Thread: how to use USB disk in linux ?

  1. #1
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
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    Question how to use USB disk in linux ?

    in win2k, when I plug in the USB disk, the system would search for new hardware, and after a few seconds the USB disk bacome available. But in linux nothing happened when it was plugged in, what should I do ???
    Never end on learning~

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    try running kudzu to see if it can find the device. I bet it won't be able to, in which case you'll have to manually mount it:

    mount -t disk_fs /dev/usb mount_point

    where disk_fs is the file system that the disk uses (presumably vfat since you were using it under widows), and mount_point is a mount point you've created to serve as the hard drives root (/mnt/usb_hd, for example).

    Of course, this presumes that your usb is working properly.

    starX
    www.axisoftime.com

  3. #3
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
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    Originally posted by starX
    try running kudzu to see if it can find the device. I bet it won't be able to, in which case you'll have to manually mount it:

    mount -t disk_fs /dev/usb mount_point

    where disk_fs is the file system that the disk uses (presumably vfat since you were using it under widows), and mount_point is a mount point you've created to serve as the hard drives root (/mnt/usb_hd, for example).

    Of course, this presumes that your usb is working properly.

    starX
    www.axisoftime.com
    thanx starX~

    by the way, we could omit the -t disk_fs, yes ? I think Linux would find its right type automatically.
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    don't count on it.

    Mounting file systems is rather specific buisiness. You can TRY using "auto", but I would be willing to bet you'll get a lot farther using "vfat" or "msdos". In any case, you can't just omit the -t fs_type unless you have a line describing it in /etc/fstab already, and the fact that you have a problem mounting the drive would lead me to think that you don't.

    starX
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  5. #5
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
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    Originally posted by starX
    don't count on it.

    Mounting file systems is rather specific buisiness. You can TRY using "auto", but I would be willing to bet you'll get a lot farther using "vfat" or "msdos". In any case, you can't just omit the -t fs_type unless you have a line describing it in /etc/fstab already, and the fact that you have a problem mounting the drive would lead me to think that you don't.

    starX
    www.axisoftime.com
    thanx for your suggestions. starX

    I'll try to mount it on when at home.
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  6. #6
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
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    sorry to inform you all that I failed......
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    Okay, but the next question is why did you fail? See if you can isolate whether USB (my personal bet) is the problem, or it's the hard drive kit.

    starX
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  8. #8
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
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    Originally posted by starX
    Okay, but the next question is why did you fail? See if you can isolate whether USB (my personal bet) is the problem, or it's the hard drive kit.

    starX
    www.axisoftime.com
    linux said he needs somewhat drive first, here is the message:

    PHP Code:
    vsb.cUSB device 4 (vend/prod 0xdd81/0x1003is not claimed by any active driver
    How could I get it ?
    Never end on learning~

  9. #9
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    Excellent question, I've never encountered this error before, and at this point I would think it's safe to say this is no longer a programming question. Try going over to www.linux.org and reading some of their HOWTOs, and checking on hardware/usb boards, lists, etc. Questions like this probably belong on those sorts of sites to begin with, seeing as how your question really doesn't have much to do with programming per se.

    best of luck,

    starX
    www.axisoftime.com

  10. #10
    flashing vampire black's Avatar
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    thanx~ Always I have no idea when facing hardware. it's time learning soemthing about it, hoho~
    Never end on learning~

  11. #11
    Registered User billholm's Avatar
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    Question

    Hey guys, about mounting, how come I can't mount a floppy or hd device when I'm not logged in as root? Is that supposed to be only for the superusers? I can't use my floppy that way.
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  12. #12
    Registered User biosx's Avatar
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    Originally posted by billholm
    Hey guys, about mounting, how come I can't mount a floppy or hd device when I'm not logged in as root? Is that supposed to be only for the superusers? I can't use my floppy that way.
    Make sure that mount is in your /bin directory. Sometimes commands are just symbolically linked from the /bin and /sbin directory. It sounds like mount is in the /sbin dir (in the root users path) but not symbolically linked to the /bin (in everybody elses path) directory.

    Go into the /bin dir and type file mount and see what comes up. It should either give a bunch of info on the architecture and the program itself or say 'symbolic link to /sbin/mount'.

    If you get an error, then log in as root and make a symlink from /sbin/mount to /bin/mount like so:
    ln -s /sbin/mount /bin/mount.

    Good luck

    ONE NOTE: On my slackware box, the mount in the /sbin dir is actually a symlink from the /bin dir. This might be different for other distributions.

  13. #13
    Registered User billholm's Avatar
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    Lightbulb

    Oh I see! I'll try that when I get home. And by the way, mine is a DosLinux distribution. It's somewhat related to Loop Linux, and I think the only 'mount' in there is located in the /bin directory.
    All men are created equal. But some are more equal than others.

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