UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

I have tried all the extension and I have actually had nno success except with usbfs and nfs
usbs gives the previous feedback and
nfs gives this which I am not understanding..
mount -t nfs /dev/sda1 /usbdrive/
mount: directory to mount not in host:dir format
moxxx68

NFS is used for mounting directories located on other machines. There is no way that your USB device will work using NFS!

Cheers
ZB

thanx very much for your input.. but chances are the device is not working or something.. so I'll get another one or try and convince my brother to take a look at it (very difficult!!!). I appreciate all the advice..
thanx moxxx68
cheers

what's the content of /proc/partitions?.

usbdevfs ......... ...................... ................ proc/bus/usb..........

I know you've probably already tried this, but going back to basics....

Make sure the thing is properly connected, then, as root, issue
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

Now, assuming the mountpoint /mnt exists, the fs type "vfat" will be autodetected, and the thing should mount (read-only).

I've just tried this with a 128 USB keydrive and my digital camera, and the same procedure works for both, no messing.

Does the /dev/sda1 device exist (i.e. ls -l /dev/sda1)?

If this doesn't work, and it was working for you before, then I think we can assume that the USB device is either corrupt or just plain busted, especially seeing as how the device is also failing under Windows.

Cheers
ZB

i did what you said and this is what I got:
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
mount: /dev/sda1 is not a valid block device
also when I ls -l /dev/sda*
i don't see anything particular.. everything looks like it should with or without the disk in...
i agree with you i think we can safely agree that the device is corrupt or busted.. I'm not going to waste any more of your time or mine on a disk that I can replace considering I thankfully had a .bakup of my work somewhere else before i did the reinstallation on my system.
thanks for your time and to Finalfantasy for giving some effective advice
atleast I learned a few things.
thanx moxxx68...