no /dev/sdxx

[RaTTuS]

1) don't have external drive plugged in
2) login in and
tail -f /var/log/syslog
3) plug in drive and switch it on
4) copy what is output here
5) this may also help us :-
sudo fdisk -l

[abishur]

when I try to mount the drives using ntfs-3g I get a message that says the file type does not exist.

Make sure you do a sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g first

[ryql]

I installed ntfs-g and I have r/w permissions for everyone.
I am still unable to use my windows computer to write to the disk.
I mapped the drive in windows and tried to copy a file to it and was unable to.
I got a message saying I need permission.
I also tried to ftp using proftpd and logged in as pi and was unable to write to the drive.
I cannot log in as root or rick which is a user I created with root access.
I am gaining a bit at a time thanks to everyones help.

[ryql]

Everything is now working.
I had set up 2 mount points and windows was looking at the wrong one so I remounted the drive to the one windows was looking at and all is good. I can write to the drives.
I would like to thank everyone for their input and help.
I really appreciate your suggestions.
This post can now be closed.