## Using Removable Media

The file manager supports all removable media that have the following characteristics:

- The removable media has an entry in the `/etc/fstab` file. The `/etc/fstab` file describes the file systems that the computer uses.

- The `user` option is specified in the entry for the removable media in the `/etc/fstab` file.

### To Mount Media

To mount media is to make the file system of the media available for access. When you mount media, the file system of the media is attached as a subdirectory to your file system.

To mount media, insert the media in the appropriate device. An object that represents the media is added to the desktop. The object is added only if your system is configured to mount the device automatically when media is detected.

If your system is not configured to mount the device automatically, you must mount the device manually. Double-click on the Computer icon from the desktop. A Computer dialog is displayed. Double-click on the object that represents the media. For example, to mount a floppy diskette, double-click on the Floppy object. An object that represents the media is added to the desktop.

You cannot change the name of a removable media object.

### To Display Media Contents

You can display media contents in any of the following ways:

- Double-click on the object that represents the media on the desktop.

- Right-click on the object that represents the media on the desktop, then choose Open.

A file manager window displays the contents of the media. To reload the display, click on the Reload button.

### To Display Media Properties

To display the properties of removable media, right-click on the object that represents the media on the desktop, then choose Properties. A dialog displays the properties of the media.

To close the properties dialog, click Close.

### To Format a Floppy Disk

To format media is to prepare the media for use. You can use the file manager to format floppy disks.

| Warning
When you format, you destroy all files on your floppy disk. Do not format floppies containing files you wish to keep.

To format a floppy disk, right-click on the object that represents the floppy on the desktop, then choose Format. A Floppy Formatter dialog is displayed. See the Floppy Formatter documentation for more details.

### To Eject Media

To eject media, right-click on the media object on the desktop, then choose Eject. If the drive for the media is a motorized drive, the media is ejected from the drive. If the drive for the media is not motorized, wait until the desktop object for the media disappears, then eject the media manually.

You cannot eject media from a motorized drive when the media is mounted. To eject media, first unmount the media. To remove a floppy diskette from the drive, perform the following steps:

1. Close all file manager windows, Terminal windows, and any other windows that access the diskette.

2. Right-click on the object that represents the diskette on the desktop, then choose Eject. The desktop object for the diskette disappears.

3. Eject the diskette from the drive.

You must unmount removable media before ejecting. Do not eject a diskette from the drive before you unmount the diskette. Do not remove a USB flash drive before you unmount the flash drive. If you do not unmount the media first you might lose data.

Modifying the Appearance of Files and Folders |  | Writing CDs or DVDs