Break Out Box And External Hdd

[TheMinder]

A mate of mine is having the following problem

GP2x-->BoB-->250G external HDD = no files seen

the 250G HDD came pre-formatted and gets reported by windows XP as being FAT32

the GP2X works, the BoB works (tested using a card reader and SD combo connected to it)

it is possible to use FAT32 on a 250G HDD, although some setups won't actually perform such a format

afaik there is just a primary partition on the drive

that's all the details

are we missing something really obvious ?

 

[oneandoneis2]

Does the BoB supply enough power to run the HD? I know my USB CD-ROM drained so much power that the BoB couldn't even keep the LED lit. . .

If your HD came with a mains power adaptor, try plugging that in & see if it helps

 

[TheMinder]

cheers for the reply

meant to mention that during my description

the HDD has always had power from the mains, and the setup has been tried with power to the BoB and with no power to the BoB

 

[Paradox]

perhaps it doesnt work with linux? it should say something like "no software needed to install! plug and play with windows, linux, mac" some crap like that i think

 

[TheMinder]

you might be on to something there

looking at a similar product of theirs all it says is :

OS Required : Apple MacOS 9.x, Apple MacOS X or later, Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP

 

[oneandoneis2]

Nah, USB hard drives just need SCSI and USB support - same as USB flash drives. If a Linux machine can read a USB flash drive, it can read a USB hard drive. Hardware manufacturers always miss Linux off their list of supported OSes. . .

 

[jmetal88]

afaik there is just a primary partition on the drive

This may seem like a dumb question, and you don't sound like the type of guy who would do somethig like this, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

Are there any files on the drive? That would be the first thing I would check if I wasn't able to see any files.

If you put files on from Windows and the GP2X can't see them, try copying files to the hard drive from the GP2X using the explorer and see if Windows can see them. That's what I would do, although not having the setup myself, I have no idea what it would do if it didn't work.

 

[TheMinder]

any questions are good because they might steer us towards a solution

there are definitely some files on the HDD

when i tested the BoB by attaching a USB card reader to it with an SD card in it, explorer reported seeing SDA after i had selected EXT SOURCE (or whatever text is displayed)

with the HDD attached it doesn't report anything

this is all using the 2.x.x firmware the units ship with these days

i really think we must be doing something completely dumbass but for the life of me i can't see the wood for the trees. i only had it for a brief period on sunday and the owner has had it since but maybe i should get it back and have another crack at it

 

[nubie]

I would try hooking up both the SD reader and the HDD at the same time for troubleshooting, then seeing what the boot output looks like.

I think you need to connect the serial to the PC and then use a terminal program to watch the output.

Then you can see if any error messages come up as it tries to mount. I really needed this feature to troubleshoot my homemade USB termination device, but I had to do it all blind.

 

[greenmikey]

For now, you can try using a different usb cable

 

[nubie]

For now, you can try using a different usb cable

What would that do if the PC sees it fine?

 

[Paradox]

have you enabled the use of external drives or whatever from the options menu?

 

[nubie]

have you enabled the use of external drives or whatever from the options menu?

wouldn't he have to to see the SD reader?

I mentioned connectiong both the SD reader and the HDD to see if his settings stuck, my USB gets a bit weird now and then and I have to reset all the options in the settings.

If he can see the SD and not the HDD, it proves that the settings are fine and the HDD is not working right.

 

[Lobo]

Careful if you decide to format it: Windows 2000 and Windows XP can read and write to FAT32 filesystems of any size, but the format program on these platforms can only create FAT32 filesystems up to 32 GB.

 

[TheMinder]

it will be weekend before i get chance to have a go, but using the serial would seem a very good idea (i am used to that as i use it to debug stuff already)

i'll reply whether this gets resolved or not just in case it helps anyone else

cheers for the input

 

[torpor]

Just FIY, I use my external JOBO datatank with my GP2X just fine .. it does work smoothly.

 

[semyaza]

Just a thought but have you tried using sterm to try seeing what's on there if you are knowledgable with linux shell commands? It's a bit fiddly but you should be able to run mount, dmesg, check /proc to see what's been picked up?

 

[TheMinder]

I've not had chance to have a proper look at this or experiment more but here's a log of the bootup

U-Boot 1.0.0 (Apr 20 2006 - 12:51:09)

U-Boot code: 03E00000 -> 03E49610 BSS: -> 03E82208
IRQ Stack: 03ea3204
FIQ Stack: 03ea4204
DRAM Configuration:
Bank #0: 00100000 63 MB
Flash: 0 kB
NANDrobing at 0x9c000000
Flash chip found:
Manufacturer ID: 0xEC, Chip ID: 0x76 (Samsung K9F1208 64Mb)
1 flash chips found. Total nand_chip size: 64 MB
Get Environment from NAND offset 0x70000 ...
*** Warning - bad CRC, using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial

NAND read: device 0 offset 0x1a0000, size 0x40000 ... 262144 bytes read: OK

NAND read: device 0 offset 0x80000, size 0xb0000 ... 720896 bytes read: OK
### main_loop: bootcmd="bootm"
Hit any key to stop autoboot: 0
## Booting image at 01000000 ...
Image Name: MMSP2 Linux Kernel
Created: 2006-04-20 5:33:25 UTC
Image Type: ARM Linux Kernel Image (gzip compressed)
Data Size: 632921 Bytes = 618.1 kB
Load Address: 00008000
Entry Point: 00008000
Verifying Checksum ... OK
Uncompressing Kernel Image ... OK

Starting kernel ...

Freeing init memory: 288K
INIT: version 2.84 booting
<7>**>>ecc error unfixed on chunk 4164:0
Started device management daemon v1.3.25 for /dev
<7>**>>ecc error unfixed on chunk 4740:0
SDL_SYS_JoystickInit
Mount SD disc, if not mounted...
mount: Mounting /dev/discs/disc0/part1 on /mnt/sd failed: No such file or direct
ory
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/gadget/net2272.o
net2272: Set 2272 bus timing
USB SUSPEND MODE
net2272: PLX NET2272 USB Peripheral Controller
net2272: irq 222, mapped mem c280a000, chip rev 0011
net2272: running in 16-bit, byte normal bus mode
net2272: version: 2006 April 5, v3
remove........
net2272: unbind
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/gadget/net2272.o
net2272: Set 2272 bus timing
net2272: PLX NET2272 USB Peripheral Controller
net2272: irq 222, mapped mem c280a000, chip rev 0011
net2272: running in 16-bit, byte normal bus mode
net2272: version: 2006 April 5, v3
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/gadget/g_ether.o
usb0: Ethernet Gadget, version: St Patrick's Day 2004
usb0: using net2272, OUT ep-b IN ep-a STATUS ep-c
usb0: MAC ae:b9:8d:3e:97:14
usb0: HOST MAC aa:a1:b4:18:ed:9c
usb0: RNDIS ready
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/usbcore.o
usb.c: registered new driver usbdevfs
usb.c: registered new driver hub
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/arch/arm/mach-mmsp2/mmsp2_usbh.o
mmsp2_usbh.c: USB Host power on
mmsp2_usbh.c: initializing MMSP2 USB host PCI-DMA workaround
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/host/usb-ohci.o
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/host/usb-ohci-mmsp2.o
f_fact = 4, f_clk = 49766400, f_err = +1766400
a_fact = 3, a_clk = 49152000, a_err = +1152000
u_fact = 1, u_clk = 95846400, u_err = +47846400
usb-ohci.c: USB OHCI at membase 0xf0004300, IRQ 13
usb.c: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
Product: USB OHCI Root Hub
SerialNumber: f0004300
hub.c: USB hub found
hub.c: 2 ports detected
kusbd_policy: /sbin/hotplug add 1, ret=0x0
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/scsi/scsi_mod.o
SCSI subsystem driver Revision: 1.00
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/scsi/sd_mod.o
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/storage/usb-storage.o
hub.c: new USB device <NULL>-1, assigned address 2
Product: USB2.0 Hub
hub.c: USB hub found
hub.c: 4 ports detected
Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
usb.c: registered new driver usb-storage
USB Mass Storage support registered.
kusbd_policy: /sbin/hotplug add 2, ret=0x0
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/input/input.o
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/usb/hid.o
usb.c: registered new driver hiddev
usb.c: registered new driver hid
hid-core.c: v1.8.1 Andreas Gal, Vojtech Pavlik <vojtech@suse.cz>
hid-core.c: USB HID support drivers
Using /lib/modulhes/2.4.25/kernelub/drivers./input/keybdev.oc
: new USB device <NULL>-2, assigned address 3
usb.c: USB device not accepting new address=3 (error=-110)
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/input/mousedev.o
mice: PS/2 mouse device common for all mice
hub.c: new USB device <NULL>-2, assigned address 4
usb.c: USB device not accepting new address=4 (error=-110)
Using /lib/modules/2.4.25/kernel/drivers/input/evdev.o
fclk 100MHZ
hub.c: new USB device <NULL>-1.1, assigned address 5
Manufacturer: LaCie
Product: LaCie Hard Drive USB
SerialNumber: 10000E000B610CCE
scsi0 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: SEAGATE Model: ST3250823A Rev: 3.03
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Attached scsi disk sda at scsi0, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
SCSI device sda: 488397168 512-byte hdwr sectors (250059 MB)
Partition check:
/dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0: I/O error: dev 08:00, sector 0
unable to read partition table
kusbd_policy: /sbin/hotplug add 5, ret=0x0
hub.c: new USB device <NULL>-1.4, assigned address 6
Manufacturer: Generic
Product: Mass Storage Device
SerialNumber: 058F312D81B
scsi1 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Generic Model: USB SD Reader Rev: 1.00
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Vendor: Generic Model: USB CF Reader Rev: 1.01
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Vendor: Generic Model: USB SM Reader Rev: 1.02
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Vendor: Generic Model: USB MS Reader Rev: 1.03
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Attached scsi removable disk sdb at scsi1, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
Attached scsi removable disk sdc at scsi1, channel 0, id 0, lun 1
Attached scsi removable disk sdd at scsi1, channel 0, id 0, lun 2
Attached scsi removable disk sde at scsi1, channel 0, id 0, lun 3
SCSI device sdb: 1984000 512-byte hdwr sectors (1016 MB)
sdb: Write Protect is off
/dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun0: p1
sdc: Unit Not Ready, sense:
Info fld=0x0, Current 00:00: sns = f0 2
ASC=3a ASCQ= 0
Raw sense data:0xf0 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0a 0x00 0xaa 0x55 0x41 0x3a
0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x00
sdc : READ CAPACITY failed.
sdc : status = 1, message = 00, host = 0, driver = 08
Info fld=0x0, Current sd00:00: sns = f0 2
ASC=3a ASCQ= 0
Raw sense data:0xf0 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0a 0x00 0xaa 0x55 0x41 0x3a
0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x00
sdc : block size assumed to be 512 bytes, disk size 1GB.
/dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun1: I/O error: dev 08:20, sector 0
I/O error: dev 08:20, sector 0
unable to read partition table
sdd: Unit Not Ready, sense:
Info fld=0x0, Current 00:00: sns = f0 2
ASC=3a ASCQ= 0
Raw sense data:0xf0 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0a 0x00 0xaa 0x55 0x41 0x3a
0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x00
sdd : READ CAPACITY failed.
sdd : status = 1, message = 00, host = 0, driver = 08
Info fld=0x0, Current sd00:00: sns = f0 2
ASC=3a ASCQ= 0
Raw sense data:0xf0 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0a 0x00 0xaa 0x55 0x41 0x3a
0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x00
sdd : block size assumed to be 512 bytes, disk size 1GB.
/dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun2: I/O error: dev 08:30, sector 0
I/O error: dev 08:30, sector 0
unable to read partition table
sde: Unit Not Ready, sense:
Info fld=0x0, Current 00:00: sns = f0 2
ASC=3a ASCQ= 0
Raw sense data:0xf0 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0a 0x00 0xaa 0x55 0x41 0x3a
0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x00
sde : READ CAPACITY failed.
sde : status = 1, message = 00, host = 0, driver = 08
Info fld=0x0, Current sd00:00: sns = f0 2
ASC=3a ASCQ= 0
Raw sense data:0xf0 0x01 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0a 0x00 0xaa 0x55 0x41 0x3a
0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x00
sde : block size assumed to be 512 bytes, disk size 1GB.
/dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun3: I/O error: dev 08:40, sector 0
I/O error: dev 08:40, sector 0
unable to read partition table
kusbd_policy: /sbin/hotplug add 6, ret=0x0
MSDOS FS: IO charset utf8

that is with a card reader AND the HDD attached to a BoB, and thinking about it i should have limited it to just the HDD but as i say i was rushing and very short of time

after a quick glance it looks like this is the relevant part :

hub.c: new USB device <NULL>-1.1, assigned address 5
Manufacturer: LaCie
Product: LaCie Hard Drive USB
SerialNumber: 10000E000B610CCE
scsi0 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: SEAGATE Model: ST3250823A Rev: 3.03
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Attached scsi disk sda at scsi0, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
SCSI device sda: 488397168 512-byte hdwr sectors (250059 MB)
Partition check:
/dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0: I/O error: dev 08:00, sector 0
unable to read partition table

and it gives a similar error for smaller FAT32 partitions as well

still in the middle of the trees and not able to get wood, so to speak :blink:

 

[oneandoneis2]

Well, there's the problem: It can't read the partition table.

You know, I seem to recall people having problems with this in the past, because they didn't actually partition the drive, just formatted the raw device, so you had to mount "/dev/sda" instead of "/dev/sda1"

Try partitioning & formatting the drive from a Linux distro - a live CD should work if you don't have an installation handy.

 

[Blah]

HDD, BoB and '2x all need their power supplies. If you need a linux distro, go to http://shipit.ubuntu.com and they'll send you some free discs (live AND install).