Hardrive access


Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Hardrive access
started by: CrazyEccentric
Posted by CrazyEccentric on Dec. 29 2004,02:09
I am running the dsl version that you run from within Windoze.  Once dsl is up and running, how do I get to the directory that I started the batch file from?  I placed the dsl proggy in what would be C:\dsl-embedded-0.9.1 in Windoze or dos.  What I am trying to do is get to my modem driver so I  can unzip it and try and get internet access working. I downloaded the driver and placed it in the dsl directory but once dsl is up and running, it's no where to be found.  I have tried various mount commands and no go...   I am a newbie to Linux but do know my way around a puter rather well.  I just need someone to get me started please...  I don't even see, right off, how to get to my floppy drive... keeps saying that it can't find it in /etc/fstab or something like that.  Is there somewhere that has these very basics explained and in simple terms?  Everything is scattered and very vague.


Crazy
Posted by mikshaw on Dec. 29 2004,06:44
open up a terminal and type 'less /etc/fstab', or use a text editor to open up this file.
/etc/fstab contains all of the partitions which were detected by DSL.  There should be lines containing such devices as /dev/hda1, /dev/hda2, /dev/fd0.  These are partitions and drives which can be mounted without additional mount options.  For example, if you have a line containing /dev/fd0, this is your floppy drive.  Typing 'mount /dev/fd0' should mount your floppy as long as there's a readable disk in the drive.

You can also look into the /mnt directory for mountpoints.  These are directories where the devices will be mounted, and are how you will access the devices once they are mounted.
Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 29 2004,06:50
Of couse, if you are running DSL-embedded from inside a Qemu window while running Windows 98/2000/XP as your main operating system then you will not have direct access to your physical floppy drive.

However, you can create an image file of your floppy disk and then mount this file as a virtual floppy disk drive in Qemu.

Check the qemu website for more details on how to do this.
Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 29 2004,06:53
Re-reading your original request, it sounds like you wish to access your windows directory from inside you r DSL-embedded qemu session.

To do this, you need to enable a windows network share for the directory of your choice.  Then, while inside DSL-embedded, you can use smbclient or samba.dsl to connect to this network share and exchange files back and forth.

Use the forum search button.  Search for keywords "samba* AND embedded"  and search ALL FORUMS and FROM THE BEGINNING or NEWER.
Posted by CrazyEccentric on Dec. 29 2004,09:45
Quote (mikshaw @ Dec. 29 2004,01:44)
open up a terminal and type 'less /etc/fstab', or use a text editor to open up this file.
/etc/fstab contains all of the partitions which were detected by DSL.  There should be lines containing such devices as /dev/hda1, /dev/hda2, /dev/fd0.  These are partitions and drives which can be mounted without additional mount options.  For example, if you have a line containing /dev/fd0, this is your floppy drive.  Typing 'mount /dev/fd0' should mount your floppy as long as there's a readable disk in the drive.

You can also look into the /mnt directory for mountpoints.  These are directories where the devices will be mounted, and are how you will access the devices once they are mounted.

OK.... When I type:

mount /dev/fd0   what returns is:  

/dev/fd0: Input/output error
mount: you must specify the filesystem type

and when I typed:

mount /dev/hda

It says that it did mount it.  However I can't find where to go to look at the files.  In your post you said, from what I gather, that I should be able to go to /mnt  and find hda and then I assume I should be able to  type ls  and get a listing of the files that are there, however when I go there, all I can see are:

backup.tar.gz and lost+found

which is not what I know to be in that directory.  Am I doing something wrong or am I misunderstanding what you are telling me?

Thanx for you patience,

Crazy
Posted by henk1955 on Dec. 29 2004,10:06
if you are "running the dsl version that you run from within Windoze", you emulate a pc in windows which runs dsl. all hardware is emulated. there is no "real" harddisk or cdromdrive, the /mnt/hda you look at is a file thats simulates a hardisk.
you can NOT look at your windows harddisk.

however...
if you setup your windows as a server ( share your hadrdisk) and uses SMBclient from the dsl-fluxbox menu you can access your windows shares.
Posted by mikshaw on Dec. 29 2004,15:12
Quote
Am I doing something wrong or am I misunderstanding what you are telling me?

Ignore everything I said.  I overlooked the fact that you're running DSL embedded.
Listen to the other guys instead.
Posted by CrazyEccentric on Dec. 29 2004,19:16
Actually, you both have been a great help!  A little history might help....  I have decided to make the change to Linux, it's ridiculous that I haven't.  I'm pretty good with puters.  

What I am doing, though, is plaing with several CD versions and  the dsl within Windows.  There are several reasons for doing this.  The obvious being that I want to learn to get around, both in the gui and via terminal.  And to determine what harware problems I may have at installation time.

So you both have helped as I now know how to mount drives from the CD version of Ubuntu that I have and I will get to learn a little about networking here shortly when figuring out how to get to my shared resources; I did share my floppy and backup drive, so as to learn how to do this.

So thank you to both of you...

Crazy
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