USB Hard Drive Recognition KDE [SOLVED]

[Canuck]

I am trying to use PCLinuxOS  KDE as my main OS, but, as in past attempts, I have run into a snag.   I have  WD  160 GB USB hard drive.   When I plug it in to PCLinuxOS Gnome, it is immediately recognized by Nautilus, icon appears on the desktop.     But, with KDE it seems that the WD USB hard drive is not recognized.   I have tried to 'find' it with the file manager and even with Konqueror.    

It is quite likely that having used Gnome for so long, that I have no idea as to how to access my USB drive in KDE.     I would appreciate knowing what it is that I am doing incorrectly and/or how to 'find' and  access the USB drive when it is plugged in.

Thank you for helping.

[T6]

konqueror?

what kde are you using?  are you using pclinux 2009?

kde4 practically denies the existence of konqueror as filemanager

any usb storage device is detected and showed by a plasmoid called device notifier, in kde4 it is located near the kmenu

it warns when you connect the device and asks you what you want to do with it, mount it, open it with some image or video players

[Canuck]

I am using PCLinuxOS 2010.12.    I should have said that I even tried Konqueror.   I found out that was no longer a file manager.   When I plug in the USB drive, nothing seems to appear.   
There is no device notifier near the kmenu.   Now,  I am not sure that kde4 is installed, though in synaptic it shows up as installed.     What I have next to the PC icon is    Show desktop,  Configure desktop, configure computer  ...........icons.   

Just retried the USB hd plugin and nothing showed up.

[T6]

"I found out that was no longer a file manager"

it is still a file manager but it is not what it used to be, search it and you will find it

if there is no device notifier is possible that you removed it, it looks like a usb logo

unlock widgets and click on the cashew on the taskbar, it will sow you a editor menu for the taskbar

on there press add widgets and search for the mentioned device notifier and drag/drop it on the taskbar

in dolphin file manager there should be a section in the left side showing devices including the hard disk called places, if it is not visible press F9 key on the keyboard when you are in dolphin, it should bring them mentioned section

that section lets you mount and unmount partitions and external storage devices

if after all that you can't see the device please when you connect it open konsole and write lsusb, post the results

something important to mention and in a old post was mentioned is that when you uncleanly unmount a device on xp or in kde4 the device will misbehave, sometimes you have to mount it again on xp to cleanly unmount or restart kde to get rid of the problem

[Archie]

Hi Canuck.

Do you happen to be using the latest udev and kernel (from testing)? I have the same issue and there are reports of these on the testers mailing list.

Code: [Select]

[user@localhost ~]$ uname -r && rpm -q udev
2.6.37.1-pclos1.bfs
udev-166-5pclos2011
[user@localhost ~]$
When I boot up, everything is good. I plug in a USB drive, I get a (KDE) notification it's connected. But if I eject and plug it back in again, it is no longer recognized and all that can be done is to logout and in again. This doesn't happen all the time though.

I am confident that our devs are on top of it and should be resolved. If my description above is the case for you, please be patient.

If it isn't, you are free to pursue this in the hopes of finding a solution.

[Was_Just19]

If you are missing the Device Notifier you can add it back by right clicking on the panel, and selecting Add Widget.
Put into the search box - Notifier - and select Device Notifier to be added.

[Canuck]

Did some experimenting today.   Downloaded PCLinuxOS  kde  2010.12 again and burned the image.   Ran it LIVE.   As on my previous installation and on the live version today, the Device Notifier icon was hidden.   But even when making it visible, it did NOT detect the USB hard drive.    The I ran the live 2011.01 version, the Full Monty, on another machine.   When I plugged in the USB hard drive, it was detected by Dolphin and the contents of the drive were displayed.   

I will likely try to install the Full Monty version.   I would prefer not to do so, but it appears that 2010.12 Device Notifer does not work for me.

Any ideas as to why or how I may get Device Notifier to work.   Does PCLinuxOS kde 2010.12 install kde 4.0 or 4.0+  ?

[T6]

both versions you tried use kde 4.5.5 if not one uses kde 4.5.4

all i can think of is that the kernel on the other pclinux is not working well for you but that doesn't explain why it works on gnome as you mentioned before

anyone knows what kernel is present on fullmonty?  maybe using it on the normal pclinux could help here

[Canuck]

The computer on which I had originally installed  PCLinuxOS  kde 2010.12  is an  Compaq Evo  Pentium 4, half height.   

Tonight I tried PCLinuxOS kde 2010.12 (live) on a Dell OptiPlex  P4,  3.00 ghz.   When I plugged in the usb HD, the Device Notifier popped up (though widget was hidden on the toolbar) and Dolphin showed the HD contents.

So, I must conclude that it is the Compaq Evo that is the 'cause' of the problem.   

After I experiment  a bit more with the Full Monty version, currently on the Dell OptiPlex, I will likely replace it with the far less ponderous PCLinuxOS  2010.12.

I would appreciate it if anyone could provide me with a brief explanation of why the Evo might not 'work.'   Just so I could learn more.

[T6]

it is possible that the ports are set to work in usb 1.1 but that is not likely

as you said the hard disk works in gnome

[Canuck]

The Gnome desktop of PCLinuxOS was installed on the Dell OptiPlex.   Therefore, the Compaq Evo is likely the problem: USB 1.1.    The Evo is definitely an older machine. 

Thank you to all who responded to my query and especially to Titus T6us for the explanation of what may be the source of the problem

[T6]

the usb 1.1 ports could be the problem if the machine really is 1.1 usb

this external hard disks requires usb 2.0 with enough voltage, stable voltage and 1.1 doesn't have it