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imashi

Member

Registered: 2025-05-26

Posts: 2

SSD not recognized after shutdown while updating firmware

Hi,

System info :
Arch Linux on Lenovo Thinkpad X230
Intel i5-3320m 2.6GHz
8 GB RAM
SSD
BIOS G2ETB3WW v2.73

Last night I was updating my laptop and during the linux-firmware update (linux-firmware 20250508.788aadc8-2) it crashed: progression bar stuck (I use trizen) and the load average was steadily increasing. So obviously something didn’t seem normal and since it was in the « Recovering packages » stage, I think « it’s just downloading, not updating yet, right? If I shut it down now, nothing bad will happen, right? » And I force shutdown using the power button.
Wrong, of course.

So now my laptop won’t boot on my hard drive. Upon boot I have this message :

2100 : Detection error on HDD0 (Main HDD)

In the BIOS it seems like the disk is no longer detected at all (nothing in SATA configuration, no info in the boot order).
I tried booting on a live arch USB key to fix /boot, but fdisk -l or lsblk can’t find the disk, only loop0 and my USB key. Can't run fsck on it then.
Running dmesg, during the boot I get this 3 times and then it gives up:

ata1 : link is slow to respond, please be patient

I took the SSD out, plugged it into an external hard drive case and in another computer. When I plug it in, the lights on the case blink like it’s doing something, but it doesn’t come up in the file explorer, and fdisk -l and lsblk don’t detect it either, but in journalctl/dmesg it sees I plugged something in, which is my only sliver of hope.

I really have no other idea right now. A friend helped me take a look and thinks either the drive or the controller card is dead. I’m pretty sure it’s cooked, but I still wanted to see if anyone could think of anything else I could try, or a way to grab some of my data (some of it is backuped but I may have lost stuff like travel pics, which is sad but next time I’ll be less stupid and backup my stuff better.)

If any other info I didn’t think of might be useful, ask away.
Thank you

jl2

Member

From: 47° 18' N 8° 34' E

Registered: 2022-06-01

Posts: 1,248

Re: SSD not recognized after shutdown while updating firmware

So obviously something didn’t seem normal and since it was in the « Recovering packages » stage, I think « it’s just downloading, not updating yet, right? If I shut it down now, nothing bad will happen, right? » And I force shutdown using the power button.

Firmware updates are usually copied onto the EFI partition and then flashed from withinthe BIOs, so I think your Hard Drive just coincidentally died then :shrug:

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Why I run Arch? To "BTW I run Arch" the guy one grade younger.
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imashi

Member

Registered: 2025-05-26

Posts: 2

Re: SSD not recognized after shutdown while updating firmware

You're probably right. Thank you for your reply

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,311

Re: SSD not recognized after shutdown while updating firmware

I'd say, its death has caused the pacman issues…

journalctl/dmesg it sees I plugged something in

The usb controller of the external case. And unfortunately that also rules out any cable issues, so very likely the drive died.
Have there not been any previous indications? smartctl? Though the controller death could mean it took some literal heat?

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