I've tried this out on two Mandriva LE 2005 machines, kernel version 2.6.11-6mdk.

Both machines say that it needs the usb-storage module to work. On the one machine, loading usb_storage fails, so the system doesn't even create a device file.

/var/log/messages tail after plugging in:
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Sep 5 01:08:46 poncel kernel: usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 5
Sep 5 01:08:47 poncel kernel: usb-storage: `test' invalid for parameter `delay_use'
Sep 5 01:08:47 poncel modprobe: FATAL: Error inserting usb-storage (/lib/modules/2.6.11-6mdk/kernel/drivers/usb/storage/usb-storage.ko.gz): Invalid argument
Sep 5 01:08:47 poncel usb.agent[28928]: ... can't load module usb-storage
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I may also note that in the Mandrake Control Center hardware browser, the usb-storage module only has one parameter (for speed) and its value is test. The parameter refuses to change.

which is why I tried to load it on another machine.

On this one, the usb-storage module does work, and it places the device file on /dev/sda. However, /dev/sda will not mount, eject or read, and it always reports it as "no media", even when there is. Finally, k3b does not accept /dev/sda as a cd burner.

I also further noted that HP does not have any support for its usb cd drives on Linux. bohoo.

Recognize as /dev/sda but it does not mount...

/var/log/messages:

May 7 12:33:45 mercurio kernel: usb 4-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2
May 7 12:33:45 mercurio kernel: usb 4-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
May 7 12:33:45 mercurio kernel: Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
May 7 12:33:49 mercurio kernel: scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
May 7 12:33:49 mercurio kernel: usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
May 7 12:33:49 mercurio kernel: USB Mass Storage support registered.
May 7 12:33:54 mercurio kernel: Vendor: HP Model: CD-Writer+ 8200e Rev: 0001
May 7 12:33:54 mercurio kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 00
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: not responding...
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda : READ CAPACITY failed.
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda : status=1, message=00, host=0, driver=08
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sd: Current: sense key: Unit Attention
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: Additional sense: Not ready to ready change, medium may have changed
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: not responding...
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: sda : READ CAPACITY failed.
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: sda : status=1, message=00, host=0, driver=08
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: sd: Current: sense key: Unit Attention
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: Additional sense: Not ready to ready change, medium may have changed
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: sda: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
May 7 12:34:06 mercurio kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
May 7 12:34:07 mercurio scsi.agent[3576]: Attribute /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.2/usb4/4-2/4-2:1.0/host2/target2:0:0/2:0:0:0/type does not exist

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May 7 12:33:54 mercurio kernel: Vendor: HP Model: CD-Writer+ 8200e Rev: 0001
May 7 12:33:54 mercurio kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 00
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: not responding...
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda : READ CAPACITY failed.
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda : status=1, message=00, host=0, driver=08
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sd: Current: sense key: Unit Attention
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: Additional sense: Not ready to ready change, medium may have changed
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
May 7 12:34:00 mercurio kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
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I get exactly the same messages. Have you found a solution to this problem?

Thanks,
Rick Knight