Comment 0 for bug 1937350

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.