[tlug] Mac OS X: bad super block has become Unsupported sector size (0)

[Jean-Christian Imbeault <jc.imbeault@example.com>]

I've just 'lost' access to an external USB drive on my Mac.

I've been having problems with this drive for a while, trying to
delete specific files in the Trash (using either command line or GUI),
would cause the Mac to crash. So I just left the files as-is and kept
using the drive. This morning I though I would try to solve this and
I've made matters worse.

First I tried to fsck the HDD and it complained about a bad
superblock. It tried to use alternate superblocks but couldn't find
any suitable ones. I manually forced it to use the first alternat
using fsck -b 32 but it still complained, same for trying to use the
last one.

I then did a newfs on the HDD thinking this would regenerate the
superblocks. I may have erred here ... not sure ... this didn't seem
to do anything. I tried fsck again but no change.

I then decided to upgrade my OS X from 10.5 to 10.6.7. Now the mac
doesn't recognize the HDD at all and refuses to mount it.

mount says:
macmini:~ jci$ sudo /sbin/mount_msdos /dev/disk1s1 /Volumes/ELEMENTS/
mount_msdos: Unsupported sector size (0)

I don't know if it was the newfs or the OS upgrade but where before I
at least had working HDD with issues, I know have issues and no
working HDD.

I'd be happy at this point if I could just mount the drive so I can
move my files off it to a new HDD. I've tried slapping the HDD on a PC
but it also won't mount it.

At this stage, is there anything I can do?

Thanks!

Jc

PS I do have a Linux box hanging around I could connect the HDD if
it's more up to the task for this type of work.