thanks every body you who showed concern but i am sorry that i could not do the things basically what i did was as root igave mkdir -p /dos mount -t vfat /dev/hda1/dos the command showed no errors ( as it happens almost always in linux :) but when i went inside the dir there was none in it ...neigther was some thing in the /mnt dir i also tried editing /etc/fstab but of no use basically here is my hard disk ...if you want some more info plz call me .....i have a lot of things to ask if this problem is solved ....you know i am a damn newbie and passionate for linux result of fdisk device boot start end blocks ID system /dev/hda1 1972 2513 409752 83 linux /dev/hda2 1294 1971 5125680 f win95 Ext'd(LBA) /dev/hda3 * 1 1022 7726288+ b win95 FAT32 /dev/hda4 1023 1293 2948760 82 LInux Swap /dev/hda5 1294 1971 5125648+ b win95 FAT32 my mtab file : /dev/hda1 / ext2 rw 0 0 none /proc proc rw 0 0 usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs rw 0 0 none /dev/pts devpts rw,gid=5,mode=620 0 0 /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy vfat rw,nosuid,nodev 0 0 my fstab file : LABEL=/ / ext2 defaults 1 1 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom iso9660 noauto,owner,ro 0 0 /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy auto noauto,owner 0 0 none /proc proc defaults 0 0 none /dev/pts devpts gid=5,mode=620 0 0 /dev/hda4 swap swap defaults 0 0 /dev/hda3 /dos vfat defaults 1 0 the last line i tried putting after making a dir in / as dos and regarding the disclaimer , i am helpless as it is attached automatically when this piece of paper leaves our network....i do not fine our admin good enough to talk :) thanx in advance see i am totally new to this world , you guys have to teach me word by word **************************************************************************** This electronic communication and any accompanying document is being transmitted over the Indian Oil Network and contains confidential information that is for the exclusive use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and is protected against unauthorised disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended receipient or the employee or agent responsible to deliver to the intended receipient, or is not intended to act on it, be aware that any disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication, or the use of its contents is prohibited and is likely to be attended by legal consequences. If you have received this communication in error and/or are not the intended receipient, please immediately notify the undersigned or Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. at the telephone or the fax number or email address given above and permanently delete the original message from your email system. Whilst this mail has been checked for all the known viruses, recipients should undertake their own virus checking as Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. will not accept any liability whatsoever ****************************************************************************