.3
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-22.63-generic
SourcePackage: software-center
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-22-generic i686

[Piotr (piotr-cofta)]

I know that vfat (FAT) cannot keep time with a resolution better that 2s, and this is just a feature (inconvenience). The problem is however in the fact that ls (and touch etc.) reports Linux-quality time when the flash drive is inserted and then falls back to vfat quality upon re-insertion. This is the inconsitency that is the problem.

[Kiwinote (kiwinote)]

This bug isn't related to software-center.

[Mohamed Amine Ilidrissi (ilidrissi.amine)]

Can you follow the instructions in https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DebuggingUSBStorage (especially under the Bug Reports section)? Thanks!

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

This bug report was marked as Incomplete and has not had any updated comments for quite some time. As a result this bug is being closed. Please reopen if this is still an issue in the current Ubuntu development release http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ . Also, please be sure to provide any requested information that may have been missing. To reopen the bug, click on the current status under the Status column and change the status back to "New". Thanks.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]