Hi all,

I think I've just experienced my 3rd hard disk failure in 18 months of empeg use. It's different to the previous hard drive failures I've had and so I am posting just to get confirmation and the opinion of you guys as to my options.

The symptoms started a few weeks ago with occasional boot problems: hard disk not found, hanging during Tux's logo, hanging during playlist initialisation. Around this time the player started hanging during playback- although music would continue playing the buttons ceased to have any effect. Soemtimes the player would completely forget to store state information so when I rebooted it would be at some earlier point in the playlist than when I had shut down.

Soooo, the other day I booted her up and she got as far as "Loading playlists", "Loading database" and just cycles between the two messages over and over. In the console I can't seem to get into any kind of bash prompt but I have obtained the following boot sequence dump - showing player.cpp experiencing a memory violation, preceded by a failure to mount a particular partition...

Any suggestions? The cause? Help! The silent journeys to work are making me crazy!

-nic

----- console dump:

empeg-car bootstrap v1.02 20001106 ([email protected])
If there is anyone present who wants to upgrade the flash, let them speak now,
or forever hold their peace...it seems not. Let fly the Penguins of Linux!

e000 v1.04
Copying kernel...
Calling linux kernel...
Uncompressing Linux..................................... done, booting the kerne
l.
Linux version 2.2.17-rmk5-np17-empeg52-hijack-v336 (root@ibbm) (gcc vers
.3 20010315 (release)) #2 Wed May 28 20:13:55 EDT 2003
Processor: Intel StrongARM-1100 revision 11
NetWinder Floating Point Emulator V0.94.1 (c) 1998 Corel Computer Corp.
empeg-car player (hardware revision 9, serial number 30103054)
Command line: mem=16m
Calibrating delay loop... 207.67 BogoMIPS
Memory: 14996k/16M available (996k code, 20k reserved, 368k data, 4k init)
Dentry hash table entries: 2048 (order 2, 16k)
Buffer cache hash table entries: 16384 (order 4, 64k)
Page cache hash table entries: 4096 (order
POSIX conformance testing by UNIFIX
Linux NET4.0 for Linux 2.2
Based upon Swansea University Computer Society NET3.039
NET4: Linux TCP/IP 1.0 for NET4.0
IP Protocols: ICMP, UDP, TCP
TCP: Hash tables configured (ehash 16384 bhash 16384)
IrDA (tm) Protocols for Linux-2.2 (Dag Brattli)
IrCOMM protocol (Dag Brattli)
Starting kswapd v 1.5
SA1100 serial driver version 4.27 with no serial options enabled
ttyS00 at 0xf8010000 (irq = 15) is a SA1100 UART
ttyS01 at 0xf8050000 (irq = 17) is a SA1100 UART
ttyS02 at 0xf8030000 (irq = 16) is a SA1100 UART
Signature is 20706d65 'emp '
Found custom animation at offset 0x9bb88
Tuner: loopback=0, ID=-1
empeg display initialised.
empeg dsp audio initialised
empeg dsp mixer initialised
empeg dsp initialised
empeg audio-in initialised, CS4231A revision a0
empeg remote control/panel button initialised.
empeg usb initialised, PDIUSBD12 id 1012
empeg state support initialised 0089/88c1 (save to d0004500).
empeg RDS driver initialised
empeg power-pic driver initialised (first b
RAM disk driver initialized: 16 RAM disks of 4096K size
empeg single channel IDE
Probing primary interface...
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, ATA DISK drive
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, ATA DISK drive
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, ATA DISK drive
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, ATA DISK drive
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, ATA DISK drive
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, ATA DISK drive
ide0 at 0x000-0x007,0x038 on irq 6
hda: FUJITSU MHR2030AT, 28615MB w/2048kB Cache, CHS=58140/16/63
empeg-flash driver initialized
smc chip id/revision 0x3349
smc9194.c:v0.12 03/06/96 by Erik Stahlman ([email protected])1734e4 (bad address=0x421

SMC9194: SMC91C94(r:9) at 0x4008000 IRQ:7 INTF:TP MEM:6144b MAC 00:02:d7:26:0b:e : [<02035370>] lr : [<021734e4>]
sp :
ef
Partition check:87d fp : bffffa
hda: hda1 < hda5 hda6 > hda2 hda3 hda4
r10: 00000000 r9 : 021734d8 r8
RAMDISK: ext2 filesystem found at block 0
r7 : 00000373 r6 : 000007fa
RAMDISK: Loading 320 blocks [1 disk] into ram disk... done.
r3 : 4218b7d0 r2 : 50005546 r
VFS: Mounted root (ext2 filesystem).
empeg-pump v0.03 (19980601)Qs on FIQs on Mode USER_3
Press Ctrl-A to enter pump...VFS: Mounted root (ext2 filesystem) readonly.ntrol: C0F4D17D Table: C0F4D17D DAC: 00000015
change_root: old root has d_count=1red at [<0203525c>] from [<02035120
Trying to unmount old root ... okay

r8 = 02112668 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 02173490 r5 =
Mounting second music partition
Tried to mount /dev/hdc4 but got error 6n entered at [<02036c28>] from [<0202fd7
Error mounting partitions (possibly already mounted)
r10 = 00000000 r9 = 02112374 r8 = 0214D808 r7 =
Remounting first music partition read-only
r6 = BFFFFD84
Remounting second music partition read-only
Function ente
No secondary hard diskm [<0202f758>]
Press 'q' now to go into development mode. You Have Zero Seconds To Comply...= 0214D808 r7 = BFFFFEE8
Starting player
kftpd: listening on port 21
F
player.cpp : 385:empeg-car 2.00 2003/04/01.
r10
player(9): memory violation at pc=0x02035370, lr=0x021734e4 (bad address=0x4218b
r6 = 020000C0 r5 = 00000001 r4 = BFFFFF64
7d4, code 2)
pc : [<02035370>] lr : [<021734e4>][<02031730>] from [<020c8ea4>]
sp : bffffa34 ip : 0000087d fp : bffffa84r5 = BFFFFF64 r4 = 00000001
r10: 00000000 r9 : 021734d8 r8 : bffffab48>] from [<02000104>]
r7 : 00000373 r6 : 000007fa r5 : 02173490 r4 : bffffa40 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 00000000
r3 : 4218b7d0 r2 : 50005546 r1 : 0218fe40000 r4 = 00000
Abnormal player termination
r10 = 00000000 r9 = 00000000 r8 = BFFFFAB4 r7 = 00000000
Starting player
Hijack: intercepting config.
r6 = BFFFFA88 r5 = 02173490 r4 = 0218DAA8cpp : 385:empeg-car 2.00 2003/04/01.
Function entered at [<02035008>] from [<02036e0c>]
player(384): memory violation at pc=0x02035370, l
r8 = 02112668 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 02173490 r5 = 000012CC
8b7d4,
r4 = 000008E5
pc : [<
Function entered at [<02036c28>] from [<0202fd70>]
sp : bffffa34 ip : 0000087d f
r10 = 00000000 r9 = 02112374 r8 = 0214D808 r7 = BFFFFD8800000000 r9 : 021734d8 r8 : bffffab4
Function entered at [<02031464>] from [<02031794>]
r6 = BFFFFA88 r5 =
r10 = 02031730 r9 = 00000000 r8 = 02112060 r7 = 00000000
Function entered at [<02035008>] from [<02036e0c>]
r6 = 020000C0 r5 = 00000001 r4 = BFFFFF64
r8 = 02112668 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 0217
Function entered at [<02031730>] from [<020c8ea4>]
r4 = 000008E5
Function entered at [<0202fa
Restored terminal settings
Remounting first music partition read-only0000001 r8 = 0214D808 r7 = BFFFFEE8
Remounting second music partition read-only
r6 = 00000086 r5 = BFFFFDF4
No secondary hard disk
Abnormal player terminationd at [<0202f718>] from [<02
Player received signal 11
Starting player000086 r5 = FF
Hijack: intercepting config.ini

player.cpp : 385:empeg-car 2.00 2003/04/01.
r
player(12): memory violation at pc=0x02035370, lr=0x02

r10: 00000000 r9 : 021734d8 r8 : bffffab4
Function entered at [<020c8d
r7 : 00000373 r6 : 000007fa r5 : 02173490 r4 : bffffa40
r10 = 00000000 r8 = 00000000 r7 = 0000000
r3 : 4218b7d0 r2 : 50005546 r1 : 0218fe48 r0 : 1000110e
r5 = 00000000 r4 = 00000000
Flags: nzCv IRQs on FIQs on Mode USER_32 Segment user
Remounting first music partition read-only
Control: C0F4D17D Table: C0F4D17D DAC: 00000015ng second music partition read-only
Function entered at [<0203525c>] from [<02035120>]k
Abnormal player terminatio
r10 = 00000000 r9 = 00000000 r8 = BFFFFAB4 r7 = 00000000
Starting player
Hijack: in
r6 = BFFFFA88 r5 = 02173490 r4 = 02


Function entered at [<02031464>] from [<02031794>]
r10 = 02031730 r9 = 00000000 r8 = 02112060 r7 = 00000000
r6 = 020000C0 r5 = 00000001 r4 = BFFFFF64
Function entered at [<02031730>] from [<020c8ea4>]
r5 = BFFFFF64 r4 = 00000001 r6 = 02173490 r5 = 000012C
Function entered at [<020c8dc8>] from [<02000104>]
r4 = 000008E5
Function en
r10 = 00000000 r8 = 00000000 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 00000000
r10 = 00000000 r9 = 02112374
r5 = 00000000 r4 = 00000000
Restored terminal settings
r6 = BFFFFD84 r5 = B
Remounting first music partition read-only
Function entered a
Remounting second music partition read-only

No secondary hard disk
player(15): memory violation at pc=0x02035370, lr=0x021734e4 (bad address=0x4218
Function entered at [<02031464>] from [<02031794>]
b7d4, code 2)
pc : [<02035370>] lr : [<021734e4>] r8 = 02112060 r7 = 00000000
sp : bffffa34 ip : 0000087d fp : bffffa84
r6 = 020000C0 r5 = 00000001 r4 =
r10: 00000000 r9 : 021734d8 r8 : bffffab4
Function entered at [<02031730>]
r7 : 00000373 r6 : 000007fa r5 : 02173490 r4 : bffffa40
r5 = BFFFFF64 r4 = 00000001
r3 : 4218b7d0 r2 : 50005546 r1 : 0218fe48 r0 : 1000110e]

No secondary hard disk
r6 = BFFFFA88 r5 = 02173490 r4 = 0218DAA8
Player received sig
Function entered at [<02035008>] from [<02036e0c>]
Hijack: intercepting config.ini
r8 = 02112668 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 02173490 r5 = 000012CCr 2.00 2003/04/01.
Function entered at [<0202fa0c>] from [<0202f758>]
r10 = BFFFFEE4 r9 = 00000001 r8 = 0214D808 r7 = BFFFFEE8
r6 = 00000086 r5 = BFFFFDF4 r4 = BFFFFDF4
Function entered at [<0202f718>] from [<02031668>]
r6 = 00000086 r5 = FFFFFFFF r4 = BFFFFDF4
Function entered at [<02031464>] from [<02031794>]
r10 = 02031730 r9 = 00000000 r8 = 02112060 r7 = 00000000
r6 = 020000C0 r5 = 00000001 r4 = BFFFFF64
Function entered at [<02031730>] from [<020c8ea4>]
r5 = BFFFFF64 r4 = 00000001
Function entered at [<020c8dc8>] from [<02000104>]
r10 = 00000000 r8 = 00000000 r7 = 00000000 r6 = 00000000
r5 = 00000000 r4 = 00000000
Restored terminal settings
Remounting first music partition read-only
Remounting second music partition read-only
No secondary hard disk
Abnormal player termination
Player received signal 11
Starting player
Hijack: intercepting config.ini

player.cpp : 385:empeg-car 2.00 2003/04/01.

<<<<this just recurs endlessly, cycling the same error over and over>>>>>

Greetings!

This may not be a drive problem as such. I am interested in the:

smc9194.c:v0.12 03/06/96 by Erik Stahlman ([email protected])1734e4 (bad address=0x421

Something looks really strange here. Do you get this problem only in the car, or on AC also? I am thinking that it might be a good idea to reflash the kernel, see if this recurs. Also, a test boot might be a good thing also. (control-T at power-on).

Hihi,

I forgot to mention I did already reflash the kernel with v2.00 development version. It looks like that boot dump I posted is from before the flashing though (hijack is in there). The problem persisted despite this effort.

I'll try a test boot - I assume that means I boot it with the serial connection attached and apply Ctrl+T during this process?

Thanks for replying

-nic

Yes, Ctrl+T. Do you still see that boot error after reflashing?

Hi again! Such a nightmare day at work that it's taken until now to get the work done on this

I reflashed the kernel again with 2.0 and also with 2.0 beta 13 just to check. The results of the boot sequence with a freshly reflashed kernel are attached. The test boot (ctrl-t) went without errors and I attach that too!

Kinda stuck without a command line on this beast!

-nic

Here is the Test Boot Log - attached.

Sorry for the triple post. You wouldn't believe where the answer was.... *in the faq*

I did some googling on the reiserfs error in the boot text and the developers/bugs list archives showed some hits. After that, I googled for the "player received signal 11" error and got a hit on the same list. Some poor chap had the same error. Mr Fabris pointed him at a FAQ entry. It sounds like a broken track is responsible for hanging the player. I booted into bash (again, FAQ helped) and started the player with no playlist. It worked!

My only remaining problem is working out which of the 5000-odd tracks was playing when the player app crashed!

Thanks sincerely for the help you gave, and to Google, and to Tony Fabris... is there an award for best FAQ ever?

Ta!

-nic

Thanks sincerely for the help you gave, and to Google, and to Tony Fabris... is there an award for best FAQ ever?

You're quite welcome. And of course, the FAQ is merely an extension of the font of information on this BBS, so we have to pay props to everyone here who has contributed.

Dunno if there's a "best FAQ" award. I've seen some impressive ones in my time, hence the drive to make the empeg FAQ as complete as possible.

an extension of the font of information

Please send me that font. I want it on my system so I no longer have to do research.

LOL!

Good catch!

/Michael

It was funny. But ``catch''? The word ``font'' was used correctly and the specific phrase ``font of information'' is well established. It's even used as example in Merriam-Webster's definition of ``font''.

Or am I not understanding what you're saying?

Ooops... I thought it was "fount" only - shows what I know.... I'll go hide in the corner

/Michael

Yay! The grammar police come to the rescue!