The loop device work around has made my machine functional again, but I just hate to leave this issue unsolved.
Ok, perhaps we should collate some more information about this problem. The output of `hdparm -I` might reveal some sort of correlation between our problems. I present mine below. Rob /dev/hdb: ATA device, with non-removable media powers-up in standby; SET FEATURES subcmd spins-up. Model Number: IC35L090AVV207-0 Serial Number: [removed] ;-) Firmware Revision: V23OA63A Standards: Used: ATA/ATAPI-6 T13 1410D revision 3a Supported: 6 5 4 3 Configuration: Logical max current cylinders 16383 65535 heads 16 1 sectors/track 63 63 -- CHS current addressable sectors: 4128705 LBA user addressable sectors: 160836480 LBA48 user addressable sectors: 160836480 device size with M = 1024*1024: 78533 MBytes device size with M = 1000*1000: 82348 MBytes (82 GB) Capabilities: LBA, IORDY(can be disabled) bytes avail on r/w long: 52 Queue depth: 32 Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16 Current = 16 Advanced power management level: unknown setting (0x0000) Recommended acoustic management value: 128, current value: 254 DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5 Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4 Cycle time: no flow control=240ns IORDY flow control=120ns Commands/features: Enabled Supported: * NOP cmd * READ BUFFER cmd * WRITE BUFFER cmd * Host Protected Area feature set Release interrupt * Look-ahead * Write cache * Power Management feature set Security Mode feature set * SMART feature set * FLUSH CACHE EXT command * Mandatory FLUSH CACHE command * Device Configuration Overlay feature set * 48-bit Address feature set Automatic Acoustic Management feature set SET MAX security extension Address Offset Reserved Area Boot SET FEATURES subcommand required to spinup after power up Power-Up In Standby feature set Advanced Power Management feature set * READ/WRITE DMA QUEUED * General Purpose Logging feature set * SMART self-test * SMART error logging Security: Master password revision code = 65534 supported not enabled not locked not frozen not expired: security count not supported: enhanced erase 46min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. HW reset results: CBLID- above Vih Device num = 1 determined by the jumper Checksum: correct
