Big-time USB 2.0 problem
 

I'm running SuSE 8.2 Pro on a computer I put together myself for the first time. I have a USB 2.0 port connected to the mainboard, and just purchased a Canon Powershot A80 camera. After reading as many posts here for over a week on this subject, I STILL can't even get my computer to notice anything connected to the USB 2.0 port. I've tried the following:

installed gPhoto2, libusb, usbutils, and usbview
modprobe usb-storage
mkdir /mnt/usbstick
added to fstab: /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbstick vfat user,noauto,umask=0 0 0
examined "tail -s 3 -f /var/log/messages", "lsusb -v", "dmesg", "fdisk -l"
even installed USBview and NOTHING happens when I plug into the port.

I'll post any files upon request to help debug this thing. It looks like SuSE recognized there is a USB 2.0 port there, but I can't connect ANYTHING to it! appreciate your help in advance!

Just a thought...: are the USB ports enabled in the BIOS?

Yes, in my BIOS, the USB ports are all "ENABLED"

And in case anyone asks, I've tried variations of /dev/sda1 (sda2, sda3, sdb1, etc...blah blah blah...all with "not a valid block device").

Maybe I need to enable SCSI simulation. Will someone please give an easy way to check if SCSI emulation is on, and if not, to configure it in SuSE 8.2 Pro. Thanks in advance!!!!

What have you tried connecting? Have you tried gPhoto as root? You could compile a kernel just to make sure you have usb support.

What have I tried connecting? My camera. Yes, tried gPhoto as root. Recompile a kernel??? There should be an easy way to simply connect USB to SCSI emulation - I have a CD-R connected through SCSI. Come on pros...what's the answer here? I'm almost tempted to turn to the dark-side and have a dual-boot for Windows just to have this USB 2.0 working. If I can't figure this out, there is little hope for LINUX, and I do have much programming experience. Pitifull.

I agree that it's pittifull. Windows is probably better for you.

I went through the same tests with my Cannon A75, never got it to work connecting it directly with USB.
Instead I got a USB Card Reader which works fine. (Transcend, I think).
I realize this isn't the ideal way, having to sneaker-net your memory card every time, but I just can't
bring myself to building a windows computer just for my camera. I'm willing to put up with the
inconvenience, but that's a personal choice.

My card reader would not work until I disabled USB 2.0 support in the BIOS and ran it at USB 1.x speeds.
I believe this is because I am using 2.4.x kernel. The same card reader works fine at USB 2.0 speeds
when I booted a Knoppix CD with 2.6.x kernel.