This system is Antix 8.5 running kde4, installed with smxi. Works like a dream, except that kde can't unmount portable devices. (Clicking the up-arrow next to the device name in Device Manager give a"Cannot unmount device..." error. From the CLI ase root, I can unmount such devices with no trouble.

I'm suspecting a config issue with hal, but don't know enough to try to fix it. Any suggestions?

Hello and welcome to antiX, irvcobb.

If you installed antiX-base or full, I suggest removing halevt. make sure the folder in /etc gets deleted as well.

I just installed antiX-core (in Virtualbox), then used smxi to install base system and kde and kde extras and was able to mount/unmount as user my usb stick. The core version does not have halevt.

Thanks, anti. That did it.