new SuSe10 installed, cd rom and dvd won't play
 

I am trying a Linux os for the first time, sort of like learning a new language. I installed SuSe Linux 10, Linux Kernel 2.6.13, It seems to have loaded ok but when I put an audio cd rom in my cd rom or in my dvd drive, the pc recognizes the disk, but won't play and I get an error message that says ..."the application nautilus has suddenly quit". The pc has an AMD 2500 cpu with 1.gb of DDR2700 Ram, 512 cache, it should have enough juice to handle the os.

Hi

Welcome to LQ! You will find an enormous amount help here. I am not a Suse user, but if you are using the gnome or KDE desktop (which you probably are) look in the system/computer folder (the computer icon in gnome), and verify that you have an icon for the cd drive. You mention that your cd device is recognized. Try loading a data cd (you suse cd will be fine) and make sure that it is reading the cd. If it is, then you can narrow your problem down to applications. Nautilus is the gnome equivelent of Windows Explorer. You will need a music application to play your cd. Open an audio application (in gnome CD player is included). If it will not play, post the errors back here and we can isolate the problem.

Hope this helps,

Bob

I don't use GNOME on Suse, but from what you have mentioned above, it seems like Nautilus is the root cause of your problem. If you installed KDE, switch to KDE and insert data and audio discs. If they work fine in KDE, then the problem is indeed be nautilus. You may need to check for upgrades by running YAST -> Software -> Online Update.

Thanks for the prompt response. I am also getting an error message.....can't find /dev/hdc in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab.

Frankly that is Greek to me. what is "fstab" and "mtab"?

also note that the os won't read data cds either

What are the contents of the /etc/fstab file.

also have an audio test error...."failed to construct pipeline for ALSA", that was default sink
also got a "window testing pipeline is not responding" message and a "multimedia systems selection is not responding" message.

how do you find and get into the /etc/fstab file or the /eyc/mtab file?

All drives in linux have an entry in "/etc/fstab", which is a file in the /etc directory. An fstab entry looks like this:

/dev/cdrom<space>/media/cdrom<space>iso9660<space>noauto,user<space>0<space>0

/dev/cdrom is a symlink in /dev directory, which points to /dev/hdc. If you want to see symlinks, and what they point to do "ls -la | less" from a console window in the /dev directory. Use pgup, pgdn, arrows to navigate less. Some filenames will have a little arrow to another file. The second file is the target of the symlink. If fstab lists the cdrom, but there is no symlink in /etc pointing to /dev/hdc you have to make the symlink with:

ln -s /dev/hdc /dev/cdrom

But, you have to use the proper name that fstab uses. It might be /dev/cdrecorder.

/media/cdrom is the mount point. Every storage device in linux needs a mount point. Mount points are regular old directories you make with "mkdir <directory>" in a console window. Console is terminal. It is command line. Programs like terminal and console give you a console window. If you put a data CD in the drive and type:

mount /dev/hdc

or

mount /media/cdrom

The master optical drive should mount. That is the CD/DVD drive that is master. Those are collectively referred to as optical drives because they use light to read and write.

Iso9660 is the file system. Optical drives use iso9660. Sometimes this entry says "auto". After that is options. I just listed two common options. There may be more in your "/etc/fstab" file entry. Finally, the two zeroes are to determine which order this drive is checked during boot. 0 0 signifies never.

So, knowing which drive is master and which one is slave (CD and DVD), you will know which one is /dev/hdc (master) and /dev/hdd (slave). Make sure the necessary symlinks are in /dev, as specified in fstab. Also, make sure /dev/hdc and /dev/hdd exist. If they don't exist you have another problem. Once the proper symlinks exist the drives should work. The reason you are getting the error about no /dev/hdc in fstab or mtab is because what is in fstab and mtab to signify /dev/hdc is a symlink that doesn't exist yet. As another option, you could just change the first part of the CD and DVD entries in /etc/fstab to /dev/hdc and /dev/hdd. Then you don't have to make any symlinks.

I must also tell you, I was daunted when I started with linux. I didn't know what questions to ask. I didn't even want to use computers anymore. But, I am so glad I did not give up. Linux is like a never ending relationship with a very fine woman. Once you know her, she performs like you can't believe. But, until you know her whims she won't give you anything. Like any fine woman, linux will never give more than you do. She will always meet you to the extent you give her what she wants. You have to give linux what she wants before you can get what you want. And, good looks don't matter to linux. Everyone starts out without any advantages. Who she picks is the one who tried the hardest, and refused to give up in the face of failure. That is how you get every good thing in life. You never give up. You keep trying no matter what, and you reach out for help when you need it. I know you can do it. I have faith in you.

What exactly do you mean by play?

You can open the file with a text editor or start a console and run "cat /etc/fstab".

text editor? console?

Ok after doing all sorts of messing around, still can't get dvd or cd rom to play, getting message "unable to mount..."
under more information, the message is "can't find /dev/hdd/ in /etc/fstab or in /etc/mstab.
In fstab I do see /dev/hdb2 and /dev/hdb1 but no /dev/hdd.
Now what???

Richard,

Try this:

Start up yast control center. Hit Hardware and then hit CD-ROM drives.

Is your drive listed there and are the link and mount point have items listed?

cd rom drives won't play on SuSe10
 

both cd and dvd drives are listed, under device one is listed/dev/hdd
and the other as /dev/hdc.
nothing is listed under "link" or "mount point"