Running Mepis from the live CD and logging in with the Demo ID my USB memory stick is detected faultlessly. Click on the desktop icon and you're away.

After installing Mepis 3.4.3 my normal user ID set up at installation cannot access the same device. I get an error message "mount: can't find /dev/sda1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab" when I click on the icon.

However if I use Konqueror as root, then I can access it via Storage Media.

It seems obvious even to such a newbie as me that there must be a difference in the permissions the demo user has on the live CD and those I have after installing.

What changes do I need to make? I'll be most grateful for any guidance.

How your /etc/fstab look like?

# Pluggable devices are handled by uDev, they are not in fstab /dev/hdb1 / ext3 defaults,noatime 1 1 /dev/hdb2 swap swap sw,pri=1 0 0 none /proc proc defaults 0 0 none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devmode=0666 0 0 none /dev/pts devpts mode=0622 0 0 none /sys sysfs defaults 0 0 /dev/hdb3 /home ext3 defaults,noatime 1 2 # Dynamic entries below, identified by 'users' option /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1 ntfs noauto,users,exec,ro,umask=0222 0 0

I had a look in udev, seeing the comment in the first line, but there's a lot there and I don't know where to go next.

Having similar prob here, just checked to see if my "user" was in the "plugdev" group.
They weren't, so added "plugdev" to that user, rebooted, and USB mem key now is mounted.

But... no file show on the key.... duh... closer but.
I'm using earlier test version/rc of SM than you.
Your version of SM 3.4-3 should work with USB keys, check with another brand of key or two to make sure it's not just that brand of key that's not working.
You may need to update your hal and a couple of other related files.
More on that latter when I find which ones they are.
You adjust your "user" group with "User Manager (Kuser)"
NH
edit; also went into groups , plugdev, and added hal to the plugdev group, no improvment.
I notice that SM 6.0a has a haldaemon user/group which is in the plugdev group as well, looking into this...

edit; edit; added this "haldaemon user/group" (not that I have ever done this before, so maybe the wrong way of doing it) and added/joined same as SM 6.0a... still no joy, getting closer.

The point is that it works fine as root and from the live cd. It only doesn't work for me as user. Can only be a settings issue. I just don't know where to look.

I'd look in KUser.

I opened Kuser found my user ID, double clicked and found my user properties, and put a tick in camera (that'll be useful later) and plugdev (I was already in usb, which was to be expected as that's how my keyboard, mouse, printer, etc are connected).

My problem was that seeing I was in USB I stopped. Having been prodded with a sharp stick (for which thank you) I continued and found all I wanted.

Having used and taught Windows for years I know it inside out and can usually solve a problem easily. With Linux I have not yet got a clear picture of how it works and where the settings are and when something goes wrong, where to look.

But I will learn. I'll be 80 before I've got the same experience with Linux as I have with Windows, but while the marbles are still rattling around in the cranium, there is hope.

Many thanks.

Check here;
http://www.mepislovers.org/modules/n...15486&forum=14
It's also worth doing a synaptic "Name & Description" search for other files associated to "hal" to make sure you get them all when doing a hal update/upgrade.
NH

At WW,
I'd only read about the issue with memory sticks. Don't own one yet...haven't needed one......yet.
Didn't mean to be abrupt, but I had no memory of what you needed to do, exactly, once you were there. And you did cover things well in your question, so I knew you'd 'get it'.