Is there a GUI method to copy files or is this always done with the Bash terminal.

Thanks / Reputation (whatever) in advance!

There are all sorts of GUI file managers that do copying, moving, etc.. But, your mention of "duplicate" tells me there's more than simply a file manager that you're looking for here.. Please tell us, using a real-ish example, what exactly you want to copy, and to/from where? And what does "duplicates" have to do with it - i.e. do you want the file manager to identify duplicate versions of a bunch of files, and then move the dupes from A to B or whatever?

Thank you for any clarification you can provide.

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If I use the "file helper Menu?"; (when you right click onto an icon), you can make a link. You can also drag the icon "GUI thing" ( that is used to represent the file) somewhere else but it takes the file with it out of that address so you still only have one source of the info. I could assume that copying is more tabo or something and there is no GUI method to have the same data in two differnt places which is problably true but I like the pretty pictures on my desktop better than the Bios interface of the shell. I never really thought about this much unless I got a link onto a CD instead of the file with windows. If you make a CD with windows it does not take the file off of your hard drive. When you are done you have two instances of the same file , one on the CD and one right where it was before moving it. That's to the best of my recognition because I don't feel like booting at the moment.

If you are aware of the name of the file helper file that would be great too.

Hmm.. OK, not being a Mandriva user myself (and therefore do not know what Desktop Environment you are using), I can only make some general comments, and leave it to some other users to add more comments or suggestions:

1) If in the KDE environment, the Konqueror file manager allows you to drag+drop items, such as file icons. When one releases the 'drop' button (i.e. let go of the mouse) a dialog asks if you want to "Copy, Move, or Link" the item. I don't know that there's a specific special term for this sort of drag+drop functionality - but perhaps some other members can suggest other file managers besides Konqueror (if you don't use that) that can do the same thing. Or, just research them yourself in the meantime; Google for "Linux File Managers" and check out their features. Examples are ROX, Fileman, Konqueror, Nautilus... See here for more:
http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20...eManagers.html

The above would also apply to moving files/folders from a hard disk onto let's say a CD or USB stick - it will ask "Copy, Move, or Link" - so it leaves the original where it is if you want.

2) As for "Making a CD with Windows" - the same would apply on Linux, whether you're burning some files to a CD in a storage sense, or if you're making an ISO, such as a bootable disc; and it's also the same whether you burn your files using the command line, or you use a burning app like K3b or Brasero: the original files should remain where they were, UNLESS you specifically tell the burning tool to MOVE the files or delete the originals. I believe that would not be the default behavior though - the files normally are left untouched, and you end up with a CD too. I burn stuff via command line, but my roommate uses Brasero and her original files are left where they were after burning.

Sorry, I'm not aware of the name of the "file helper" you refer to; but I hope the rest of this helps a bit. It's been quite some time since I've used a file manager, so I'm not up to date with the latest/common features of the best known ones out there.

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I discovered that with the Nautilus File Manager If you drag and drop a icon with control/alt. pressed it will copy a file and not greate a link as with it's default operation. http://linux.about.com/library/gnome/blgnome6n6e.htm
Thanks for your help

No problem - and, I'm fairly confident that others will have maybe some further suggestions for you too, so maybe don't mark this [SOLVED] just yet.. You may get some other ideas you like, or tips about other file managers.

I think the fastest way to copy files is to mark them in your file manager, press Ctrl+C on the keyboard, the navigate to the folder were you want to have the copies and press Ctrl+V on the keyboard. Should work with almost DE and file manager.