Linux Mint - not for the amateur

[cicero01]

Well it finally seems to be stable so what I need to know now is how do I buy an external DVD writer and HDD
that Mint will recognise as the external USB HDD I have now is invisible to it!

[xenopeek]

That depends. Is your USB port recognized? Say, if you attach a mouse or keyboard to it--do those work? Or do you have a bigger problem, with your USB port not being recognized.

Before you buy something new, perhaps, if you haven't already, post on the hardware support section of the forum the make & model of your USB hard disk and ask for help on getting it to work?

If you want to buy something new, research it a bit for Linux compatibility (if you do an Internet search for the make and model of the device you intend to buy, and add the word "Ubuntu" or "Linux", and you find nothing but bug reports and problems from other users, perhaps skip it). You can also check the Community site, where there is a hardware database you can search: http://community.linuxmint.com/hardware/welcome. Linux Mint users post their experience with their hardware devices and peripherals there.

[cicero01]

That depends. Is your USB port recognized? Say, if you attach a mouse or keyboard to it--do those work? Or do you have a bigger problem, with your USB port not being recognized.

Before you buy something new, perhaps, if you haven't already, post on the hardware support section of the forum the make & model of your USB hard disk and ask for help on getting it to work?

If you want to buy something new, research it a bit for Linux compatibility (if you do an Internet search for the make and model of the device you intend to buy, and add the word "Ubuntu" or "Linux", and you find nothing but bug reports and problems from other users, perhaps skip it). You can also check the Community site, where there is a hardware database you can search: http://community.linuxmint.com/hardware/welcome. Linux Mint users post their experience with their hardware devices and peripherals there.

Hi, mate
'
USB ports are OK no problems with other kit assume drivers the problem?

Some good advice as well thanks.

[chiefjim]

Well it finally seems to be stable so what I need to know now is how do I buy an external DVD writer and HDD
that Mint will recognise.........

I've been using a ASUS Model SDRW-08D2S-U for a couple years now. Works great. Requires two adjacent USB ports.

Keep in mind the inital ability to recognise the external device falls within your BIOS.

[Orbmiser]

Yep must be specific to motherboard bios and usb?

As just have 2 generic external usb Ntfs drives and every linux distro about 6 different disto's I have thrown at it recognizes them. One is a 320gb Toshiba & other is a 750gb Seagate I believe. Had my wired mouse crap out finally. Yesterday went bought a Logitech M510 wireless mouse. Plug in the little usb receiver and was off using it a second later no delays or problems.
.