HI, I'm new here and I have looked through the threads to try and find an answer to this but I can't see one. So here goes:

I am completely new to Linux. I am trying to move across from Windows XP. I have hit a problem with my install and I can't figure out how to resolve it. When I insert my USB key drive or my USB external HDD I can see them appear, but when I try to do anything with them I get a message that says "Access Denied", even if I try and change the permissions with the Properties Tab...

Maybe I am being blonde and missing something obvious... please throw me a bone here, I am trying. I'm using 10.1 with KDE.

Cheers
Linux Girl (uk)

using 10.1 of which distro? and did you try mounting it as root? most likely if you see them apear then all you need to do is edit your /etc/fstab entry for the drive to allow users to mount and access the drive.

Like I said...complete newbie to this. I am using SuSE 10.1 is that what you meant?

well yes, but that doesnt really help. have you tried any of the other suggestions i offered?

Like I said I'm completely new to Linux. I have looked for the file you mentioned, I found the etc folder, but the other file I can't find it, and in truth even if I did I am not sure what the hell I would need to do with it.... I'm not being awkward, I have just lived with Windows for so long that I have fallen victim to the dumbing down. Sorry :(

post us the results of the following commands.

mount

df -h

ls -l /mnt

cat /etc/fstab


You'll need to step away from the GUI(*windows*) and use a terminal session(command line)

sam0001@linux-j00d:~> mount
/dev/sda6 on / type reiserfs (rw,acl,user_xattr)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
debugfs on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,mode=0620,gid=5)
/dev/sda7 on /home type reiserfs (rw,acl,user_xattr)
/dev/sda1 on /windows/C type ntfs (ro,noexec,nosuid,nodev,gid=100,umask=0002,nls=utf8)
/dev/sda2 on /windows/D type vfat (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,gid=100,umask=0002,utf8=true)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
/dev/sdf1 on /media/USB_DISK type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,flush,uid=0,utf8,shortname=lower)

sam0001@linux-j00d:~> df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda6 21G 2.5G 18G 13% /
udev 248M 188K 248M 1% /dev
/dev/sda7 98G 63M 97G 1% /home
/dev/sda1 63G 5.1G 58G 9% /windows/C
/dev/sda2 2.9G 1.1G 1.9G 37% /windows/D
/dev/sdf1 968M 0 968M 0% /media/USB_DISK

sam0001@linux-j00d:~> ls -l /mnt
total 0

sam0001@linux-j00d:~> cat /etc/fstab
/dev/sda6 / reiserfs acl,user_xattr 1 1
/dev/sda7 /home reiserfs acl,user_xattr 1 2
/dev/sda1 /windows/C ntfs ro,users,gid=users,umask=0002,nls=utf8 0 0
/dev/sda2 /windows/D vfat users,gid=users,umask=0002,utf8=true 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /windows/E vfat users,gid=users,umask=0002,utf8=true 0 0
/dev/sda5 swap swap defaults 0 0
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs noauto 0 0
usbfs /proc/bus/usb usbfs noauto 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5 0 0


I'm hoping that's what you needed, I had the USB key drive inserted in case you needed any info about it...

Thanks
Linux Girl (uk)

Maybe this helps:
http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Users_Hav...isk_Partitions

Ok, it appears your USB is mounted on /medica/USB_DISK and not on /mnt like I thought. That's why your /mnt came back with 0 files

So now do a:

ls -l /media/USB_DISK

and post


Also while you're in the console do a:
cd /media/USB_DISK

and then do a:
ls -l


If it says you don't have permission then either sudo or su - to get to root and try the commands. Also how many USB devices or SCSI devices do you have on this machine?

If you log out as the user and log back in as root - try the usb disc then and see if it works. That will tell us if it is what is called a permission problem.

With Windows it is generally set up so that a user can do anything but with Linux things are more permission based. So to do certain things you have to have the permissions set correctly. The root user has permissions set to do everything. So if you try your usb disk and it does not work as the root user - it will tell us that it is a problem elsewhere. Hope this makes some sense!

First off thanks up front... i used to be into this hardcore, then had to get out of it... so kinda weening my way back in.... Did the install on a dual doot Windows XP/ SUSE 10.3 and SUSE boots to this point then locks...
/dev/sda2/ on Windows/D type vfat

if i load the SUSE 10.3 into its "SAFE MODE" (sorry can't remember correct name right off the bat) it boots to the terminal fine but xwindows loads and the sound like flips out and then Xwindows locks, any ideas?