"PRO TIP: Connect JUST the USB adapter - no drive - and check dmesg. It should not disconnect (just show 'media removed') and the USB adapter MUST be listed in 'lsusb'. For example, for my 3.0 USB adapter."
I didn't see this mentioned or perhaps you already now, but the best way to see log mssgs realtime is the command: tail -f /var/log/messages Here's the command output when I disconnect and reconnect my usb speaker. Link] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.2/input0 Jan 4 16:46:34 mc-bunsen kernel: [16035.930728] usb 3-1.2: USB disconnect, device number 7 Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.479790] usb 3-1.2: new full-speed USB device number 8 using ehci-pci Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.594705] usb 3-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=05a7, idProduct=40fe, bcdDevice= 1.00 Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.594714] usb 3-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3 Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.594717] usb 3-1.2: Product: Bose Micro SoundLink Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.594721] usb 3-1.2: Manufacturer: Bose Corporation Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.594723] usb 3-1.2: SerialNumber: Q1222049006784949K80080 Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.618227] input: Bose Corporation Bose Micro SoundLink Consumer Control as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb3/3-1/3-1.2/3-1.2:1.0/0003:05A7:40FE.000C/input/input51 Jan 4 16:46:38 mc-bunsen kernel: [16039.676337] hid-generic 0003:05A7:40FE.000C: input,hiddev2,hidraw5: USB HID v1.11 Device [Bose Corporation Bose Micro SoundLink] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.2/input0 Also, check to see if the drive shows up in your bios prior to OS bootup. For example, when I want to boot off a usb thumb drive, it has to bee seen and mounted by the BIOS during initial hardware boot-up. HTH
