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pmam
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:30 pm    Post subject: [SOLVED] Slow booting - HDD going to die? How to backup? Reply with quote

Hi,

I have just installed gentoo with gnome/systemd and after few times of very well booting and working with gnome...
Now I am facing with extremely slow booting and working with gnome - every action takes a lot of time.
My intuition is that this problem has not to do with gentoo or gnome, but with bios or Hard Drive -
However I am not sure and need your advise how to handle this issue?

EDIT: In addition - when I try to go into bios setup (by enter Del) it also takes a lot of time -
If my HDD close to the edge - Is there some tools for analyzing/fixing? How to backup the system?


Last edited by pmam on Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:26 am; edited 4 times in total
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Randy Andy
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi pmam.

Have you already checked if your filesystem is in a consistent state, with tools like fsck.foo?
Have you setup its automatically usage correct into your fstab?

If your BIOS has an option for activating SMART, enable it. Only then it will automatically remap defect blocks.
This was two times the root cause for exactly the behaviour you describe, once on my machine and once of a PC of a colleague.

If you have a hard drive defect which couldn't be fixed by smart, we'll see it, if you do a self test of your drive using this command:
Eventually you have to install the package smartmontools.

Code:

smartctl -t short /dev/sdx


Wait at least a minute until its finished.

Check and interpret the output of its results with:
Code:
smartctl --all /dev/sdx


If you're unsure or not able to do, post your results.

Much success, Andy.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you see any messages of concern in the output of `dmesg` or `journalctl -rb`? If you `emerge dev-util/perf` and run `perf top` as root; do you see anything of concern there? Take note of the amount of irqs/sec in the top left corner, as well as the amount of percent time spent in the kernel next to it; for the rest of it you'll want to look for lines that are abnormally high (marked in red) as well as libraries that are present too often (marked in green). If possible, feel free to provide a copy; such that we can provide you more specific advice.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Slow booting after installing gnome/systemd Reply with quote

pmam wrote:
EDIT: In addition: when I try to go into bios setup (by enter Del) it also takes a lot of time.

A bad hdd can take time to answer, so if you hit del and need time to enter your bios, look at where it get stuck, if it's to detect hdd, you don't really need any program to tell you it isn't in healthy state.
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

try running an fsck on your disk.

Also look at disabling your network until gnome has loaded up, and make sure your hostname has been set using hostnamectl too

check journalctl for any errors on boot
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pmam
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi all of you guys,

THanks for your helpful responses!

Dear Randy & Splink - I am not familiared with fsck.foo - How to use it - what the exact command?

I think my fstab is ok:
Code:

/dev/sda2      /boot      ext4      defaults,noatime  0 2
/dev/sda3      none      swap      sw       0 0
/dev/sda4      /      ext4      noatime       0 1

/dev/cdrom      /mnt/cdrom   auto      noauto,user    0 0



My BIOS HDD SMART capability is already activated- I do not think it helps...

I installed 'smartmontools' and run this command: 'smartctl -t short /dev/sda' and here the results:
EDIT: After running this command it looks much faster but I am not sure it solve all problems...
Now there is a strange issue: The icons of Gnome menu disappear suddenly -
I do not know if it has to do with the HDD problem or with Gnome installation?

Code:
smartctl 6.1 2013-03-16 r3800 [x86_64-linux-3.12.13-gentoo] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-13, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
Device Model:     ST3250410AS
Serial Number:    6RY6N3ZK
Firmware Version: 3.AAF
User Capacity:    250,058,268,160 bytes [250 GB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ATA/ATAPI-7 (minor revision not indicated)
Local Time is:    Sat Apr 12 15:45:55 2014 IDT
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x82)   Offline data collection activity
               was completed without error.
               Auto Offline Data Collection: Enabled.
Self-test execution status:      ( 121)   The previous self-test completed having
               the read element of the test failed.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection:       (  430) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:           (0x5b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
               Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
               Suspend Offline collection upon new
               command.
               Offline surface scan supported.
               Self-test supported.
               No Conveyance Self-test supported.
               Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)   Saves SMART data before entering
               power-saving mode.
               Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)   Error logging supported.
               General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time:     (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:     (  64) minutes.
SCT capabilities:           (0x0001)   SCT Status supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   100   253   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   098   097   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   098   098   020    Old_age   Always       -       2216
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   099   099   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       46
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   084   060   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       287819766
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   086   086   000    Old_age   Always       -       12754
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   098   098   020    Old_age   Always       -       2217
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   001   001   000    Old_age   Always       -       1944
189 High_Fly_Writes         0x003a   001   001   000    Old_age   Always       -       286
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   067   058   045    Old_age   Always       -       33 (Min/Max 15/42)
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   033   042   000    Old_age   Always       -       33 (0 15 0 0 0)
195 Hardware_ECC_Recovered  0x001a   078   057   000    Old_age   Always       -       236707493
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   080   046   000    Old_age   Always       -       410
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   080   046   000    Old_age   Offline      -       410
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
200 Multi_Zone_Error_Rate   0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
202 Data_Address_Mark_Errs  0x0032   100   253   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 2716 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
   CR = Command Register [HEX]
   FR = Features Register [HEX]
   SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
   SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
   CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
   CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
   DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
   DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
   ER = Error register [HEX]
   ST = Status register [HEX]
Powered_Up_Time is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.

Error 2716 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 12752 hours (531 days + 8 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  10 51 01 2e 51 1c ed

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:51:22.870  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 00 2e 51 1c e0 00      07:51:22.837  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 00 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:51:22.837  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 01 2e 51 1c e0 00      07:51:27.704  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:51:27.703  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]

Error 2715 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 12752 hours (531 days + 8 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  10 51 01 2e 51 1c ed

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:51:22.870  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 00 2e 51 1c e0 00      07:51:22.837  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 00 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:51:22.837  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 01 6f 59 1c e0 00      07:51:22.801  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  29 00 01 6f 59 1c e0 00      07:51:22.800  READ MULTIPLE EXT

Error 2714 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 12752 hours (531 days + 8 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  10 51 01 2e 51 1c ed

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:41:30.824  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 00 2e 51 1c e0 00      07:41:35.329  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 00 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:41:35.329  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 01 2e 51 1c e0 00      07:41:35.205  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:41:35.205  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]

Error 2713 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 12752 hours (531 days + 8 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  10 51 01 2e 51 1c ed

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:41:30.824  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 00 2e 51 1c e0 00      07:41:30.783  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 00 2e 51 1c ed 00      07:41:30.782  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 01 6f 59 1c e0 00      07:41:30.782  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  29 00 01 6f 59 1c e0 00      07:41:30.782  READ MULTIPLE EXT

Error 2712 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 12740 hours (530 days + 20 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  10 51 01 2e 51 1c ed

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      04:17:08.316  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 00 2e 51 1c e0 00      04:17:08.316  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 00 2e 51 1c ed 00      04:17:06.546  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  27 00 01 2e 51 1c e0 00      04:17:06.367  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]
  37 00 01 2e 51 1c ed 00      04:17:06.333  SET NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT [OBS-ACS-3]

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Short offline       Completed: read failure       90%     12754         204821

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
 SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.


Thanks


Last edited by pmam on Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:21 am; edited 1 time in total
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pmam
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear TomWij,

I am trying to install dev-util/perf and here is the output -
please advise how to go a head?

Code:
 emerge dev-util/perf

 * IMPORTANT: 8 news items need reading for repository 'gentoo'.
 * Use eselect news to read news items.

Calculating dependencies... done!
[ebuild  N     ] dev-util/patchutils-0.3.2  USE="{-test}"
[ebuild  N     ] app-text/asciidoc-8.6.5  USE="-examples -graphviz -highlight {-test} -vim-syntax"
[ebuild  N     ] sys-process/time-1.7-r1
[ebuild  N    ~] dev-util/perf-3.13.1-r1  USE="demangle doc gtk -audit -perl -python -slang -unwind" PYTHON_SINGLE_TARGET="python2_7 -python2_6" PYTHON_TARGETS="python2_7 -python2_6"

The following keyword changes are necessary to proceed:
 (see "package.accept_keywords" in the portage(5) man page for more details)
# required by dev-util/perf (argument)
=dev-util/perf-3.13.1-r1 ~amd64

Use --autounmask-write to write changes to config files (honoring
CONFIG_PROTECT). Carefully examine the list of proposed changes,
paying special attention to mask or keyword changes that may expose
experimental or unstable packages.
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TomWij
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

See the output, you can run the emerge with --autounmask-write and then run either etc-update or dispatch-conf to review the changes to your config files; alternatively, manually copy the =dev-util/perf-3.13.1-r1 ~amd64 line into /etc/portage/package.accept_keywords and then you can proceed to emerge perf again.
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear TomWij,

I emerged perf with accept_keyword as you told me and here is the output of 'perf top' -
Please see if you can find something wrong:

Code:
 PerfTop:       0 irqs/sec  kernel: 0.0%  exact:  0.0% [4000Hz cycles],  (all, 2 CPUs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    13.76%  libvte2_90.so.9.3400.9      [.] 0x000000000001b144       
     6.92%  libc-2.17.so                [.] 0x000000000007fb5d       
     4.85%  perf                        [.] 0x000000000001f214       
     3.87%  libglib-2.0.so.0.3800.2     [.] 0x000000000008ba29       
     3.63%  libcairo.so.2.11200.16      [.] 0x0000000000027364       
     2.20%  Xorg                        [.] 0x00000000000d4861       
     2.14%  libglib-2.0.so.0.3800.2     [.] g_array_append_vals       
     1.54%  libclutter-1.0.so.0.1600.4  [.] 0x00000000000463e1       
     1.48%  i915g_dri.so                [.] 0x000000000051862b       
     1.48%  [kernel]                    [k] fget_light               
     1.27%  intel_drv.so                [.] 0x000000000001cfc2       
     1.20%  libgtk-3.so.0.1000.7        [.] 0x00000000001235a3       
     1.19%  libm-2.17.so                [.] 0x000000000001e7a5       
     1.19%  libgobject-2.0.so.0.3800.2  [.] g_type_check_instance_is_a
     1.17%  libcogl.so.15.3.1           [.] 0x0000000000053ca2       
     1.15%  libgobject-2.0.so.0.3800.2  [.] 0x0000000000022803       
     1.06%  libglib-2.0.so.0.3800.2     [.] g_hash_table_lookup       
     1.01%  libmutter.so.0.0.0          [.] meta_window_actor_frame_co
     0.88%  libglib-2.0.so.0.3800.2     [.] g_string_insert_unichar


Thanks
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TomWij
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, nothing of concern; libvte, libc and perf are the result of perf itself monitoring. The rest is all under 4% and even most under 2% which means there is nothing specific there taking up a large amount of time.

You might have missed it earlier; but I think there might be something in the logs indicating a problem, do you see any messages of concern in the output of `dmesg` or `journalctl -rb`? I'd expect a message about a GPE storm, a flood or something that shows there are high number of interrupts or timeouts happening; but it could be anything, hopefully it will be in the logs (if not, we'll need to look for more in-depth troubleshooting techniques).
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi pman

could be that your fstab is missing these two lines, but I'm not fully sure if these are needed these newer days, or if they are activated in the background.
For this case, you should see them nevertheless in the output of mount on cml.

none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /dev/shm tmpfs defaults 0 0

Rest seems to be right, especially the fsck value for your root enty, so it would be checked before mounting it.
Yo could check it manually via fsck.ext4 /dev/sda4, but it will only work if the devices isn't mounted. So you have to run it from an other system/live system, but it seems not to be necessary cause your right values in your fstab.

You told that your drive works faster now, which state my intention was right, to point you into this direction.
Nevertheless, the smart values of your drive tells me, that your data are not reliable any longer.
You should do a backup, if you have none, also if it could take eventually month until its completely broken.
Nobody could forecast it exactly, and its only a snapshot of this moment.
It gets more precise if someone tracks the changes over the time, but your hard drive seems to have a problem, if I interpret the values right.

So If you have a second one, clone it and try to work at this one, to check if it would fix your problems.

Much success, Andy.



pmam wrote:
Hi all of you guys,

THanks for your helpful responses!

Dear Randy & Splink - I am not familiared with fsck.foo - How to use it - what the exact command?

I think my fstab is ok:
Code:

/dev/sda2      /boot      ext4      defaults,noatime  0 2
/dev/sda3      none      swap      sw       0 0
/dev/sda4      /      ext4      noatime       0 1

/dev/cdrom      /mnt/cdrom   auto      noauto,user    0 0


/dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom auto noauto,user 0 0

My BIOS HDD SMART capability is already activated- I do not think it helps...

I installed 'smartmontools' and run this command: 'smartctl -t short /dev/sda' and here the results:
EDIT: After running this command it looks much faster but I am not sure it solve all problems...
Now there is a strange issue: The icons of Gnome menu disappear suddenly -
I do not know if it has to do with the HDD problem or with Gnome installation?

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Andy,

If I can get a conclusion and summarize all this topic, I figure out that my HDD is going to die and I need to replace it!
However, just before it will go to recycling, I would like to know if there is any Linux tool to perform analyzing
and marking the bad sectors ( I think that windows has something like that, I am not sure...) -
So may be there is a chance one of million to save our lovely earth from facing with my full of chemicals HDD... :D

Anyway - Please let me know how to make backup or clone?
I am not familiar with those but assume that clone make an 'image' from the old HDD,
so after replacing HDD, I can do a simple copy ,without re-installation, and get the same system and data again.
BTW - How can I copy this clone after replacing HDD? On another computer or with live DOK?
Also - if I decide to reinstall gentoo on the new HDD - I guess this is your recommendation - how to backup the data? -
There is a special tool or just copy the home directory?

Thanks
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TomWij
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rsync is nice, just make sure that you copy the extra file metadata as well (look into options like -a, -H, -A, -X); when ran a second time, it will check the date and size of all files to see if they are copied over correctly. It is also possible to have it compare the checksums; though, that might make a much longer time. It also has an --exclude parameter if you want to exclude certain things. And a lot of parameters for almost everything that you would want to do with it.

As for what to copy, you'll want to do some research about what all the directories do; some directories are important (eg. /var/db/pkg/ is needed if you want to have a full copy, but not if you do a reinstall), others not so much (eg. /var/log/). Definitely important are /etc/ (your configuration), /home/ (your data), /root/ (also your data) and /var/lib/portage/world (selected packages) and perhaps other certain directories under /var/. It is not guaranteed that this last list is complete; so, walk down some levels deep into several directories about what you want and don't want to copy.
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krinn
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not great systemd/gnome fan, but can you swap topic so others systemd/gnome users won't fall on it?
Your hdd was certainly on the line, and emerging the package have certainly push it to its end, but it's not really those package's fault.

Maybe a "how to backup my dying hdd" or similar.
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

pmam wrote:
Dear Andy,

If I can get a conclusion and summarize all this topic, I figure out that my HDD is going to die and I need to replace it!
However, just before it will go to recycling, I would like to know if there is any Linux tool to perform analyzing
and marking the bad sectors ( I think that windows has something like that, I am not sure...) -

That's what the short smart testool had already done, including remapping of the bad blocks to good reserve blocks, but you could do it deeper using the long test instead:

smartctl -t long /dev/sdx
But cause it will take some hours, the risk increase that your hard drive could fully die. That's why I recommend to do a backup first.
Windows or drive manufacturer specific tools don't do it better mostly, but these are less strictly in judging a hard drive as defect to lower the warranty claims, until it is really broken.

pmam wrote:

Anyway - Please let me know how to make backup or clone?
I am not familiar with those but assume that clone make an 'image' from the old HDD,
so after replacing HDD, I can do a simple copy ,without re-installation, and get the same system and data again.
BTW - How can I copy this clone after replacing HDD? On another computer or with live DOK?
Also - if I decide to reinstall gentoo on the new HDD - I guess this is your recommendation - how to backup the data? -
There is a special tool or just copy the home directory?

Thanks


No need to reinstall Gentoo again, if you copy over all your data right. But there are so many ways how to do it, that its hard to describe the one that is the best for your scenario, cause we don't know your requirements.

It takes me too long today, to give you a course in how to clone your system in the way you need it, especially without knowing it deeply.
Some month ago I wrote an article for a magazine, which explains all the basics in learning how to do it, so I know now how much work it could be.
The problem with this, its in German language only, so I guess its no help for you.
Eventually some of the other guys here, could refer to a similar documentation in English.

In my opinion its not enough to recommend you tools like clonezilla, but it could be a good first starting point to make life easier for you.
Once you know what's the best strategy for your needs is, connect a new drive to your pc, start from a live CD, than start to cloneing/partitioning/copying your drive/date to the new target.

Much success,

Andy.
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 6:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Andy,

I thought it is less complicated to describe howto clone... :cry:
However, what you wrote help me to figure out what and where to look for in order to get a proper backup -
sometimes it is quite much to tell someone that it is not simple as he thought, so he will take care...

Quote:
The problem with this, its in German language only, so I guess its no help for you.

If I will follow the output of Google Translator for your article... I would have an interesting clone :lol:

I will learn about clonezilla, as you recommend for the starting point,
and TomWij recommend on rsync - I will try to see how to do it.
From these tools I hope to have enough information.

Krinn Hi,

Sorry but I think I do not understand your post -
Do you think that the failure of the HDD has to do with installing gnome/systemd?
Consequently, you want me to swap (I do not know how to do it...) this topic to the DE forum?
If yes - I do not think that there is a connection between the bad HDD to systemd/gnome -
But I am a gentoo's beginner, so maybe one of the senior participants in this topic,
would advise regarding this issue, and I will do what is needed to do...

Thanks
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 11:08 pm    Post subject: ><)))°€ Reply with quote

Teegrins, pmam!


I believe they are asking if you could edit the title of your topic (this topic) to something that more accurately describes the now-revealed issue, so as to not have it lure in users seeking for Gnome/systemd-specific help.

I'd perhaps at least add a [Solved] 'tag' as is customary, and perhaps a note about the HDD coming to a foul end so that readers can easily see that it was hardware related.

To do that, you need only edit the first post of yours, and the subject-line therein. ^^


It's always nasty to lose a drive.

Hopefully the next one will last longer!
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you Chiitoo.
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Chitoo &Krinn,

Yes, now I understand your constructive posts - I edited my topic subject and first post -
I hope it is more clear and will help the next poor bad HDD owners... :cry:
However, if you think it is not clear enough, please let me know and I will try my best.

Thanks :D

EDIT: Where is the SOLVED tag???
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krinn
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chiitoo said 'tag' and not tag ;)

So that solve 'tag' is text [SOLVED]topic subject

And for your hdd, you can live well with some bad sectors, mark them to not use them anymore and it's ok.
But your problem is worst : hdd slow at answering bios mean the hdd is really in bad state. This time marking bad sectors won't help, you're hdd is dying.
It's easy, in FAT you mark bad sectors, some fs allow to use a copy, else if FAT is damage, your dead.
But bios doesn't care about FAT area, but about MBR, if that one is damage. You have no choice than change disk.

As i said, if your bios takes time with your hdd...
Your best option is stop using it, so you preserve it until you're ready for backup.
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Krinn,

After your nice explanation, at least I understand the bad situation of my HDD... :(:D

Now, as you said, it is time to replace it ASAP, and the topic is really Solved :wink:

Thanks
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pmam wrote:
Dear Andy,

I thought it is less complicated to describe howto clone... :cry:
However, what you wrote help me to figure out what and where to look for in order to get a proper backup -
sometimes it is quite much to tell someone that it is not simple as he thought, so he will take care...

Quote:
The problem with this, its in German language only, so I guess its no help for you.

If I will follow the output of Google Translator for your article... I would have an interesting clone :lol:


Ok pmam, good idea. I never used google translater before, but if you're willing to try to read and follow it, give it a try and we'll see if you get an interesting clone afterwards. :wink:
I'm curious about it, if its really readable and if it make sense, but it should be better if I try to translate such a complex text. You'll find it here:

http://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pro-linux.de%2Fartikel%2F2%2F1651%2Fdisaster-recovery-mit-hilfe-der-richtigen-backup-strategie.html&edit-text=

Happy reading,

Andy.
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Andy,

I thought it is a semi-joke, however after reading the first paragraph, it seems quite readable and make sense -
It is automatically translated to English without my intervention - may be you defined it before...
We should take advantage of technology (not just suffer from the disadvantages!) - In case it is really working...
I will try to follow and let you know the interesting result... :wink:

Thanks
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks pmam,

for the fast response.

Yes, I defined the translation for you, and eventually other folks who are interested in reading it.
I was surprised how easy it works, to translate whole Websites with all its content.

I hope you will know where the pitfalls are laying and whats is the best strategy for backing up your system, after reading it.
So, I'm very interested in your feedback.

Best, Andy.
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