I got it going again by using a different USB port (no other changes). I don’t know if a port failed, the connector was dirty or the connection was marginal. The SDR tested ok with rtl_test on my PC. The dump1090-fa logs cycled between finding a device and not finding a device. The dmesg output was lengthy and I’m not sure how to interpret it. Thanks @ wiedehopf for the link to the debug commands.
I have just (out of the blue) experienced exactly the same error on my one Panasonic Toughbook (32-bit) Ubuntu 18.04 machine that I converted to run dump1090-fa (with help from abcd567 and wiedehopf).
Several reboots and of course system update and upgrade commands all to no avail.
It is in the loft so, when I can get up there next, I will change the USB connection to see if this sorts it.
The Panasonic CF-18 Toughbook has 2 x USB ports. Tried the dongle in the other one and rebooted. Still no dump1090-fa.
I then tried a different dongle and cable, but a shared feed from the same aerial. Worked perfectly OK.
I was now suspecting the FA orange dongle that is normally connected to this Toughbook. But, I swapped back and rebooted and this wasd now all working fine again.
Both machine USB ports are working fine and now dump1090-fa also working fine.