USB Drives
 

OK i´ve got a 128mb USB Flashdrive, and an ipod, and i connect them through my USB Ports and Linux can never ever recognise them, so is there any solution to this?

Please post information about what you do, which OS version you use, kernel version, etc.

ok i plug in the USB drive, and nufin happens what so ever... and i use Mandrake 10.1 and i duno what kernal i use? how can i find that out? i´ve only just installed mandrake 10.1 so i guess it would be the standard 1

You need to create a mount point for these devices. When I use my flashdrive with slackware, I mount it at /dev/sda1.
To create a mount point, you use the command 'mkdir' (make directory) without the quotes. example: mkdir /mnt/sda1
Also, you must add a line to your /etc/fstab file. something like this:
/dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1 vfat noauto,users,ro 0 0
not sure about the ipod, haven't hooked my ipod up to my pc with slackware.

ok, i´ve made the directory of /dev/sda1, now im trying to add a like to fstab that line being
/dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1 vfat noauto,users,ro 0 0
but yea i add that line but i cant save it, and then i try to open it up when im in root in a Konsole session, and it says
¨[root@localhost etc]# ./fstab
bash: ./fstab: Permission denied¨
so how do i create that line in fstab?

/etc/fstab is a text file you have to edit with an editor

Aside from that, you should be able to mount it with

# mkdir /mnt/usb or /mnt/whatever you want
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb

That's all it took to mount my mp3 player....... ymmv

ok, i try and edit it with emacs, kate or kwrite and yea still wont save it or anything...... and i go into properties of fstab and i cant change it from being a read only file....

You have to edit it as root

and how do i edit in root?

Open a console, type su <enter> then your root password and then start your favorite editor such as pico

$ su
# pico /etc/fstab

Mandrake most always automounts your USB devices automatically unless you delibertly disable them. After you plug your Thumbdrive in check for an existing mount point. Just type:

mount <enter>

Look for something like:
/dev/sda1 on /mnt/???

then try to list contents:
ls -al /mnt/???

If it is not mounted check your fstab for a mount point and then mount the drive:

cat /etc/fstab

KC