SSD Formatting Fails with Timeout Error on Linux (Zorin OS)

Troubleshooting SSD Formatting Issues on Linux: Resolving Timeout Errors

Recently, many users working within Linux-based operating systems encounter challenges when attempting to format new SSD drives. One common issue is the appearance of timeout errors during the formatting process, which can hinder the utilization of the drive for various purposes—from installing portable operating systems to external data storage.

Scenario Overview

Suppose you’ve purchased a new SSD and intend to configure it for dual roles:

• Hosting a portable OS like Pop!_OS.
• Serving as external storage for downloads, documents, or media.

Despite your preparations, you might find that every attempt to format the drive results in errors, impeding your progress.

Typical Symptoms and Error Messages

A typical scenario involves using common Linux disk management tools such as fdisk or GParted, only to receive timeout errors or failed partitioning attempts. For example:

“Timeout error during disk formatting”

While the exact message might vary, the core issue is that the system cannot complete the formatting process successfully.

Common Troubleshooting Steps and Challenges

Here’s an overview of steps often taken in an attempt to resolve the issue:

1. Partition Deletion with fdisk
   Running sudo fdisk /dev/sdX to delete existing partitions and create a fresh partition table.

2. Disk Wiping with GParted
   Using GParted to attempt a complete wipe of the disk and set up a new partition table (e.g., GPT).

3. Ensuring Proper Unmounting
   Confirming the disk is not mounted before applying partition edits to prevent conflicts.

Despite these actions, the drive either retains old partitions, fails to apply changes, or throws timeout errors during formatting.

System Checks and Diagnostic Commands

To better understand the state of the drive, commands like the following are useful:

• sudo fdisk -l
  Reveals that the drive is detected by the system but may not be accessible for modifications.

• lvscan
  Returns no logical volumes associated with the drive, indicating an absence of active LVM configurations that could interfere with formatting.

Potential Causes

Several underlying causes might lead to these problems:

• Hardware issues: Faulty SSD or connection problems.
• Driver or firmware incompatibilities: Outdated drivers or incompatible firmware versions.
• Partitioning conflicts: Existing partition schemas or encrypted data interfering.
• System resource conflicts: Process