Unable to high level format LS-120 Super Floppy

[Roland Hughes]

No matter what you do, you cannot high level format a Super Floppy.

It's a rather unbelievable situation since FreeBSD seems to have provided a driver back in 1998 or earlier.

http://configure.sh/FreeBSD/ls120.html
Ver 1.5 Add ioctl to format LS-120/ZIP

We should be able to DOS format a Super Floppy.
---
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu11
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: VT1708S Analog [VT1708S Analog]
   Subdevices: 2/2
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
   Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: roland 1990 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: roland 1990 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: command ['iw', 'reg', 'get'] failed with exit code 1: nl80211 not found.
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'SB'/'HDA ATI SB at 0xfcef4000 irq 16'
   Mixer name : 'VIA VT1708S'
   Components : 'HDA:11060397,18490397,00100000'
   Controls : 44
   Simple ctrls : 22
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'NVidia'/'HDA NVidia at 0xfea7c000 irq 19'
   Mixer name : 'Nvidia GPU 0b HDMI/DP'
   Components : 'HDA:10de000b,10de0101,00100200'
   Controls : 24
   Simple ctrls : 4
CurrentDmesg:
 [ 22.428152] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth0: link becomes ready
 [ 22.585071] postgres (1297): /proc/1297/oom_adj is deprecated, please use /proc/1297/oom_score_adj instead.
 [ 27.994190] init: plymouth-stop pre-start process (1811) terminated with status 1
 [ 33.376028] eth0: no IPv6 routers present
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=abefb28c-61b1-4a07-bb87-2f7ef11d1bc8
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 eth0 no wireless extensions.
MachineType: To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M.
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-26-generic root=UUID=af00b7b0-5575-47ed-8332-14a310877307 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-26.41-generic 3.2.19
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-26-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-26-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79
RfKill:

Tags: precise
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-26-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
WifiSyslog:

dmi.bios.date: 05/20/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: P1.60
dmi.board.name: A770DE+
dmi.board.vendor: ASRock
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.:bvrP1.60:bd05/20/2010:svnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:rvnASRock:rnA770DE+:rvr:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.name: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.product.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.sys.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Hi seasoned_geek,

Please be sure to confirm this issue exists with the latest development release of Ubuntu. ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily/current/ . If the issue remains, please run the following command from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux 719013

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

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

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

Without wiping and re-installing an alpha release, just how is one
supposed to "test" with an ISO? You don't include any floppy or
superfloppy format utilities so there is no way to test from a stand
alone CD.
--
Roland Hughes, President
Logikal Solutions
(630)-205-1593

http://www.theminimumyouneedtoknow.com
http://www.infiniteexposure.net

No U.S. troops have ever lost their lives defending our ethanol
reserves.

On Tue, 2011-02-22 at 19:44 +0000, Jeremy Foshee wrote:

> Hi seasoned_geek,
>
> Please be sure to confirm this issue exists with the latest development release of Ubuntu. ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily/current/ . If the issue remains, please run the following command from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.
>
> apport-collect -p linux 719013
>
> Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> [This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]
>
>
> ** Tags added: needs-kernel-logs
>
> ** Tags added: needs-upstream-testing
>
> ** Tags added: kj-triage
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

bump

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 719013

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

This bug forced me to abandon ubuntu on all desktops at my company and
to begin migrating my Fortune 100 clients to OpenSuSE.

On Sat, 2011-09-17 at 18:37 +0000, Brad Figg wrote:

> This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem.
> >From a terminal window please run:
>
> apport-collect 719013
>
> and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.
>
> If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable
> to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change
> the bug status to 'Confirmed'.
>
> This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the
> Ubuntu Kernel Team.
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>

--
Roland Hughes, President
Logikal Solutions
(630)-205-1593

http://www.theminimumyouneedtoknow.com
http://www.infiniteexposure.net

No U.S. troops have ever lost their lives defending our ethanol
reserves.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 719013

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

Nothing has been done to fix this bug.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

seasoned_geek, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>

Also, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please do not test the kernel in the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. As well, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested.

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', and comment as to why specifically you were unable to test it.

Please let us know your results. Thanks in advance.

Helpful Bug Reporting Links:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_Reporting_Etiquette
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#A3._Make_sure_the_bug_hasn.27t_already_been_reported
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Apport_Debug_Information_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Additional_Attachments_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

It is still an issue.

I have a broadband connection with a 5Gig limit, not a limitless
bandwidth cable connection. If you want something like that done in a
timely manner, I need bootable CDs burnt and sent to me. I never
download Ubuntu, I pay On-disk.com fir disks.

Roland

On Fri, 2012-07-27 at 17:41 +0000, Christopher M. Penalver wrote:

> seasoned_geek, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been
> any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an
> issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development
> release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from
> http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .
>
> If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in
> the development release from a Terminal
> (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather
> and attach updated debug information to this report:
>
> apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>
>
> Also, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available? It
> will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please do not test the
> kernel in the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once
> you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-
> testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon
> next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and
> deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. As well, please comment on
> which kernel version specifically you tested.
>
> 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', and comment
> as to why specifically you were unable to test it.
>
> Please let us know your results. Thanks in advance.
>
> Helpful Bug Reporting Links:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_Reporting_Etiquette
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#A3._Make_sure_the_bug_hasn.27t_already_been_reported
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Apport_Debug_Information_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Additional_Attachments_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: Confirmed => Incomplete
>

--
Roland Hughes, President
Logikal Solutions
(630)-205-1593

http://www.theminimumyouneedtoknow.com
http://www.infiniteexposure.net

No U.S. troops have ever lost their lives defending our ethanol
reserves.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Roland, as per the website you noted, you could get a Ubuntu 12.04 CD via http://on-disk.com/product_info.php/products_id/1435 .

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

I have 12.04LTS 64-bit installed and am not able to high level format an
LS-120.

I have run your requested command.

On Fri, 2012-07-27 at 17:41 +0000, Christopher M. Penalver wrote:

> seasoned_geek, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been
> any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an
> issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development
> release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from
> http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .
>
> If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in
> the development release from a Terminal
> (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather
> and attach updated debug information to this report:
>
> apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>
>
> Also, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available? It
> will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please do not test the
> kernel in the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once
> you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-
> testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon
> next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and
> deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. As well, please comment on
> which kernel version specifically you tested.
>
> 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', and comment
> as to why specifically you were unable to test it.
>
> Please let us know your results. Thanks in advance.
>
> Helpful Bug Reporting Links:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_Reporting_Etiquette
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#A3._Make_sure_the_bug_hasn.27t_already_been_reported
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Apport_Debug_Information_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Adding_Additional_Attachments_to_an_Existing_Launchpad_Bug
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: Confirmed => Incomplete
>

--
Roland Hughes, President
Logikal Solutions
(630)-205-1593

http://www.theminimumyouneedtoknow.com
http://www.infiniteexposure.net

No U.S. troops have ever lost their lives defending our ethanol
reserves.

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

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[penalvch (penalvch)]

Roland, as per:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/719013/+attachment/3240047/+files/BootDmesg.txt

[ 2.049071] ata6: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0x170 ctl 0x376 bmdma 0xff08 irq 15
[ 2.057829] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is 1.44M
[ 2.075841] FDC 0 is a post-1991 82077
[ 2.212746] ata5.00: ATAPI: ATAPI iHAS124 B, AL0S, max UDMA/100
[ 2.212838] ata6.00: ATAPI: LS-120 CSMO 05 UHD Floppy, 0512C105, max PIO2
[ 2.228711] ata5.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 2.228817] ata6.00: configured for PIO2

and:
https://launchpadlibrarian.net/111351182/UdevLog.txt

KERNEL[18.607167] add /devices/platform/floppy.0 (platform)
ACTION=add
DEVPATH=/devices/platform/floppy.0
DRIVER=floppy
MODALIAS=platform:floppy
SEQNUM=1680
SUBSYSTEM=platform

and:
https://launchpadlibrarian.net/111351181/UdevDb.txt

P: /devices/platform/floppy.0
E: DEVPATH=/devices/platform/floppy.0
E: DRIVER=floppy
E: MODALIAS=platform:floppy
E: SUBSYSTEM=platform
E: UDEV_LOG=3

P: /devices/platform/floppy.0/block/fd0
N: fd0
E: DEVNAME=/dev/fd0
E: DEVPATH=/devices/platform/floppy.0/block/fd0
E: DEVTYPE=disk
E: ID_DRIVE_FLOPPY=1
E: MAJOR=2
E: MINOR=0
E: SUBSYSTEM=block
E: UDEV_LOG=3
E: UDISKS_PRESENTATION_NOPOLICY=1
E: USEC_INITIALIZED=18644554
UDEV_LOG=3

the kernel seems to have recognized the floppy drive, and in turn, your drive was mounted at /dev/fd0 .

Could you please provide the full results of the following terminal command:
sudo apt-get -y install fdutils && superformat -v 3 -B /dev/fd0 HD

Should we not able to get this working, we would definitely want to have the upstream kernel tested as per https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/719013/comments/10 . Please disregard the request to test Quantal.

As well, as a potential WORKAROUND, Fedora notes that one may format LS-120:
http://linuxmanpages.net/manpages/fedora15/man8/floppy.8.html

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

roland@roland-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get -y install fdutils && superformat -v 3 -B /dev/fd0 HD
[sudo] password for roland:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
fdutils is already the newest version.
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libqscintilla2-8 language-pack-kde-zh-hans-base firefox-locale-zh-hans
  language-pack-kde-en kde-l10n-engb language-pack-zh-hans-base kde-l10n-zhcn
  language-pack-zh-hans language-pack-kde-zh-hans language-pack-kde-en-base
  libxerces-c3.1
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
open: Permission denied

Be advised I have BOTH a 3.5" floppy AND an LS-120 in this machine.

I have no current ability to test anything else. I am working on a project which is in death march mode and cannot risk anything happening to the machine. Please remember I also have a 5Gig/month broadband download limit and I use nearly all of it for my job.

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

Your bug is much more deeply rooted.

I just booted MS-DOS 7.1 this morning. Under it I can both read my floppy drive A and format my LS-120 drive D. When I boot Ubuntu I cannot do even one thing with the floppy. It shows up in the folder manager but you can click on it all you want, nothing happens. I can insert a super floppy into my LS-120 and have it eventually appear in the left column, double click on it, and open it.

This status should NOT be incomplete. I have provided ALL information.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

seasoned_geek, regarding your comments https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/719013/comments/36 :

>"Your bug is much more deeply rooted."

This is not my bug report. You are the original reporter, hence, this is yours.

>"I just booted MS-DOS 7.1 this morning. Under it I can both read my floppy drive A and format my LS-120 drive D. When I boot Ubuntu I cannot do even one thing with the floppy. It shows up in the folder manager but you can click on it all you want, nothing happens. I can insert a super floppy into my LS-120 and have it eventually appear in the left column, double click on it, and open it."

What happens when you execute the following at a terminal:
sudo superformat -v 3 -B /dev/fd0 HD

>"This status should NOT be incomplete."

Yes, it should.

>"I have provided ALL information."

Unfortunately, you have not. This report is still missing mainline kernel testing results as requested in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/719013/comments/10 , as well as a Fedora WORKAROUND test requested in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/719013/comments/34 .

Thank you for your understanding.

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

>What happens when you execute the following at a terminal:
>sudo superformat -v 3 -B /dev/fd0 HD

My floppy drive lights up NOT my LS-120.

Acutally I have. Per your request:
>Also, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available?

I told you I have no ability to put another OS on this machine nor do I have limitless download from my ISP. Having had Fedora on here once a year ago I'm certainly not going to install it.

Aparently I'm not making myself clear.

I have a FLOPPY DRIVE hooked up to a floppy cable.
My LS-120 is hooked up to IDE.
My hard drive and DVD are SATA.

Per your earlier statment:
>the kernel seems to have recognized the floppy drive, and in turn, your drive was mounted at /dev/fd0

that seems to be the rabbit hole we are going down. fd0 is NOT my ls-120, it is an actual floppy drive. It appears in the "folder" manager but is completely disfunctional from there. The LS-120 only appears there when it actually has a disk inserted.

[Roland Hughes (original-seasoned-geek)]

After the last round of updates, the LS-120 refused to mount any media. Once again, I can boot DOS or XP and have a happy life with the same drive and media, but, under Ubuntu, no mounts, no errors, no ejects.