Why I can't not mount my USB

zhuqlfeixia · 01-24-2006, 01:09 AM

Hi,everybody

I'm using the Redhat9.0
I use "mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb" to mount my USB,and it's successful.
But today I try again, it dosen't work! I don't know why.....
The system says:

[root@localhost root]# mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb
mount: /dev/sda1 is not a valid block device

and then :
[root@localhost root]# fsck /dev/sda1
fsck 1.32 (09-Nov-2002)
e2fsck 1.32 (09-Nov-2002)
fsck.ext2: No such device or address while trying to open /dev/sda1
Possibly non-existent or swap device?

What's the reason?
Could somebody tell me?
Thanks!

jschiwal · 01-24-2006, 02:50 AM

To check the device use:
fsck -t vfat /dev/sda1
ext2 is a linux filesystem.

Also, if this is a memory stick, be sure to use the 'noatime' option.

Linux.tar.gz · 01-24-2006, 02:55 AM

Can you explain what noatime do please? I read man mount, but i don't exactly understand what it do.

nx5000 · 01-24-2006, 03:16 AM

noatime will prevent ext2/ext3 files(inode of the file) from seing their "accesstime" changed whenever you access them.

This is to speed up disk access and also to not write anything to the disk if you just edit a file without even modifying it.

It's a good thing for flashmemory as they have a limited number of accesses.

The thing is that it is not honoured by vfat so it's useless for vfat.

Linux.tar.gz · 01-24-2006, 04:20 AM

Thanx for this info!

nx5000 · 01-24-2006, 04:24 AM

Y a pas de quoi

ari_sant · 01-24-2006, 06:52 AM

I am use KNOPPIX 4.02 and install to my HD, Its OKE but if my USB plugin the ICON can not automatically display on DESKTOP,
Why ????
I ever use as same way with KNOPPIX 3.8 No problem and no problem like that
Thank U

Dtsazza · 01-24-2006, 07:50 AM

First off, you'd be better off starting your own thread rather than dredging one up from four months ago (if only because threads with no replies get auto-bumped amongst other things).

Anyway, without more information your question is very difficult to diagnose. Can you mount the memory stick? When you plug it in, does the kernel see it (look for "new USB device detected"-style messages in the output from 'dmesg')? Do you have a line in /etc/fstab relating to your memory stick? If I had to guess, I'd say that last one's most likely the problem.

zhuqlfeixia · 01-24-2006, 10:04 AM

to Dtsazza：I really don't understand your means, I have the problem,so I write out it.
when I reboot my system,I can mount the USB,I don't understand.........
It seems lot's of people have the same problem. Why there is'n a exact solution?

nx5000 · 01-24-2006, 10:19 AM

First the mount -t vfat .. is the good line.
the fsck will not work on vfat

Have you tried reading it on another OS like windows?
I'm wondering if you did not unplug the usb without unmounting it, or if you didn't format it with something else.

what gives this:
modprobe vfat if it is not in lsmod
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb
?

edit:
oops, from your first post:
fsck.ext2: No such device or address while trying to open /dev/sda1

this would indicate that you have a usb problem.

Code:

fdisk -l

Dtsazza · 01-25-2006, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zhuqlfeixia

to Dtsazza：I really don't understand your means, I have the problem,so I write out it.

I was responding to ari_sant's post... which demonstrates another reason why you should start your own thread

It seems like your problem is caused by the USB subsystem not detecting the USB device and mapping /dev/sda1 to it. You might want to look at the output of 'dmesg' to see if there's any clues there to why this isn't happening (there's usually a good eight or so lines when you connect a USB device to tell you what the kernel's doing).