reiserfs file system failed under checking. now cant be accessed

[hat_monkey]

just for something to do though i would check my reiserfs for errors.
it failed to complete checking and now cannot be accessed.
checking again and it will stop in the same place.
is there a recovery possible?
detail available if needed.

[hat_monkey]

root@knx531:~# sudo reiserfsck --rebuild-tree /dev/sda3
.....


####### Pass 2 #######

Pass 2:
0%....20%....40%....60%....80%....100% left 0, 29 /sec
Flushing..finished
Leaves inserted item by item 264
Pass 3 (semantic):
####### Pass 3 #########

.....


/knoppixfromtoshiba/kingston18.9.2007/energy/sei.org/inverter_filesrebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [256994 260661] ("siei%20logo%20h%20174.jpg") in directory [256994 260611] points to nowhere - is removed
/knoppixfromtoshiba/kingston18.9.2007/energy/sei.org/inverter_filesrebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [256994 260657] ("panel%20h%20174.JPG") in directory [256994 260611] points to nowhere - is removed
/knoppixfromtoshiba/kingston30.8.2007/energy/enel/renewables.asp_filesThe directory [231615 231617] had wrong mode ?--------- - corrected to d---------
rebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [231615 231617] ("renewables.asp_files") in directory [227593 231615] points to nowhere - is removed
vpf-10650: The directory [227593 231615] has the wrong size in the StatData (208) - corrected to (168)
.oppixfromtoshiba/kingston30.8.2007/energy/angstrom/technology_refueling_filessemantic_rebuild.c 563 get_next_directory_item
get_next_directory_item: item [231520 231610 0x7169a100 DIR (3)]: hidden entry 0 ''

Aborted
root@knx531:

[hat_monkey]

now in puppeee4.4rc2 with the debian tools mentioned at http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/repairing-reiserfs-file-system-with-reiserfsck.html installed and using the code there too.


#reiserfsck --scan-whole-partition --rebuild-tree /dev/sdc3
####### Pass 1 #######
Looking for allocable blocks .. finished
0%....20%....40%....60%....80%....100% left 0, 136 /sec
Flushing..finished
70611 leaves read
63307 inserted
- pointers in indirect items pointing to metadata 1389 (zeroed)
7304 not inserted
non-unique pointers in indirect items (zeroed) 279728
####### Pass 2 #######

Pass 2:
0%.rewrite_file: 2 items of file [2 8057] moved to [2 56] left 14004, 14 /sec
..rewrite_file: 2 items of file [337507 337509] moved to [337507 64] 35 /sec
rewrite_file: 3 items of file [337507 337512] moved to [337507 65]
.rewrite_file: 2 items of file [291878 291879] moved to [291878 67]45 /sec
20%.

;;;;;;

s: The entry [359717 359745] ("thorntree.lonelyplanet.html") in directory [281778 359717] points to nowhere - is removed
/knoppixaftercrash8.3.2008/Desktop/variouswebzipped6.10.2007rebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [359717 359744] ("weatherunderground_files") in directory [281778 359717] points to nowhere - is removed
/knoppixaftercrash8.3.2008/Desktop/variouswebzipped6.10.2007rebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [359717 359743] ("bluetooth and mobile phone_files") in directory [281778 359717] points to nowhere - is removed
rebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [359717 359736] ("videoDL_files") in directory [281778 359717] points to nowhere - is removed
/knoppixaftercrash8.3.2008/Desktop/variouswebzipped6.10.2007rebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [359717 359722] ("5RamaNine54Hostel-Bangkok-6328_files") in directory [281778 359717] points to nowhere - is removed
/knoppixaftercrash8.3.2008/Desktop/variouswebzipped6.10.2007rebuild_semantic_pass: The entry [359717 359718] ("wirelessEdgy_files") in directory [281778 359717] points to nowhere - is removed
vpf-10680: The directory [281778 359717] has the wrong block count in the StatData (2) - corrected to (3)
vpf-10650: The directory [281778 359717] has the wrong size in the StatData (896) - corrected to (1072)
... /Desktop/kingston17.10.2007/energy/hydro/Aslom/7337.EN.php_files/x_event.jsbread: Cannot read the block (1579390302): (Invalid argument).
Segmentation fault
#

[hat_monkey]

debian tool alluded to above is reiserfsprogs_3.6.21-1_i386.deb
gparted also fails to "check" the partition but can now see it correctly with the debin tool installed.

[hat_monkey]

hit it again:
[QUOTE]
#reiserfsck --scan-whole-partition --rebuild-tree /dev/sdc3

Pass 1 (will try to insert 73412 leaves):
####### Pass 1 #######
Looking for allocable blocks .. finished
0%....20%....40%....60%....80%....100% left 0, 111 /sec
Flushing..finished
73412 leaves read
65005 inserted
- pointers in indirect items pointing to metadata 8 (zeroed)
8407 not inserted
non-unique pointers in indirect items (zeroed) 1414543
####### Pass 2 #######

Pass 2:
0%....rewrite_file: 7 items of file [106 5033] moved to [106 9182]3697, 70 /sec
20%....40%..vpf-10260: The file we are inserting the new item (210119 210144 0x921 DRCT (2), len 1008, location 3088 entry count 65535, fsck need 1, format new) into has no StatData, insertion was skipped


vpf-10260: The file we are inserting the new item (197904 197929 0x1 DRCT (2), len 1160, location 2936 entry count 65535, fsck need 0, format new) into has no StatData, insertion was skipped
100% left 0, 111 /sec
Flushing..finished
Leaves inserted item by item 8407
Pass 3 (semantic):
####### Pass 3 #########


[... /Snap Images/images26.6.2007singhatyaistungtrenglaos/Strungtrengevening.jpgvpf-10680: The file [312694 312696] has the wrong block count in the StatData (72) - corrected to (0)
... /Snap Images/images26.6.2007singhatyaistungtrenglaos/Cambo-viet -mekong.jpgvpf-10680: The file [312694 312695] has the wrong block count in the StatData (56) - corrected to (0)
... sh8.3.2008/Desktop/afrom17.11.2007/k9.3.2007/simpleTheory/main4.jhtml_filesSegmentation fault
#
/QUOTE]

[hat_monkey]

next

# reiserfsck --rebuild-sb /dev/sdc3
reiserfsck 3.6.21 (2009 www.namesys.com)

************************************************** ***********
** If you are using the latest reiserfsprogs and it fails **
** please email bug reports to reiserfs-list@namesys.com, **
** providing as much information as possible -- your **
** hardware, kernel, patches, settings, all reiserfsck **
** messages (including version), the reiserfsck logfile, **
** check the syslog file for any related information. **
** If you would like advice on using this program, support **
** is available for $25 at www.namesys.com/support.html. **
************************************************** ***********

Will check superblock and rebuild it if needed
Will put log info to 'stdout'

Do you want to run this program?[N/Yes] (note need to type Yes if you do):Yes
rebuild-sb: wrong tree height occured (65535), zeroed
Reiserfs super block in block 16 on 0x823 of format 3.6 with standard journal
Count of blocks on the device: 14516720
Number of bitmaps: 444
Blocksize: 4096
Free blocks (count of blocks - used [journal, bitmaps, data, reserved] blocks): 14516720
Root block: 0
Filesystem is clean
Tree height: 0
Hash function used to sort names: "r5"
Objectid map size 972, max 972
Journal parameters:
Device [0x0]
Magic [0x3c1bcf6e]
Size 8193 blocks (including 1 for journal header) (first block 18)
Max transaction length 1024 blocks
Max batch size 900 blocks
Max commit age 30
Blocks reserved by journal: 0
Fs state field: 0xfa03:
FATAL corruptions exist.
some corruptions exist.
sb_version: 2
inode generation number: 220346
UUID: 81549513-7077-4933-9fde-bd216d80e1cd
LABEL:
Set flags in SB:
ATTRIBUTES CLEAN
Mount count: 11
Maximum mount count: Disabled. Run fsck.reiserfs(8) or use tunefs.reiserfs(8) to enable.
Last fsck run: Never with a version that supports this feature.
Check interval in days: Disabled. Run fsck.reiserfs(8) or use tunefs.reiserfs(8) to enable.
Is this ok ? (y/n)[n]: y
The fs may still be unconsistent. Run reiserfsck --check.

#

what next?

[hat_monkey]

back to where we started

# reiserfsck --check /dev/sdc3
reiserfsck 3.6.21 (2009 www.namesys.com)

************************************************** ***********
** If you are using the latest reiserfsprogs and it fails **
** please email bug reports to reiserfs-list@namesys.com, **
** providing as much information as possible -- your **
** hardware, kernel, patches, settings, all reiserfsck **
** messages (including version), the reiserfsck logfile, **
** check the syslog file for any related information. **
** If you would like advice on using this program, support **
** is available for $25 at www.namesys.com/support.html. **
************************************************** ***********

Will read-only check consistency of the filesystem on /dev/sdc3
Will put log info to 'stdout'

Do you want to run this program?[N/Yes] (note need to type Yes if you do):Yes
###########
reiserfsck --check started at Mon Jun 20 15:10:46 2011
###########
Replaying journal: Done.
Reiserfs journal '/dev/sdc3' in blocks [18..8211]: 0 transactions replayed
Checking internal tree..

Bad root block 0. (--rebuild-tree did not complete)

Aborted
#

[hat_monkey]

partially solved.
hit it one more time with

reiserfsck --scan-whole-partition --rebuild-tree /dev/sdc3 this time with two256mb swapfiles plus my 512MB ram
vpf-10680: The file [402724 402725] has the wrong block count in the StatData (48) - corrected to (24)
Flushing..finished7, 104 /sec
Objects without names 13506
Empty lost dirs removed 208
Dirs linked to /lost+found: 1439
Dirs without stat data found 67
Files linked to /lost+found 12067
Objects having used objectids: 3187
files fixed 2637
dirs fixed 550
Pass 4 - finished done 59824, 82 /sec
Deleted unreachable items 2689
Flushing..finished
Syncing..finished
###########
reiserfsck finished at Tue Jun 21 05:36:21 2011
###########
#

i can now access the files. 20G out of 35 G is now in " lost and found" folder without names to the files just icons and numbers for names.
also cant resize or check the partition in gparted..

[OErjan]

backup ASAP, you will soon experience 100% file loss
looks like disk is physically damaged

[hat_monkey]

backup ASAP, you will soon experience 100% file loss
looks like disk is physically damaged
yes it is all to easy to trot this well worn advice out and sweep it under the carpet as solved.
but this is a drive i have used since new only as a usb connected external drive for occassional backup of my netbook. it is in a plastic encasing which has no signs of any damage at all,
have run the make tree again to try to solve the problem and it has failed to finnish on the next three occassions. it goes 95% of the way then aborts. assuming that i never succeeed in getting it to complete there is vast amounts of readable data that current tools cannot access and recover..
some of the data on this disk comes from usb flash drives that were used often in windows computers at internet cafes. these flash drives often caught viruses and these virus were inadvertently copied to the reiserfs drive during backup of these flashdrives and linux netbook.
recently had a solely linux used fat32 partition on sdcard that also dumped total number-named files of the whole partition into / after being fsck'ed. so i am wondering if there is any related problem and possible virus relation.

[OErjan]

Oh, never said it was solved, just told you to BACKUP! reason being the rebuilding can actually make damage WORSE if it is physical, if there dust or similar on the disk it will make the head jump and create more damage when it hits the face...

uhm, just to let you know, I have had disks less than one year old in stationary low load backup-server (say 2 hours/day) standing in climate controlled room (temp, humidity...) die from physical failure, I dare not think how easy it would be to damage an external drive, just moving it while spinning can do this and as some can still spin quite a while (1min+) after they are disconnected...
There are quite a few things that can go wrong with any filesystem, journaling ones like Reiser, EXT3... are better but far from failsafe.
is there a second journal somewhere else on the disk that you can try rebuilding from? there should be.