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HDD connected via USB is "Unmounted"

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tsuMi

New Around Here
I've been using HDD (500GB, NTFS file system, connected via USB 3.0) for more than a year and had no problems. Suddenly it stopped working. ASUS RT-N18U (firmware is up to date) menu says it's "Unmounted" so basically it's not working. I tried to connect HDD to my PC and run chkdsk but it didn't find anything faulty. Also tried ejecting it while connected to PC. Drive format was no help, same as router hard reset. System log can be found here: http://pastebin.com/WkWhW8vi

Edit: I found that any other hard disk or flash drive connected to the router are also recognized as "Unmounted", so I assume it's router's problem.
 
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Off the wall suggestions because I have never encountered this problem. What firmware are you running? Have you tried to enter the "mount /tmp/mnt/SOMETHING" command? Different firmware have different ways of entering commands. If you are running factory firmware, you may have to telnet or ftp into the router while Merlin may support ssh and Tomato definitely uses ssh but also offers a command input page. Also, you may find "dmesg | tail" more informative right after you plug in USB drive to see if the drive is recognized. If recognized, then use the associated name (sdX) in the "mount /tmp/mnt/sdX" command.

Edit: Digging further into my factory firmware/rtn56, telnet access is enabled in the "Admin>System" menu near the bottom so if you are accessing from a PC behind the router, telnet (windows will need putty) in and enter the above commands after logging in. (Even though my 56U is behind an RT-N 66U/TomatoUSB, I normally leave telnet disabled.)
 
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Firmware version is 3.0.0.4.380_2717. Yes I can reach my router through telnet but apparently there's nothing to be found:

admin@RT-N18U:/tmp/home/root# cd /
admin@RT-N18U:/# ls
asus_jffs dev lib opt sbin usr
bin etc media proc sys var
cifs1 home mmc rom sysroot www
cifs2 jffs mnt root tmp

admin@RT-N18U:/# mount tmp/mnt/sda1
mount: can't find tmp/mnt/sda1 in /etc/fstab

admin@RT-N18U:/# mount tmp/mnt/sda
mount: can't find tmp/mnt/sda in /etc/fstab

admin@RT-N18U:/# dmesg | tail
sd 12:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
sda: sda1
sd 12:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
sd 12:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
gro disabled
gro disabled
FAT: utf8 is not a recommended IO charset for FAT filesystems, filesystem will be case sensitive!
FAT: utf8 is not a recommended IO charset for FAT filesystems, filesystem will be case sensitive!


As I understand now sda1 drive should be somehow visible in /tmp/mnt? So the question is why it's not.
 
I am running out of suggestions due to my limited linux knowledge (only been using it for >10 yrs:oops:). The command set in AsusWRT is limiting.
Have you tried rebooting the router...worth a try if you haven't already done so. It looks as though the disk was seen in dmesg. Rebooting might get it into fstab.
 
I am running out of suggestions due to my limited linux knowledge (only been using it for >10 yrs:oops:). The command set in AsusWRT is limiting.
Have you tried rebooting the router...worth a try if you haven't already done so. It looks as though the disk was seen in dmesg. Rebooting might get it into fstab.
I did try. I have nothing to try now tho'
 
Wait a bit and perhaps someone smarter than I will chime in with a real idea. You might also try to upgrade to a recent copy of Merlin's firmware, John's Fork or TomatoUSB. Do be sure to erase the nvram contents each time because it will be different for each version. I run Shibby TomatoUSB and just upgraded to the 137 version on my N66U without any problems: 1.28.0000 MIPSR2-136 K26 USB AIO-64K. I just don't know what is available for the N18.
 
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I have faced the same problem with RT-N18U latest firmware. NTFS-formatted memory stick is not properly recognized. The device (Kingston DataTraveler 3.0) is easily visible in Windows XP and Windows 7, chkdsk doesn't indicate any problems.

Please note following logs with latest firmware
Dec 17 23:55:19 usb: USB /dev/sda1(ntfs) failed to mount At the first try!
Dec 17 23:55:20 kernel: FAT: utf8 is not a recommended IO charset for FAT filesystems, filesystem will be case sensitive!


While previous firmware (3.0.0.4.378_9459) finally does recognize the disk properly
Oct 9 12:45:30 usb: USB /dev/sda1(ntfs) failed to mount At the first try!
Oct 9 12:45:30 kernel: ufsd: "mount" (sda1): is mounted as NTFS (without journal)
Oct 9 12:45:30 usb: USB ntfs fs at /dev/sda1 mounted on /tmp/mnt/BOGUS_32_2.


Full logs:

RT-N18U with 3.0.0.4.380_2717 FW

Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: scsi 4:0:0:0: Direct-Access Kingston DataTraveler 3.0 PMAP PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] 60555264 512-byte logical blocks: (31.0 GB/28.8 GiB)
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Dec 17 23:55:17 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
Dec 17 23:55:17 Timemachine: daemon is stoped
Dec 17 23:55:17 miniupnpd[1131]: shutting down MiniUPnPd
Dec 17 23:55:17 miniupnpd[1284]: version 1.9 started
Dec 17 23:55:17 miniupnpd[1284]: HTTP listening on port 56236
Dec 17 23:55:17 miniupnpd[1284]: Listening for NAT-PMP/PCP traffic on port 5351

Dec 17 23:55:19 usb: USB /dev/sda1(ntfs) failed to mount At the first try!
Dec 17 23:55:20 kernel: FAT: utf8 is not a recommended IO charset for FAT filesystems, filesystem will be case sensitive!
Dec 17 23:55:21 usb: USB /dev/sda1(ntfs) failed to mount At the first try!
Dec 17 23:55:22 kernel: FAT: utf8 is not a recommended IO charset for FAT filesystems, filesystem will be case sensitive!

Dec 17 23:56:26 rc_service: asus_sd 1345:notify_rc restart_xhcimode 0
Dec 17 23:56:26 rc_service: hotplug 1346:notify_rc restart_nasapps
Dec 17 23:56:26 rc_service: waitting "restart_xhcimode 0" via asus_sd ...
Dec 17 23:56:27 iTunes: daemon is stoped
Dec 17 23:56:27 FTP Server: daemon is stoped
Dec 17 23:56:28 Samba Server: smb daemon is stoped
Dec 17 23:56:28 kernel: gro disabled
Dec 17 23:56:28 Timemachine: daemon is stoped
Dec 17 23:56:29 kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:00:0c.0: Failed to enable MSI-X
Dec 17 23:56:29 kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:00:0c.0: failed to allocate MSI entry
Dec 17 23:56:29 kernel: usb usb1: No SuperSpeed endpoint companion for config 1 interface 0 altsetting 0 ep 129: using minimum values
Dec 17 23:56:29 rc_service: hotplug 1347:notify_rc restart_nasapps
Dec 17 23:56:29 rc_service: waitting "restart_nasapps" via hotplug ...



RT-N18U with 3.0.0.4.378_9459 FW

Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: scsi 4:0:0:0: Direct-Access Kingston DataTraveler 3.0 PMAP PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] 60555264 512-byte logical blocks: (31.0 GB/28.8 GiB)
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Oct 9 12:45:29 kernel: sd 4:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
Oct 9 12:45:30 iTunes: daemon is stoped
Oct 9 12:45:30 FTP Server: daemon is stoped
Oct 9 12:45:30 Samba Server: smb daemon is stoped
Oct 9 12:45:30 kernel: gro disabled
Oct 9 12:45:30 Timemachine: daemon is stoped

Oct 9 12:45:30 usb: USB /dev/sda1(ntfs) failed to mount At the first try!
Oct 9 12:45:30 kernel: ufsd: "mount" (sda1): is mounted as NTFS (without journal)
Oct 9 12:45:30 usb: USB ntfs fs at /dev/sda1 mounted on /tmp/mnt/BOGUS_32_2.

Oct 9 12:45:30 asusware: umount partition /dev/sda1...
Oct 9 12:45:30 disk monitor: unmount partition
Oct 9 12:45:31 syslog: USB partition unmounted from /tmp/mnt/BOGUS_32_2
Oct 9 12:45:31 asusware: Automatically scan partition /dev/sda1...
Oct 9 12:45:31 disk monitor: scan partition
Oct 9 12:45:46 asusware: re-mount partition /dev/sda1...
Oct 9 12:45:46 disk monitor: re-mount partition
Oct 9 12:45:46 usb: USB /dev/sda1(ntfs) failed to mount At the first try!
Oct 9 12:45:47 kernel: ufsd: "mount" (sda1): is mounted as NTFS (without journal)
Oct 9 12:45:47 usb: USB ntfs fs at /dev/sda1 mounted on /tmp/mnt/BOGUS_32_2.
Oct 9 12:45:47 asusware: done.
Oct 9 12:45:47 disk monitor: done
Oct 9 12:45:50 admin: sh /opt/S50asuslighttpd.1 start
Oct 9 12:45:54 rc_service: hotplug 4644:notify_rc restart_nasapps
 
I just solved a similar problem as follows, so I thought I'd necro this old thread (which had the top search result) just in case it helps someone else...

My NTFS-formatted, 1TB Western Digital HDD would no longer mount to my ASUS RT-N66U (Merlin firmware 380.69_2) after I temporarily attached the HDD to my Windows 10 PC to more-quickly transfer a huge folder of video files. Apparently my problem stemmed from improperly removing the HDD from the PC, but others have reported that it can just happen from the HDD gathering errors over time. I solved it by error-checking the HDD on Windows and "safely" ejecting it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
  1. I attached the USB HDD to my Windows 10 PC.
  2. I clicked on the "This PC" icon.
  3. I right-clicked the USB HDD icon and selected "Properties".
  4. I selected the "Tools" tab and ran "Error checking".
  5. After it completed, I went into the (lower-right) system tray (show hidden icons) and selected the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon (which looks like a USB thumb drive on Windows 10) and ejected the USB HDD.
  6. After Windows said it was safe to remove the HDD, I reattached it to the ASUS router and it mounted instantly.
 
Here is how I solved it.
I plugged the disk in my PC, it didn't even show up at my PC. Reason was that it was bigger than 8TB and MBR - so I went to Create and Format partitions and tried deleting volumes. It didn't work, so first I had to go to run CMD, diskpart, list disk, select disk X, clean. Then I went back to Create and Format partitions, and voila was able to delete it all. Format the empty space as GPT and since then it's worked through my router.

EDIT: reason for BUMP, this is the 2nd search result you get on google.
 
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I just solved a similar problem as follows, so I thought I'd necro this old thread (which had the top search result) just in case it helps someone else...

My NTFS-formatted, 1TB Western Digital HDD would no longer mount to my ASUS RT-N66U (Merlin firmware 380.69_2) after I temporarily attached the HDD to my Windows 10 PC to more-quickly transfer a huge folder of video files. Apparently my problem stemmed from improperly removing the HDD from the PC, but others have reported that it can just happen from the HDD gathering errors over time. I solved it by error-checking the HDD on Windows and "safely" ejecting it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
  1. I attached the USB HDD to my Windows 10 PC.
  2. I clicked on the "This PC" icon.
  3. I right-clicked the USB HDD icon and selected "Properties".
  4. I selected the "Tools" tab and ran "Error checking".
  5. After it completed, I went into the (lower-right) system tray (show hidden icons) and selected the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon (which looks like a USB thumb drive on Windows 10) and ejected the USB HDD.
  6. After Windows said it was safe to remove the HDD, I reattached it to the ASUS router and it mounted instantly.

This solution worked for me too. Thanks so much!
 

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