And after you plug the unrecognized standard USB external drives, can you please collect and upload a sosreport file? (the tool tells you the filename it generates.)
$ sudo sosreport --all-logs --batch --case-id 1863396 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to util-linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1863396 Title: Unable to mkfs.ext4 a 64T Drobo 5DS consumer raid device. Formatted easily on MX Linux. Status in util-linux package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: I'm also having trouble getting it to recognize some other standard USB external drives. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10 Package: util-linux 2.34-0.1ubuntu2.2 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-29.31-generic 5.3.13 Uname: Linux 5.3.0-29-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.2 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME Date: Fri Feb 14 19:21:55 2020 InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-01-17 (28 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017) ProcEnviron: PATH=(custom, no user) XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: util-linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+bug/1863396/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp