How to fix a COMRESET failed error?

After a new install on my newly-built HTPC, I can't boot! I end up in initramfs every time, and get lots of ata2: COMRESET failed (errno=16)

Full error here:

ata2.00 exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x6 frozen
ata2.00: cmd a0/01:00:00:60:00/00:00:00:00:00/a0 tag 0 dma 96 in res 40/00:00:00:00:00/00:00:00:00:00/00 Emask 0x4 (timeout)
ata2.00: status: { DRDY }
ata2.00: COMRESET failed (errno=16)

The machine:

• Board: ASUS AT3IONT-I Duluxe
• 2Gigs of OCZ Ram
• 80GB Western Digital Laptop Harddrive
• Ubuntu 11.04 Minimal

More details:

• I've done multiple re-installs
• I've done a disk check
• I've done a CPU check
• I've done a memory check
• I've filled the first and last million bytes with zeros using Ultimate Boot CD
• Checked SATA ports are enabled
• Tried RAID, SATA, and AHCI modes
• Tried all new sata cables.
• Tried booting Arch from a USB - similar error: [sda] No caching mode page present and Error: boot device didn't show up after 30 seconds, then chucked into initramfs.

Help?

1 Answer

I had this problem just now. Apparently it looks like a problem with a hard disk partition. I solved it like this:

• When you get initram, type exit.
• It gives you an menu with options. Select fsck.
• Let it scan the hard drive. When its done hit the return key and it will immediately take you to login screen.

I noticed that the /home was not mounted when I checked in the initramfs. This should be because of your hard drive. Everything was fine when I did a normal shutdown of my system a month ago. This just happend when I started it today.

Anyways my system is up now. :-)