mounting usb stick -says path to stick doesn't exist or isn't a directory

I don't know much about linux and I've been trying to mount a usb-stick. I looked at all the post and followed the instructions. I can find the stick with blkid

/dev/sdf1: LABEL_FATBOOT="DIANE M" UUID="9A20-C14F" TYPE="vfat"

I can find it with fdisk -l

Schijf /dev/sdf: 14,92 GiB, 16000221184 bytes, 31250432 sectoren
Disk model: Cruzer Slice
Eenheid: sectoren van 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
In-/uitvoergrootte (minimaal/optimaal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Schijflabeltype: dos
Schijf-ID: 0x00000000
Apparaat Op. Begin Einde Sectoren Grootte ID Type
/dev/sdf1 32 31250431 31250400 14,9G c W95 FAT32 (LBA

When I remove the usb this info is no longer available.

But when I try to mount it, I get an error message

sudo mount /dev/sdf/ /media/USB-drive EM : device /dev/sdf/ doesn't exist (the path contains somthing that isn't a directory / folder) 

I've translated from Dutch. By the way, USB-drive is the directory I created inside media.

I've tried this variation :
sudo mount /dev/sdf/sdf1 /media/USB-drive

I've got ubuntu 20.04 installed on a desktop and again on a laptop. The laptop recognizes the stick, I can write to it. The desktop does not. I've been having this issue for some time with my desktop. I was able to mount it before, now it doesn't work. Though I've got the same version of ubuntu on both pc's, they appear different. On the laptop there's this list I can choose from in the middle of the screen, on the desktop there's only a list on the left side of the screen. My launcher is empty since I upgraded it two days ago. I have to go into software or snap store to find an application that is not attached to the left sidebar. Don't know if that is at all related to the issue with the stick. (that I really do want resolved).

Thank you

1 Answer

In Ubuntu, there should not be a need to mount a USB stick using the terminal. By default, USB sticks are automounted when you plug them in.

That a stick does not automount rather points to an issue with the stick. It could designate problems with the file system. Thus, before attempting anything else, have your file system checked. You can check it with fsck. If the file system is not too badly damaged, linux will recognize it is a FAT32 formatted system (as you also see in the first output you posted), and invoke fsck.vfat to check it.

Your drive is known as /dev/sdf. The partition that is existing on it, is known as /dev/sdf1. You should only check a partition that is not in use, so to be safe, you first unmount it, as administrator:

sudo umount /dev/sdf1

Then you can check it:

sudo fsck /dev/sdf1

This will report on any issues and inconsistencies that may be there. In order to effectively repair the file system, allowing the system choose what to do, you execute the command again with the -a option (see man fsck.vfat to learn about all possible options).

sudo fsck /dev/sdf1

Once that is done, wait a few seconds and then unplug the USB. Plug it back in - it should automount.

Your question actually was on how to mount it on the terminal. Again, prefer to rely on the automatic system, but if you really wish to mount manually, then you can using the mount command executed as administrator.

 sudo mount /dev/sdf1 /media/USB-drive

Here, indeed, you state you want to mount the partition /dev/sdf1 on the folder /media/USB-drive. For this command to proceed, the folder that will be the mount point must already exist. If needed, create it with the command sudo mkdir /media/USB-drive.