USB Device Testing
To test external disc/zip USB devices:
First, boot the computer and log in.
If the item is a zip drive, enter the following into a console:
su
the password is freegeek
cd /dev
ls -l | grep scsi
look for something that looks like this:
scsi0 -> /dev/scsi0
if it shows up, type
mount -t vfat /dev/scsi0 /mnt
into a console. If you do not find scsi when you type in 'ls -l', this device requires drivers that this computer does not have. If you tye in 'mount -t vfat /dev/scsi0 /mnt' and the computer replies 'mount: /dev/scsi0 is not a valid block device' then the device is bad.
If the item is an external CD-ROM device, log in as root and type in
cd /dev
ls -l | grep cdrom
look for something that looks like this:
cdrom0 --> /dev/hdc
OR
cdrom0 --> /dev/cdrom0
If this shows up, type in:
mount -t iso9660 /dev/hdc /mnt
If cdrom0 did not show up when you entered 'ls -l' then the device requires drivers.
If the computer replies when you type in mount 'mount: /dev/hdc (or cdrom0) is not a valid block device' then the device is bad.
To test USB mice/keyboards
USB Mice:
Turn on the computer, and check if the red light in the bottom of the mouse comes on within 5 seconds of you pressing the button. If it does not come on, then check the connection and try again. If the light comes on, when the computer comes to the log in screen, move the mouse around to see if the computer responds. If not, the mouse is bad.
USB Keyboards:
Turn on the computer, and check if the LOCK (such as Cpas lock, Num lock, etc...) lights quickly flash on then off. If not, check the connection to the computer.
After the computer has booted up, log in. Then get into a word processing program, such as Open Office.org Writer, and make sure that no keys stick. If you were unable to log in, due to the faulty USB keyboard, then the keyboard is bad.
If you have any questions, ask a supervisor, or me, Michael McCall.
--Inhuman 10:19, 5 Jul 2005 (PDT)