Steam for Linux isn't recognizing my media files in order to use a USB instead of the internal drive.

[ghere124]

I'm new hear and don't know the whole terminology to describe my situation. I very recently found out I can run steam on my Chrome OS with Linux and was able to successfully run it. Being as I am in a Chrome OS for which I know the capabilities of running and having enough disk space for any such game is ridiculous. Which is why I want to change the directory folder from the internal drive to my external drive or USB. I know the process in order to accomplish this but the setback is when I try to switch my usual "/home/<USERNAME>....... to "/media/......." it doesn't allow me. Either the problem is the little + sign in front of "media" isn't there or it pops up a message as I try to create a folder within the media file telling me "Failed to create a folder, this drive is read-only.".

I have't done much to repair this problem as there isn't a direct response to my question. One such person by the name of Nitro had a similar problem, and I tried to fix it based on his solution but didn't go anywhere and seems like he using something else.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/618453594738654413/
Again, the terminology isn't very congruent or specified but any help well be great-fully accepted.

[Zyro]

So, you want to install games to the media directory?
And you tried to do so in the Steam client, making a new "library" or whatever they call it?
Are you able to manually navigate to the media folder and create a little text file there (for testing purposes)?

[Kepos]

Probably I misunderstood, but did you define your drives in /etc/fstab ?
It is very unlikely that you could outsource your Steam library on a USB drive that isn't recorded in your fstab, where your built-in drives are listed. Only thinkable is an ad-hoc base, but you'll loose all your data after restarting computer.

[ghere124]

Originally posted by Zyro:

So, you want to install games to the media directory?
And you tried to do so in the Steam client, making a new "library" or whatever they call it?
Are you able to manually navigate to the media folder and create a little text file there (for testing purposes)?

I am not certain how to access the media folder. The only files for which I know I can see and edit are my downloads, images, audio, and the USB files themselves. Going deeper and access the files such as user, system, and home folders I am not a pro at.

[ghere124]

Originally posted by Kepos:

Probably I misunderstood, but did you define your drives in /etc/fstab ?
It is very unlikely that you could outsource your Steam library on a USB drive that isn't recorded in your fstab, where your built-in drives are listed. Only thinkable is an ad-hoc base, but you'll loose all your data after restarting computer.

I never did define my drives in "/etc/fstab" but even so I don't know exactly what this means. Sorry if that didn't help your resolution on my problem and I am not a tech wiz when it comes to specifically playing around with Chromebooks.

[Kepos]

Originally posted by ghere124:

I never did define my drives in "/etc/fstab" but even so I don't know exactly what this means. Sorry if that didn't help your resolution on my problem and I am not a tech wiz when it comes to specifically playing around with Chromebooks.

Well, to 'mount' any drive to your Linux system permanently, it has to be written in the 'fstab' file, which is one of the basics, one has to recognize about how Linux is working. It is no wizardry, but the basics on how the system works. You define your hardware, stored in a file, this time it is called 'fstab' and is found in your ' / ' root directory under ' /etc '. You can only manipulate this file, when you are using your root password, otherwise you are only allowed to view it. Any program is using the basic defines. So, when it comes to ad-hoc USB-drives, they are just mounted currently, but not really known to the system for longer. So, if you want to try to install your ... let's say Steam games on that drive, Steam can't find it, no matter that it is ad-hoc mounted to the system by simply plugging the USB in. You have to tell Steam where to look every single time, instead of fstab-mounted drives, who are known. I do not know if you may write USB-drives to your fstab, because the system won't start, if that drive is not present.

For further information, you may search any search engine for 'Linux fstab'.

[ghere124]

Originally posted by Kepos:

Originally posted by ghere124:

I never did define my drives in "/etc/fstab" but even so I don't know exactly what this means. Sorry if that didn't help your resolution on my problem and I am not a tech wiz when it comes to specifically playing around with Chromebooks.

Well, to 'mount' any drive to your Linux system permanently, it has to be written in the 'fstab' file, which is one of the basics, one has to recognize about how Linux is working. It is no wizardry, but the basics on how the system works. You define your hardware, stored in a file, this time it is called 'fstab' and is found in your ' / ' root directory under ' /etc '. You can only manipulate this file, when you are using your root password, otherwise you are only allowed to view it. Any program is using the basic defines. So, when it comes to ad-hoc USB-drives, they are just mounted currently, but not really known to the system for longer. So, if you want to try to install your ... let's say Steam games on that drive, Steam can't find it, no matter that it is ad-hoc mounted to the system by simply plugging the USB in. You have to tell Steam where to look every single time, instead of fstab-mounted drives, who are known. I do not know if you may write USB-drives to your fstab, because the system won't start, if that drive is not present.

For further information, you may search any search engine for 'Linux fstab'.

Okay, I understand what your saying. It makes sense and seems to be a solution to my problem. https://linuxconfig.org/howto-mount-usb-drive-in-linux Does the link I provided seem to do the basic run down of what your saying. Thank you for the help in advance.

[Kepos]

Well, the USB-mount process should be automated on the newer systems. But I have to say, that I never played around with USB disks so far and can't help further except to show you some information about the basics. Which actually worked. That's how Linux works, you find an issue, you ask, get some information and try to solve it.

[ghere124]

Originally posted by Kepos:

Well, the USB-mount process should be automated on the newer systems. But I have to say, that I never played around with USB disks so far and can't help further except to show you some information about the basics. Which actually worked. That's how Linux works, you find an issue, you ask, get some information and try to solve it.

No thats alright, certainly ever little bit to get me ever so closer to fixing the problem is helpful. Really do appreciate it.

[Marlock]

usb disks usually come formatted as EXFAT, FAT32 or NTFS...

Steam doesn't like these, only EXT4, so maybe this is part of why it's not being listed?

you can create a new folder on your home then issue a "mount" command with the correct parameters to have this folder show whatever is in that removable drive... Steam *should* see it then, even if this is mounted temporarily

doing it this way lasts until explicitly unmounted or until you reboot...

fstab allows it to be automounted to a custom location every time the system boots or whenever the disk is plugged in to the running system

ps: there are also apps to handle fstab configs graphically, like gnome-disks (installed by default and called just "Disks" in some distros like Linux Mint and afaik Ubuntu too), but it's easier to give you accurate instructions by directly editing the fstabs file