To say I'm new to Linux is an understatement. I installed my first Linux (RH5.3)system yesterday and stuck with all of the defaults. I then installed VMware Workstation for Linux and built my first VM Linux. I was on a roll until I tried to access some ISO files that I store on an external USB drive that was previously only used with XP or 2k3 server. I get error stating that my system does not support NTFS. I've read several threads on this - and there seems there's a work around, but the "try this" in the threads are beyond my remedial Linux knowledge. I'd like help with two things. First, is there a way to mount my Seagate Freeagent drive formated with NTFS so I can access my ISO files? If yes, is there a doc (or can you respond with enough detail) that can help a newbie get through it?

Second, can someone recommend a good reference manual that I should invest in?

Based on another thread, I've included the last 20 lines of my dmesg output. Thanks in advance for the help.

usb 1-3: USB disconnect, address 6
usb 1-3: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 7
usb 1-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
scsi6 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
usb-storage: device found at 7
usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Go Rev: 100F
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 04
SCSI device sdb: 312581808 512-byte hdwr sectors (160042 MB)
sdb: Write Protect is off
sdb: Mode Sense: 1c 00 00 00
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 312581808 512-byte hdwr sectors (160042 MB)
sdb: Write Protect is off
sdb: Mode Sense: 1c 00 00 00
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi disk sdb
sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
usb-storage: device scan complete

Take a look at this link...it should get you going on the right track.

http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_80_4297.shtm

Saptech - The link you referred me to references dual boot machines. If I don't want to dual boot - I'm assuming I'll get the same functionality? The article was also posted in 2006 - has anything gotten better or different? TIA

You may need to install 'ntfs-3g' driver for read/write access for ntfs format. Then you should be able to mount the external hard drive. I'm not sure if it's in Red Hat's repositories but you should be able to find some rpm's someplace online.