deleting read-only USB partition

[Schwarzer Kater]

Is there any important data on this USB stick at all or can it be re-formatted (I think you already tried in your post # 1…)?

If you do want to re-format this USB stick (in which case you will, of course, lose all data currently stored on it), did you already try to create a new partition table first - e.g. with the KDE Partition Manager?





Afterwards you should be instantly able to create a new partition on the USB stick (format it) with the KDE Partition Manager (e.g. ext4)…

[papapenguin]

unfortunately, KDE Partition manager can't even see the device. GParted sees it, but it's locked and I can't select the action. It hangs in 'pending' mode.





result of dmesg:

[132725.233000] usb 2-2: new SuperSpeed USB device number 2 using xhci_hcd
[132725.254285] usb 2-2: New USB device found, idVendor=154b, idProduct=1006, bcdDevice= 1.10
[132725.254293] usb 2-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[132725.254297] usb 2-2: Product: USB 3.2.1 FD
[132725.254299] usb 2-2: Manufacturer: PNY
[132725.254301] usb 2-2: SerialNumber: 07213C7F02956D35
[132725.254944] usb-storage 2-2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[132725.255295] scsi host0: usb-storage 2-2:1.0
[132726.321412] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access PNY USB 3.2.1 FD PMAP PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
[132726.321880] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[132726.425786] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 484362240 512-byte logical blocks: (248 GB/231 GiB)
[132726.426703] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is on
[132726.426707] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 45 00 80 00
[132726.427380] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[132726.432154] sda: sda1
[132726.432303] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
[132726.525761] /dev/sda1: Can't open blockdev
[132726.532419] EXT4-fs (sda1): INFO: recovery required on readonly filesystem
[132726.532424] EXT4-fs (sda1): write access unavailable, cannot proceed (try mounting with noload)
[132732.124245] /dev/sda1: Can't open blockdev
[132732.132030] EXT4-fs (sda1): INFO: recovery required on readonly filesystem
[132732.132035] EXT4-fs (sda1): write access unavailable, cannot proceed (try mounting with noload)
[132871.793418] wlp2s0: disconnect from AP 02:58:28:17:27:82 for new auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82
[132871.861655] wlp2s0: authenticate with 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (local address=ec:2e:98:c1:75:c1)
[132871.873447] wlp2s0: send auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[132871.974305] wlp2s0: send auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 2/3)
[132871.975988] wlp2s0: authenticated
[132871.976292] wlp2s0: associate with 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[132871.980058] wlp2s0: RX ReassocResp from 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (capab=0x1931 status=0 aid=5)
[132871.994101] wlp2s0: associated
[132872.080310] wlp2s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by 0a:58:28:17:27:82
[132921.796419] wlp2s0: disconnect from AP 0a:58:28:17:27:82 for new auth to 02:58:28:17:27:82
[132921.854722] wlp2s0: 80 MHz not supported, disabling VHT
[132921.870345] wlp2s0: authenticate with 02:58:28:17:27:82 (local address=ec:2e:98:c1:75:c1)
[132921.881590] wlp2s0: send auth to 02:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[132921.990311] wlp2s0: send auth to 02:58:28:17:27:82 (try 2/3)
[132921.993046] wlp2s0: authenticated
[132921.994290] wlp2s0: associate with 02:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[132922.000219] wlp2s0: RX ReassocResp from 02:58:28:17:27:82 (capab=0x1c31 status=0 aid=3)
[132922.014115] wlp2s0: associated
[132922.043712] wlp2s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by 02:58:28:17:27:82
[133227.385410] wlp2s0: disconnect from AP 02:58:28:17:27:82 for new auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82
[133227.460721] wlp2s0: authenticate with 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (local address=ec:2e:98:c1:75:c1)
[133227.473336] wlp2s0: send auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[133227.575290] wlp2s0: send auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 2/3)
[133227.576898] wlp2s0: authenticated
[133227.577275] wlp2s0: associate with 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[133227.581067] wlp2s0: RX ReassocResp from 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (capab=0x1931 status=0 aid=5)
[133227.595121] wlp2s0: associated
[133227.704555] wlp2s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by 0a:58:28:17:27:82
[133828.857888] /dev/sda1: Can't open blockdev
[133828.864918] EXT4-fs (sda1): INFO: recovery required on readonly filesystem
[133828.864922] EXT4-fs (sda1): write access unavailable, cannot proceed (try mounting with noload)
[133855.940251] kauditd_printk_skb: 152 callbacks suppressed
[133855.940255] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.946:6355): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="net" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" pi
d=151026 comm="snap-confine" family="unix" sock_type="seqpacket" protocol=0 requested="send receive" denied="send receive" addr=none peer_addr=none
[133855.940259] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.946:6356): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" class="file" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" name="/ap
parmor/.null" pid=151026 comm="snap-confine" requested_mask="wr" denied_mask="wr" fsuid=1000 ouid=0
[133855.940272] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.946:6357): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="net" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" pi
d=151026 comm="snap-confine" family="unix" sock_type="seqpacket" protocol=0 requested="send receive" denied="send receive" addr=none peer_addr=none
[133855.940275] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.946:6358): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="net" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" pi
d=151026 comm="snap-confine" family="unix" sock_type="seqpacket" protocol=0 requested="send receive" denied="send receive" addr="@d8cd5" peer_addr=none
[133855.940278] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.947:6359): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="net" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" pi
d=151026 comm="snap-confine" family="unix" sock_type="seqpacket" protocol=0 requested="send receive" denied="send receive" addr="@8cd32" peer_addr=none
[133855.940281] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.947:6360): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="net" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" pi
d=151026 comm="snap-confine" family="netlink" sock_type="raw" protocol=0 requested="send receive" denied="send receive"
[133855.940291] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.947:6361): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="file" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" n
ame="/home/donald/.local/share/kontact/QtWebEngine/Default/GPUCache/data_0" pid=151026 comm="snap-confine" requested_mask="wr" denied_mask="wr" fsuid=1000 o
uid=1000
[133855.940294] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.947:6362): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="file" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" n
ame=2F686F6D652F646F6E616C642F2E6C6F63616C2F736861 72652F6B6F6E746163742F5174576562456E67696E652F4465 6661756C742F506C6174666F726D204E6F7469666963617469 6F6E73
2F4C4F47 pid=151026 comm="snap-confine" requested_mask="w" denied_mask="w" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000
[133855.940298] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.947:6363): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="file" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" n
ame=2F686F6D652F646F6E616C642F2E6C6F63616C2F736861 72652F6B6F6E746163742F5174576562456E67696E652F4465 6661756C742F506C6174666F726D204E6F7469666963617469 6F6E73
2F4C4F434B pid=151026 comm="snap-confine" requested_mask="wr" denied_mask="wr" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000
[133855.940301] audit: type=1400 audit(1779821437.947:6364): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_inherit" class="file" profile="/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine" n
ame=2F686F6D652F646F6E616C642F2E6C6F63616C2F736861 72652F6B6F6E746163742F5174576562456E67696E652F4465 6661756C742F506C6174666F726D204E6F7469666963617469 6F6E73
2F4D414E49464553542D303030303031 pid=151026 comm="snap-confine" requested_mask="a" denied_mask="a" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000
[134467.974923] kauditd_printk_skb: 28 callbacks suppressed
[134467.974926] audit: type=1400 audit(1779822049.981:6393): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" class="file" profile="snap.firmware-updater.firmware-notifie
r" name="/proc/sys/vm/max_map_count" pid=151876 comm="firmware-notifi" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=0
[138676.781711] wlp2s0: disconnect from AP 0a:58:28:17:27:82 for new auth to 02:58:28:17:27:82
[138676.845107] wlp2s0: 80 MHz not supported, disabling VHT
[138676.861922] wlp2s0: authenticate with 02:58:28:17:27:82 (local address=ec:2e:98:c1:75:c1)
[138676.873478] wlp2s0: send auth to 02:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[138676.982289] wlp2s0: send auth to 02:58:28:17:27:82 (try 2/3)
[138676.985027] wlp2s0: authenticated
[138676.986288] wlp2s0: associate with 02:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[138676.992127] wlp2s0: RX ReassocResp from 02:58:28:17:27:82 (capab=0x1c31 status=0 aid=3)
[138677.006072] wlp2s0: associated
[138677.056894] wlp2s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by 02:58:28:17:27:82
[139013.518908] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, device number 2
[139141.648454] usb 2-2: new SuperSpeed USB device number 3 using xhci_hcd
[139141.667381] usb 2-2: New USB device found, idVendor=154b, idProduct=1006, bcdDevice= 1.10
[139141.667386] usb 2-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[139141.667390] usb 2-2: Product: USB 3.2.1 FD
[139141.667392] usb 2-2: Manufacturer: PNY
[139141.667394] usb 2-2: SerialNumber: 07213C7F02956D35
[139141.668038] usb-storage 2-2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[139141.668367] scsi host0: usb-storage 2-2:1.0
[139142.705044] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access PNY USB 3.2.1 FD PMAP PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
[139142.705318] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[139142.808663] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 484362240 512-byte logical blocks: (248 GB/231 GiB)
[139142.809553] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is on
[139142.809557] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 45 00 80 00
[139142.810206] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[139142.814897] sda: sda1
[139142.815032] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
[139142.908934] /dev/sda1: Can't open blockdev
[139142.915590] EXT4-fs (sda1): INFO: recovery required on readonly filesystem
[139142.915595] EXT4-fs (sda1): write access unavailable, cannot proceed (try mounting with noload)
[139146.375638] /dev/sda1: Can't open blockdev
[139146.383289] EXT4-fs (sda1): INFO: recovery required on readonly filesystem
[139146.383294] EXT4-fs (sda1): write access unavailable, cannot proceed (try mounting with noload)
[139591.541410] wlp2s0: disconnect from AP 02:58:28:17:27:82 for new auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82
[139591.620910] wlp2s0: authenticate with 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (local address=ec:2e:98:c1:75:c1)
[139591.633486] wlp2s0: send auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[139591.734293] wlp2s0: send auth to 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 2/3)
[139591.736049] wlp2s0: authenticated
[139591.736276] wlp2s0: associate with 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (try 1/3)
[139591.740168] wlp2s0: RX ReassocResp from 0a:58:28:17:27:82 (capab=0x1931 status=0 aid=5)
[139591.750621] wlp2s0: associated
[139591.792729] wlp2s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by 0a:58:28:17:27:82
[142547.619499] input: Grado GW100 (AVRCP) as /devices/virtual/input/input27
[142550.743303] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142560.748337] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142570.749296] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142580.753286] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142590.756305] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142600.761295] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142610.767763] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142619.267315] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142620.771323] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142630.776310] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142640.781314] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142650.781330] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142660.784309] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142670.789298] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142679.269316] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142680.789331] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142690.792312] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142700.792344] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142710.794307] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142720.794308] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142730.797289] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142740.797317] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142750.799326] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142760.805332] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142770.805297] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142780.808290] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142790.807325] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142800.810292] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142810.810326] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142819.798697] /dev/sda1: Can't open blockdev
[142819.805938] EXT4-fs (sda1): INFO: recovery required on readonly filesystem
[142819.805943] EXT4-fs (sda1): write access unavailable, cannot proceed (try mounting with noload)
[142820.812329] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142823.302994] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, device number 3
[142830.820296] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142840.818318] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142850.820303] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142860.825293] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142870.830520] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142887.008554] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142905.473297] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142921.238324] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142937.670303] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142954.951565] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142972.155299] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[142987.643286] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143003.656563] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143020.733314] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143036.889558] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143052.729541] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143069.334563] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143085.759304] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143103.421331] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143108.036155] audit: type=1400 audit(1779830690.042:6394): apparmor="ALLOWED" operation="open" class="file" profile="libreoffice-soffice" name="/usr/share
/kubuntu-default-settings/kf5-settings/kdeglobals" pid=86127 comm="soffice.bin" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=0
[143108.036247] audit: type=1400 audit(1779830690.042:6395): apparmor="ALLOWED" operation="open" class="file" profile="libreoffice-soffice" name="/home/dona
ld/.config/kdedefaults/kdeglobals" pid=86127 comm="soffice.bin" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000
[143121.601339] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143127.435565] JFS: nTxBlock = 8192, nTxLock = 65536
[143127.641170] SGI XFS with ACLs, security attributes, realtime, quota, no debug enabled
[143138.416627] usb 2-2: new SuperSpeed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[143138.437950] usb 2-2: New USB device found, idVendor=154b, idProduct=1006, bcdDevice= 1.10
[143138.437958] usb 2-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[143138.437961] usb 2-2: Product: USB 3.2.1 FD
[143138.437964] usb 2-2: Manufacturer: PNY
[143138.437966] usb 2-2: SerialNumber: 07213C7F02956D35
[143138.438687] usb-storage 2-2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[143138.438917] scsi host0: usb-storage 2-2:1.0
[143138.746553] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143139.505646] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access PNY USB 3.2.1 FD PMAP PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
[143139.506139] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[143139.609734] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 484362240 512-byte logical blocks: (248 GB/231 GiB)
[143139.610680] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is on
[143139.610684] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 45 00 80 00
[143139.611383] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[143139.616134] sda: sda1
[143139.616244] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
[143156.259350] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143174.356305] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143190.744561] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143209.892350] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143227.172563] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143243.927553] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143261.094314] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143278.772568] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837
[143298.070308] Bluetooth: hci0: ACL packet for unknown connection handle 3837

[Schwarzer Kater]

… and how about claydoh's suggestion to use dd in any way first to get rid of the partition table(s) (post # 13) ?

[papapenguin]

yes, here it is:

donald@donald:~$ sudo dd if=/dev/zero bs=1M count=10 of=/dev/sda
[sudo] password for donald:
dd: failed to open '/dev/sda': Read-only file system

[Schwarzer Kater]

sudo sfdisk --delete /dev/sda
or
sudo parted /dev/sda mklabel gpt
or
write sth. to /dev/sda with e.g. cat - sudo cat /dev/zero > /dev/sda?

…out of ideas for now.

[papapenguin]

here are these commands:

donald@donald:~$ sudo sfdisk --delete /dev/sda
[sudo] password for donald:
sfdisk: cannot open /dev/sda: No such file or directory
donald@donald:~$ sudo sfdisk --delete /dev/sda1
sfdisk: cannot open /dev/sda1: No such file or directory

donald@donald:~$ sudo parted /dev/sda mklabel gpt
Error: Could not stat device /dev/sda - No such file or directory.
Retry/Cancel? r
Error: Could not stat device /dev/sda - No such file or directory.
Retry/Cancel? r
Error: Could not stat device /dev/sda - No such file or directory.
Retry/Cancel? ^C

donald@donald:~$ sudo cat /dev/zero > /dev/sda
bash: /dev/sda: Permission denied
donald@donald:~$ sudo cat /dev/zero > /dev/sda1
bash: /dev/sda1: Permission denied

[Schwarzer Kater]

I am sorry none of this was successful (all commands do work here with an old USB stick…).
And I hope somebody else has more ideas and that one of those will actually help with your borked USB stick.

[Snowhog]

Was it asked? Can you access this USB device on a Windows pc?

[claydoh]

I have a suspicion

[Snowhog]

I bought the USB new

What Brand? Bought from where? What was the advertised size?

[papapenguin]

It's a PNY 256gb stick that I bought new a couple weeks ago. I have several of these in various sizes that all seem to be fine...except this turd. I did fire up the old windows computer, which saw the USB and displayed that it had to be formatted. I tried and it failed there too. I don't recall the exact error, but I believe it was something about it being 'read-only'.

I did have a few files on the USB, then used Kup to format and create a backup -- and that was the last time it could be read.

[Schwarzer Kater]

How about returning it then and getting a new one under warranty?

[papapenguin]

I ended up doing just that -- returned it and got a new one.