This link, found by googling for "usb floppy linux compaq presario 
laptop", mentions for one model that you mount it as /dev/sda. 
 http://www.perpetualpc.net/Presario.html   Might be worth hunting 
through google a bit.

steve burton wrote:

> I'm brand new to linux and I have some questions which are probably 
> pretty basic, but not to me. OK first off I am running RH 8 Just got 
> it installed on a compaq presairio laptop with an external usb floppy 
> which I am unable to use. I tried to use the disk formatter under the 
> system tools and I get the message Unable to open the device /dev/fd0, 
> Formating cannot continue.
> Ok next question I know when I press Ctrl/Alt/F1 It takes me out of 
> the GUI but how do I get back to the GUI.
> Next the pipe symbol, I can't find that on my keyboard
> Thanks in advance for any help
>
> Frank
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : 
> http://explorer.msn.com