Preventing the "SETTING" disk from mounting on Mac

chrisridd · 09-05-2013, 02:44 PM

Mac users will probably be familiar with their PRS-T1 (and later?) devices mounting two disks when they're connected over USB in data transfer mode - the READER disk containing the ebooks and things, and the SETTING disk containing an installer for the Reader app.

I've recently switched to using calibre, and was getting irritated that its "device eject" feature for the PRS-T1 didn't eject the SETTING disk. If you disconnect the USB cable at this point, the Mac complains that a disk was still attached and could now be damaged.

So here's how to fix that! Or rather, here's how to stop the SETTING disk from getting mounted automatically, which gives the same end result.

You need to use the command-line for this. This works on Mountain Lion (10.8) and should work for earlier releases of OS X.

Type "sudo nano /etc/fstab" and return to create if necessary and edit a system file
You will be prompted for your password - enter it and press return
A "GNU nano" screen will appear in the terminal window.
Type (without the quotes) "LABEL=SETTING none msdos noauto,ro" and return
Type Control-X, then Y when asked to save the file, then return to accept the default filename.

That's it - the next time you attach your PRS-T1 in data transfer mode, only the READER disk will appear.

I hope this is useful for someone else.

Chris

Bookworm_Girl · 09-07-2013, 12:35 AM

Thanks for sharing this information.

pholy · 09-20-2013, 11:14 PM

Oddly enough (not)... it works on a Linux computer as well. I never thought of doing that.

Thanks

Teknikal · 09-21-2013, 04:40 AM

Mounts on my windows pc as well never really bothers me though I just close the windows and let calibre at it.

soulfuldog · 09-21-2013, 07:03 AM

Is it just with Calibre that it doesn't eject the device safely? I use Calibre but always eject my 350 via using Windows and it never gives me any message about the settings disk not being safely removed?

chrisridd · 09-22-2013, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

Oddly enough (not)... it works on a Linux computer as well. I never thought of doing that.

Thanks

That's slightly surprising, because Linux and OS X don't share much code. Great news that it worked though :-)

Chris

chrisridd · 09-22-2013, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l_macd

Is it just with Calibre that it doesn't eject the device safely? I use Calibre but always eject my 350 via using Windows and it never gives me any message about the settings disk not being safely removed?

Windows is the key difference.

I think Windows works differently - it generally lets you eject USB disks (memory sticks, E-readers!) just by pulling them out. Macs and Linux keep more state about the disk, and object if you just yank things out.

I haven't used Windows for quite a while, so my memory of these things could be wrong.

Chris

elcreative · 09-22-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisridd

Windows is the key difference.

I think Windows works differently - it generally lets you eject USB disks (memory sticks, E-readers!) just by pulling them out. Macs and Linux keep more state about the disk, and object if you just yank things out.

I haven't used Windows for quite a while, so my memory of these things could be wrong.

Chris

Ouch... not recommended unless Win set not to cache data whilst writing but should be obvious because there is an icon in tray that you use to eject in this case... even if set not to cache, it is always wise to be sure that any write to removables (of any form) has finished before just yanking them out...

09-05-2013, 02:44 PM	#1
chrisridd Guru Posts: 927 Karma: 2143512 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura ONE, Marvin 3	Preventing the "SETTING" disk from mounting on Mac Mac users will probably be familiar with their PRS-T1 (and later?) devices mounting two disks when they're connected over USB in data transfer mode - the READER disk containing the ebooks and things, and the SETTING disk containing an installer for the Reader app. I've recently switched to using calibre, and was getting irritated that its "device eject" feature for the PRS-T1 didn't eject the SETTING disk. If you disconnect the USB cable at this point, the Mac complains that a disk was still attached and could now be damaged. So here's how to fix that! Or rather, here's how to stop the SETTING disk from getting mounted automatically, which gives the same end result. You need to use the command-line for this. This works on Mountain Lion (10.8) and should work for earlier releases of OS X. Type "sudo nano /etc/fstab" and return to create if necessary and edit a system file You will be prompted for your password - enter it and press return A "GNU nano" screen will appear in the terminal window. Type (without the quotes) "LABEL=SETTING none msdos noauto,ro" and return Type Control-X, then Y when asked to save the file, then return to accept the default filename. That's it - the next time you attach your PRS-T1 in data transfer mode, only the READER disk will appear. I hope this is useful for someone else. Chris

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Saving to disk problems, and question about "Date field" after importing	PO40600	Library Management	1	01-28-2013 10:42 PM
Identified "losing books" behavior with Save To Disk	unboggling	Library Management	11	09-30-2011 12:40 PM
Feature Request: configurable space setting for "Insert blank line" in "Look & Feel"	therealjoeblow	Calibre	15	07-25-2011 03:14 PM
Preventing "orphan" right smartquotes?	kjk	ePub	6	11-11-2009 03:40 PM
"Unable to detect PRS505 disk drive" in Linux	sarchar	Sony Reader	5	01-25-2009 03:52 PM

09-07-2013, 12:35 AM	#2
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Thanks for sharing this information.

09-20-2013, 11:14 PM	#3
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	Oddly enough (not)... it works on a Linux computer as well. I never thought of doing that. Thanks

09-21-2013, 04:40 AM	#4
Teknikal Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 5264318 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belfast Device: Sony T1, Note Pro 12.2, Honor 10	Mounts on my windows pc as well never really bothers me though I just close the windows and let calibre at it.

09-21-2013, 07:03 AM	#5
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	Is it just with Calibre that it doesn't eject the device safely? I use Calibre but always eject my 350 via using Windows and it never gives me any message about the settings disk not being safely removed?

Advert

Advert