why doesn't my usb device work? I have ubuntu 8.10

Can you open the USB Device -- and browse it, write to it, delete from it, etc. -- from your file manager while it is plugged in?

sorry, I am really new to ubuntu... how do i open the the usb device?

Insert it and go to your File Manager (click on your Computer icon on your desktop, or even the USB Device may show up on your desktop).

Does your USB Device show up on your desktop when inserted?

all that shows is a wire connection (DSL) but no not usb device when plugged in

to re-clarify the answer,all that shows at the header is my printer, dsl connect and monitor as to desk top nothing has shown

Can you please remove your usb device, plug it in again, open a terminal (Applications->Accessoires->Terminal), and copy&paste the output of the following commands here:

lsusb
mount | grep ^/dev
dmesg|tail -40

Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 1130:6801 Tenx Technology, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
tim@tim-desktop:~$ mount | grep ^/dev
/dev/sdb1 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)

thanks, but it still does not work after unplugging device,, same old thing...

Apparently your system does not recognize your usb device correctly. Please also post the output of the third command I mentioned:
dmesg|tail -40

  I have to go to work for a bit, but please keep this problem active if you all could until resolved. should be back in a few hours to check on answers. Thanks

tim@tim-desktop:~$ dmesg|tail -40
[ 35.066556] type=1505 audit(1238332183.201:4): operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/cups/backend/cups-pdf" name2="default" pid=3890
[ 35.067124] type=1505 audit(1238332183.201:5): operation="profile_load" name="/usr/sbin/cupsd" name2="default" pid=3890
[ 35.255012] ip_tables: (C) 2000-2006 Netfilter Core Team
[ 36.419116] ACPI: WMI: Mapper loaded
[ 38.036641] warning: `avahi-daemon' uses 32-bit capabilities (legacy support in use)
[ 38.119748] apm: BIOS version 1.2 Flags 0x03 (Driver version 1.16ac)
[ 38.119761] apm: overridden by ACPI.
[ 39.360228] ppdev: user-space parallel port driver
[ 42.254626] NET: Registered protocol family 10
[ 42.258585] lo: Disabled Privacy Extensions
[ 43.911789] [drm] Initialized drm 1.1.0 20060810
[ 43.924427] pci 0000:00:02.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[ 43.924446] pci 0000:00:02.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 43.929206] [drm] Initialized i915 1.6.0 20060119 on minor 0
[ 45.656300] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth0: link is not ready
[ 48.816209] b44: eth0: Link is up at 100 Mbps, full duplex.
[ 48.816218] b44: eth0: Flow control is off for TX and off for RX.
[ 48.817475] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth0: link becomes ready
[ 48.984280] NET: Registered protocol family 17
[ 59.420031] eth0: no IPv6 routers present
[ 144.328259] ppdev0: registered pardevice
[ 144.376116] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
[ 145.817690] ppdev0: registered pardevice
[ 145.874744] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
[ 146.074392] ppdev0: registered pardevice
[ 146.133182] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
[ 1126.147020] ppdev0: registered pardevice
[ 1126.188177] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
[ 1127.154801] ppdev0: registered pardevice
[ 1127.200817] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
[ 1127.269432] ppdev0: registered pardevice
[ 1127.320869] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
[ 5967.048073] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 2
[ 6015.984032] usb 2-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
[ 6016.178697] usb 2-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 6016.199667] hiddev96hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Device [ ] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-2
[11362.784087] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 3
[11366.668062] usb 2-1: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
[11366.888395] usb 2-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[11366.912665] hiddev96hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Device [ ] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1

I guess i will stick around a bit

Ah, we assumed that you "device" was a stick or something, but it seems to be some weather related peripheral device.
It could be a permissions problem, try this:
1. cd /etc/udev/rules.d
2. lsusb - this lists details of connect USB devices
3. Note that the Irox USB device is ID 1130:6801 (made by Tenx Technology) - if you have a lot of devices and aren't sure which is which unplug the weather station and see what changes
2. Look in the file 40-permissions-rules
3. Edit an appropriate section to set ownership of the device that you will be using. I used the command
sudo vi 40-permissions-rulesI
and editted the USBSerial section to add the lines
idVendor}=="1130", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6801", \
               MODE="0660", GROUP="dialout"
4. Save file and exit
5. Plug in device
6. cd ~/wdisplay
7. Run WD ./GoWeather.sh

The above list is taken from here: http://www.weather-watch.com/smf/index.php/topic,29888.msg257743.html#msg257743

Umh there seems to be some garbled text in the adive in that thread. So instead of step #3 in my previous posting you better do this:
gksudo gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions-rules
and edit the USBSerial section to add the lines
ATTRS{idVendor}=="1130", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6801", \
               MODE="0660", GROUP="dialout"

Darn, still wrong. The correct file name should be: /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules

 I did the : /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules and the above mentioned, of course and still not showing anything that can be edited .. will try again.

says; ~$ /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules
-bash: /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules: Permission denied

 say Cruncher, I sure thank you for your patients, this dad burned thing has got to be stubborn don,t ya know

 And as to the device I am running it is a TE923W HONEYWELL professional weather station

 And as to the device I am running it is a TE923W HONEYWELL professional weather station , and the software is called weather Display.

Got to go. Will be back at the terminal be back around 8pm my time

            Its Working! Thanks

Hi there.

I have followed your steps several times and at each point I come to the file 40-permissions step, I receive a blank page in Gedit. Not sure what I'm doing wrong or if I need to open this somewhere.

Some info on what i'm trying to do.

I have a Prowler weather station connected via USB.
I would assume that the problem lies within 1941:8021 Dream Link USB Missile Launcher.

Could you please assist.

Thank you in advance for any advice that you might have.

Joel

Terminal readout is:
user@user-laptop:~$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 1941:8021 Dream Link USB Missile Launcher
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05ca:1837 Ricoh Co., Ltd Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC4 [R5U870]
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
user@user-laptop:~$ mount | grep ^/dev
/dev/sda1 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
joel@joel-laptop:~$ dmesg|tail -40
[ 16.859344] iwlagn 0000:06:00.0: loaded firmware version 228.61.2.24
[ 17.074072] Registered led device: iwl-phy0::radio
[ 17.074093] Registered led device: iwl-phy0::assoc
[ 17.074113] Registered led device: iwl-phy0::RX
[ 17.074131] Registered led device: iwl-phy0::TX
[ 17.101154] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: cs: IO port probe 0x100-0x3af: clean.
[ 17.103261] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: cs: IO port probe 0x3e0-0x4ff: excluding 0x4d0-0x4d7
[ 17.104167] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: cs: IO port probe 0x820-0x8ff: clean.
[ 17.104906] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: cs: IO port probe 0xc00-0xcf7: clean.
[ 17.105837] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: cs: IO port probe 0xa00-0xaff: clean.
[ 17.127813] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 17.205177] usbcore: deregistering interface driver uvcvideo
[ 17.273992] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
[ 17.276604] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device <unnamed> (05ca:1837)
[ 17.279214] input: UVC Camera (05ca:1837) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.7/usb1/1-2/1-2:1.0/input/input11
[ 17.279258] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
[ 17.279261] USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0)
[ 17.312044] usbcore: deregistering interface driver uvcvideo
[ 17.380712] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
[ 17.383355] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device <unnamed> (05ca:1837)
[ 17.384064] input: UVC Camera (05ca:1837) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.7/usb1/1-2/1-2:1.0/input/input12
[ 17.384109] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
[ 17.384113] USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0)
[ 19.330603] usbcam: registering driver r5u870 0.11.3
[ 19.330635] usbcore: registered new interface driver r5u870
[ 19.458233] ppdev: user-space parallel port driver
[ 42.351517] wlan0: authenticate with AP 00:14:6c:4e:72:72
[ 42.353264] wlan0: authenticated
[ 42.353267] wlan0: associate with AP 00:14:6c:4e:72:72
[ 42.356081] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:14:6c:4e:72:72 (capab=0x431 status=0 aid=2)
[ 42.356083] wlan0: associated
[ 42.378038] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[ 53.068699] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
[ 436.000777] CE: hpet increasing min_delta_ns to 15000 nsec
[ 483.913077] usb 5-1: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2
[ 484.101151] usb 5-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 484.173837] usbcore: registered new interface driver hiddev
[ 484.212067] generic-usb 0003:1941:8021.0001: hiddev96,hidraw0: USB HID v1.00 Device [HID 1941:8021] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1/input0
[ 484.212105] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid
[ 484.212111] usbhid: v2.6:USB HID core driver
user@user-laptop:~$

Hm, I no longer have this file on my system, too. I guess they reworked the udev configuration, most probably in Karmic (Ubuntu 9.10).
I'd suggest that you post your problem as a new question, in the hope that somebody will answer who is familiar with the current udev. In this new question, you should probably link to this one.

Best of luck,
Cruncher