[Wlug] Missing /dev files

[vze284qe at verizon.net]

On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:25:28 -0400
Mike Frysinger <vapier at gentoo.org> wrote:

> On Sunday 30 March 2008, Chuck Noyes wrote:
> > I had mounted an external usb drive /dev/sdb2 onto /media/sdb2 and
> > was coping several mega-bytes of files to it when I got some I/O
> > errors. Then I noticed that all of my /dev/sdb* files were missing
> > from /dev.
> >
> > When I do an ls -al /dev, all the files are there except the sdb
> > files.
> >
> > How can I get these back? I'm running Ubuntu 'gutsy'
> > 2.6.20-16-generic.
> 
> the device nodes only exist as the kernel thinks the device exists.
> if you got I/O errors and then the device nodes disappeared, the
> kernel probably detached the device.  so even if you made the device
> nodes by hand, it wouldnt matter as the kernel still wouldnt think
> the device was attached. review your `dmesg` and if need be,
> unplug/plug in the USB device. -mike

Well....this is really strange!

I booted up another kernel a 2.6.18, and I noticed that the /dev/sdb*
files were still missing!  All of the other /dev files were there.

So I shut down the computer - power off, unplug, remove battery (it's a
laptop) and waited a minute. I reinstalled the battery, plugged it in
and booted up the usual kernel, et voila...the /dev/sdb* files
reappeared!!  All looks good!  Even Linux has some strangeness I guess. 

I don't know what caused this in the first place...transient lightning
bolts?  spurrious darktrons?

Anyway, it's working.   Thanks to all who offered help.

-Chuck

-- 
-Chuck