Re: 2.6.23-rc9-git4: pata_pcmcia, disabling IRQ #9 and Re: libata and legacy ide pcmcia failure

["Peter F. Patel-Schneider" <pfps@verizon.net>]

Hi:

There have been several threads related to continuing problems with CF 
flash memory card in PCMCIA adapters not being recognized and leading to 
traces like:
Mar 20 19:51:44 idefix kernel: pccard: PCMCIA card inserted into slot 0
Mar 20 19:51:44 idefix kernel: pcmcia: registering new device pcmcia0.0
Mar 20 19:51:45 idefix kernel: scsi17 : pata_pcmcia
Mar 20 19:51:45 idefix kernel: ata12: PATA max PIO0 cmd 0xa100 ctl 
0xa10e irq 3
Mar 20 19:52:15 idefix kernel: ata12.00: qc timeout (cmd 0x91)
Mar 20 19:52:15 idefix kernel: ata12.00: failed to IDENTIFY 
(INIT_DEV_PARAMS failed, err_mask=0x4)
Mar 20 19:52:15 idefix kernel: ata12: failed to recover some devices, 
retrying in 5 secs
Mar 20 19:52:50 idefix kernel: ata12.00: qc timeout (cmd 0x91)
Mar 20 19:52:50 idefix kernel: ata12.00: failed to IDENTIFY 
(INIT_DEV_PARAMS failed, err_mask=0x4)
Mar 20 19:52:50 idefix kernel: ata12: failed to recover some devices, 
retrying in 5 secs

I, too, am experiencing this problem (and have been for about a year).  
Currently I'm running
2.6.24.3-34.fc8 #1 SMP on a Thinkpad T61p, but the problem has surfaced 
in all recent (to me) kernels.  I've tried with two different PCMCIA CF 
adapters and quite a few CF cards - all exhibit the same broken behaviour.

I can't find a resolution.  If there isn't one I'm willing to donate one 
of my adapters and a CF card so that anyone with a PCMCIA slot can test 
out the situation.

By the way, the problem occurs for me on insertion into a running 
system.  If I boot with the PCMCIA adapter and CF card in, I either get 
a freeze during udev startup (until I remove the card and then the 
system works fine) or I get the card mounted as a disk, and everything 
works fine.  I'm willing to provide more information about these two 
situations if anyone is interested.  The same CF card works fine when 
put into a USB multi-card reader as well.

Peter F. Patel-Schneider
Bell Labs Research

PS:  Please cc me directly if possible on replies, thanks.