Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Navigating to a USB Drive that is Plugged into a Ubuntu/Linux OS PC

I use Beyond Compare daily and when they published their version for Linux I immediately bought it. (It is that awesome!).

Problem:

  • I had a rather difficult time trying to figure out how [where] to select the file system on a USB drive that I plugged into my Ubuntu PC.

Steps I Took to Solve It:

  • I started a new folder compare session. 
  • I could navigate to the local hard drive 
  • But when I select "Browse for Folder" I did not see a place to select the USB drive.
    • I was expecting the USB drive to appear in the same way that the Windows file system presents them.
    • I tried the BC help and online FAQ but there was no mention of how to do this. 
      • I have requested that they include this tip in their help system and on-line FAQ.
  • Knowing a little UNIX I looked in the /dev folder but found nothing there that mapped to the USB drive.
  • Seeing that the USB drive did appear as an icon on my desktop, I knew that the drive was accessible.
    • Furthermore and I could use the Ubuntu file browser/explorer to view files on the USB drive.
  • I double-clicked the desktop icon that represents the USB drive
    • This opens the Ubuntu file system browser/explorer.
  • I right-clicked on the name of the USB drive volume
  • Selected "Properties
  • I discovered that the 'Location' property lists /media.

Solution:
  • Instead of looking in /dev  look in /media
Synapsis:
  • Using Beyond Compare you must navigate to the /media folder and then you have access to the USB drive's file system.

  • This may seem like common sense but this information is not listed in the BC help should help the new Ubuntu user navigate devices and file systems.

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