On Thursday 01 July 2004 19:38, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

* Doug McGarrett [07-01-04 17:35]:

...

I CANNOT WRITE TO MY FLOPPY DISK AND I NEED TO.

I realize it's frustration, but no need to shout.

...

I have already added "users" in fstab. It made no difference whatever. This is SuSE 9.1 with this funny mounting scheme.

Post the line in /etc/fstab for your floppy drive and 'ls -la' for the mount point (the directory where you would access the floppy).

one step at a time....

-- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos Here is the entire fstab:

/dev/hdb6 / reiserfs acl,user_xattr 1 1 /dev/hda1 /windows/C ntfs ro,users,gid=users,umask=0002,nls=utf8 0 0 /dev/hdb5 swap swap pri=42 0 0 devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5 0 0 proc /proc proc defaults 0 0 usbfs /proc/bus/usb usbfs noauto 0 0 sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0 /dev/cdrecorder /media/cdrecorder subfs fs=cdfss,users,procuid,nosuid,nodev,exec,iocharset=utf8 0 0 /dev/dvd /media/dvd subfs fs=cdfss,ro,procuid,nosuid,nodev,exec,iocharset=utf8 0 0 /dev/fd0 /media/floppy subfs fs=floppyfss,users,procuid,nodev,nosuid,sync 0 0 Here's the ls -la from the root: linux:~ # cd /media/floppy linux:/media/floppy # ls -la total 7 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 7168 Dec 31 1969 . drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 128 Apr 6 12:04 .. linux:/media/floppy # This is with a formatted floppy in the drive, with no programs on it. The format is vfat. Well, I finally managed to get something on to the floppy. I hope I can remember how to do it again. I did su - put in my password and then linux:/home/doug # cp 10GHz_amps.txt /media/floppy linux:/home/doug # cd /media/floppy linux:/media/floppy # ls . .. 10GHz_amps.txt linux:/media/floppy # But this does not seem to be the way a windowed system should work. I should be able to drag and drop a file to the floppy, but I have never been able to in this version. (Don't know if I could have done so in earlier versions, since I would usually do something like this in the first place. Altho I didn't have to mount the floppy--or umount it.) The file is readable in Windows, so I guess this is usable, even if somewhat clumsy. (The reason I need to read it in Windows is that WP 8 for Linux can't seem to read a file emailed from a WP converter on a MAC, and the whole Linux machine locks up tight as a drum when I try.) Would it help if I get rid of subfs and substitute auto? I hate to fool with config files, because you never know if you can get back again, especially since I don't know what subfs is or why. I think it is an auto-mounter, but I have had trouble unmounting and ejecting CD and DVD disks. --doug

On Friday 02 July 2004 03:43, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

* Doug McGarrett [07-01-04 20:49]:

...

On Thursday 01 July 2004 19:38, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

Post the line in /etc/fstab for your floppy drive and 'ls -la' for the mount point (the directory where you would access the floppy).

one step at a time....

/dev/fd0 /media/floppy subfs fs=floppyfss,users,procuid,nodev,nosuid,sync 0 0

Here's the ls -la from the root:

linux:~ # cd /media/floppy linux:/media/floppy # ls -la total 7 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 7168 Dec 31 1969 . drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 128 Apr 6 12:04 .. linux:/media/floppy #

This is with a formatted floppy in the drive, with no programs on it. The format is vfat.

note: I have not installed 9.1, using 9.0, and am not familiar with subfs.

This may make a difference to your expectations - subfs just isn't right yet, though I would not wish to be nasty about it as it will obviously be a Good Thing when it is finished - but be assured, mounting and unmounting floppies, zip disks, etc, has just been made a lot more uncertain and tricky than it was in versions <=9.0, when it was possible to give sound, consistent advice on these issues that would work everywhere. At my end, I've been trying to use two zip drives, one IDE, one parallel, both used to set up beautifully for generations of SuSE and now both are quite ****ed up. The 'eject' command no longer works, you are left casting about to set the devices up yourself, and it is fairly crap. I have only been able to eject the zip disk by booting the 8.2 installation that I'm increasingly glad I left on this machine. At least it can talk to the scanner via xsane without moaning about some spoof I/O problem that 9.1 has dreamed up. I was also trying to help someone work with a floppy yesterday, and although I was finally able to get the thing unmounted via a root shell, further floppies would not mount when inserted. So whatever subfs / the SuSE install think they're doing, they're not doing it in a way I've found at all easy to understand. I bought the pro update, as usual. The admin guide index has no entry under subfs, floppy, diskette, nor any entry for subfs under the 'file systems' part of the index. The one thing the admin manual needs if there are major changes to the most basic of operations like removable media handling is to provide a chapter detailing the major changes.

ok, do: mount /media/floppy ls -la /media

and post the results.

...

Well, I finally managed to get something on to the floppy. I hope I can remember how to do it again. I did su - put in my password and then

linux:/home/doug # cp 10GHz_amps.txt /media/floppy linux:/home/doug # cd /media/floppy linux:/media/floppy # ls . .. 10GHz_amps.txt linux:/media/floppy #

But this does not seem to be the way a windowed system should work.

How should a "windowed" system work?

...

I should be able to drag and drop a file to the floppy, but I have never been able to in this version. (Don't know if I could have done so in earlier versions, since I would usually do something like this in the first place. Altho I didn't have to mount the floppy--or umount it.)

the command 'mount' will tell you what devices are mounted and will accept files. If the device (floppy) is mounted, you should be able to access it, read and write and execute programs, provided you have permission. Under the previous file system, permissions changed after mount. ie:

before mounting, ls -la /media drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2003-09-23 13:02 floppy/

after mounting, drwxr-xr-x 2 pat users 7168 1969-12-31 19:00 floppy/

notice the different owner:group, pat:users

...

The file is readable in Windows, so I guess this is usable, even if somewhat clumsy. (The reason I need to read it in Windows is that WP 8 for Linux can't seem to read a file emailed from a WP converter on a MAC, and the whole Linux machine locks up tight as a drum when I try.)

did you try AbiWord?

...

Would it help if I get rid of subfs and substitute auto? I hate to fool with config files, because you never know if you can get back again, especially since I don't know what subfs is or why. I think it is an auto-mounter, but I have had trouble unmounting and ejecting CD and DVD disks.

You *need* to RTFM. Use the books you rec'd with your system disks. The books from SuSE are the best available with *any* operating system distro that I know of. You *must* understand the system to use it.

Drag and drop is available in many graphical linux apps now. I have used it several times, but I prefer cl, as that is the way it was and the way I taught myself. (and FTMP, faster with more control)

Stop and think.... Harping about how you *think* it should be does not help you understand. It only frustrates you.

btw, what did you do with the distro's you purchased since the "mid 90's"? -- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos

-- Fergus Wilde Chetham's Library Long Millgate Manchester M3 1SB Tel: +44 161 834 7961 Fax: +44 161 839 5797 http://www.chethams.org.uk

Op vrijdag 2 juli 2004 04:10, schreef BandiPat:

On Thursday 01 July 2004 06:32 pm, Doug McGarrett wrote:

...

Hello, list--

Somebody must have the same problem and has solved it. I CANNOT WRITE TO MY FLOPPY DISK AND I NEED TO.

I have already added "users" in fstab. It made no difference whatever. This is SuSE 9.1 with this funny mounting scheme.

Could some kind soul tell me how to make the floppy write-accessible for user, for root, for anybody in the whole wide world, I don't care, so I can copy information to a machine that i don't know how to make the network work for. (It's Win 98, se) [...] Thanx. I know I ask a lot more than I contribute, but by and large this is a pretty darned good bunch of people here.

PS: Does anyone on eastern Long Island, NY, USA, know of Linux classes anywhere not too far away? I'm in Rocky Point.

--doug

=====================

Doug, I found that putting the floppy entry in /etc/fstab back to how it was setup in 9.0 to be the best. Here is the entry you need in your fstab to change it back and away from the automatic stuff. This also allows you to add an icon to your desktop and mount it normally. Don't forget also that you have to unmount it before removing the disk.

/dev/fd0 /media/floppy auto noauto,user,sync 0 0

That's the one. And Doug, if you're nervous about changing a config file make it a habit to never delete an entry but comment it out. (i.e. put a hashmark in front of it). So your edited conf file should look: #OLD LINE NEW LINE if you don't like that you always can fall back on OLD LINE #NEW LINE that will restore the old configuration. Regards, -- Jos van Kan

On Friday 02 July 2004 09:28, peter Nikolic wrote:

On Thursday 01 Jul 2004 23:32, Doug McGarrett wrote:

...

Hello, list--

Somebody must have the same problem and has solved it. I CANNOT WRITE TO MY FLOPPY DISK AND I NEED TO.

I have already added "users" in fstab. It made no difference whatever. This is SuSE 9.1 with this funny mounting scheme.

Could some kind soul tell me how to make the floppy write-accessible for user, for root, for anybody in the whole wide world, I don't care, so I can copy information to a machine that i don't know how to make the network work for. (It's Win 98, se)

Words of one syllable, please. I am obviously incapable of any more.

If anyone can add how to set the Win machine so I can access it and r/w to it, please help. I have a Linksys router and can see the Win machine, but only its name and a subdirectory with my name on it. I never before had 2 machines running, and I have no idea how networks are set up. I suspect that SuSE has her end set up, and the problem is at the Win end.

(Just send to me, no need to put Win instruction on the list, unless you want to. )

Thanx. I know I ask a lot more than I contribute, but by and large this is a pretty darned good bunch of people here.

PS: Does anyone on eastern Long Island, NY, USA, know of Linux classes anywhere not too far away? I'm in Rocky Point.

--doug

Floppies in any guise are shureley well past there sell by date now so many machines are now being produced minus floppy the death knell is upon them memory sticks are so much better

Maybe, but there are many tens of thousands of serviceable older laptops and other devices that have no better method of transferring small files. This will continue to be the case for some time.

just as an aside i have no problem writing to a floppy when i install one have not used one for so long it's untrue running 9.1 with subfs intackt as of out of the box.

Lucky you.

-- Linux user No: 256242 Machine No: 139931 G6NJR Pete also MSA registered "Quinton 11" A Linux Only area Happy bug hunting M$ clan PGN

-- Fergus Wilde Chetham's Library Long Millgate Manchester M3 1SB Tel: +44 161 834 7961 Fax: +44 161 839 5797 http://www.chethams.org.uk

* James Knott [07-02-04 06:50]:

peter Nikolic wrote:

...

Floppies in any guise are shureley well past there sell by date now so many machines are now being produced minus floppy the death knell is upon them memory sticks are so much better

It's been a while, since I've seen PCs capable of using 8" floppies. ;-)

Like 30 years <grin>. -- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos

Ken Schneider wrote:

On Fri, 2004-07-02 at 08:24, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

* James Knott [07-02-04 06:50]:

...

peter Nikolic wrote:

...

Floppies in any guise are shureley well past there sell by date now so many machines are now being produced minus floppy the death knell is upon them memory sticks are so much better

It's been a while, since I've seen PCs capable of using 8" floppies. ;-)

Like 30 years <grin>.

Closer to 20 years. I worked in a shop in the mid eighties that used 8" floppies.

I used to support some minicomputers that used them. The Data General "Eclipse' computers just used them as another drive, but the VAX 11/780 used them to load the microcode, during boot. The first time I saw them, was on an IBM computer, around 1976.

On Friday 02 July 2004 07:50, James Knott wrote:

peter Nikolic wrote:

...

Floppies in any guise are shureley well past there sell by date now so many machines are now being produced minus floppy the death knell is upon them memory sticks are so much better

It's been a while, since I've seen PCs capable of using 8" floppies. ;-)

I still had some until I moved 7 months ago and threw them all out, along with the BigBoard machine that used them. For newbies, they held 240K and you could get the CPM operating system on one and still have room for a few programs, including, iirc, WordStar, in its early incarnations. I paid >$200 each for 2 _used_ 8" drives! This was back in 1982. Thanx to the people who contributed answers to the original posting. --doug

On Sat, 2004-07-03 at 07:46, Mike Roy wrote:

Hello Doug: I seem to be having the same problem. If I format the floppy ( DOS or EX2 ), I get an error message:

Could not enter folder /media/floppy

But, if I use a floppy with files already on it, delete the files and then add or copy other files to the floppy, this seems to work. I'm not sure if the formatting mechanism is screwed up or what. I don't know if this will help but good luck. Cheers, Mike

Did you use mkdosfs it is still included with 9.1? mkdosfs -c -F 12 -n label -r 224 /media/floppy CWSIV