Results:

mount -t vfat /dev/hdf1 /mnt/hdf1
mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/hdf1,
or too many mounted file systems

mount -t auto /dev/hdf1 /mnt/hdf1
mount: you must specify the filesystem type

woah! I like that ls command...
It shows the 2 drives (working on hdf1) in a dark color and current mounts in light blue... cool!

tried: mount -t vfat /dev/hdf1
result: gives help info as if I typed mount -h

a couple of tidbits more on info:
I !think! that the partition/drive (hdf1) is on my secondary (promice) controler... however that thought doesn't pan out because hdf5 (same drive, different partition) works fine.

Thanks for the information so far (that ls command is realy neato) but it still wont mount...