Working with Disks
Linux uses the concept of mounting disks before they are available, as a desktop user there exists a number of methods that hide the complexity of this process from the end user.
By default, Fedora uses the www.freedesktop.org tools, HAL and D-Bus (listed as messagebus). These two pieces of software provide a means for Fedora to notify the desktop when a new piece of software is connected, the mounting of the disk is then handled by Gnome. Inserting a disk will automatically mount it, displaying an icon on the desktop and making the files accessible through Nautilus or another file browser.
When not using HAL and D-Bus the user may simply browse to a disk as they would a file on their hard drive. Accessing 'Computer' either through the desktop or the 'Places' menu brings up a folder with icons representing the disks present on the PC, including CD/DVD drives and any USB devices that have been detected. Assuming the disk is present it will be mounted and accessed as any other directory.