Hi,
Just started using Mandrake 8.2 and so far I'm quite pleased. I am a complete newbie to linux so please contain your laughter at my most probably very stupid questions :-)

1) My motherboard is an Iwill kk266plus-R. I noticed that in the Control Center under Hardware list in the "Unknown" section it mentions three VIA things. Now I guess this is to do with motherboard drivers but whenever I have looked at different sites for information about driver install it all seems very complicated and they often mention re-compiling the Kernel which to me seems drastic. Any ideas?

2) How do you change the sounds that are assigned to actions, basically I want to remove most of them but an idea of how to change them would also be useful.

3) (This is to do with menus). Could someone please explain what the difference is with changing "System" and "Root" menus. Also when I change Destops (ie. from KDE to WindowMaker or to Enlightenment) I seem to only get certain available menus. Once again Any Ideas?

4) I noticed that in Userdrake (i think) that there was a list of availble users that I didn't add to the system. Some of them look like system commands and some just look like users (one of them is called snort if I remember correctly). Why are they there and can I delete them? Bare in mind I haven't been on the net with linux yet so I haven't been hacked or anything.

Sorry this is a huge post. please remember I am a complete beginner with Linux so help is greatly appreciated as i would love to know how to use linux properly and not be tied to windows all the time.

Once again thanks
s0

if ur using KDE: open the KDE Control Center, then goto the Sound section, then System Notifications. here u can change/delete/add sounds

Brilliant, thanks i've done that now and all is good.
So thats 1 down and loads to go :-)

Once again thanks
s0

First of all, never be embarassed about being a newbie - we all started that way and with Linux, few people know everything

1. The 'unknown' markers in Mdk Control Centre aren't like the exclamation mark in Windo$e Device Manager - (tip - ignore what you know from Windo$e!). If the system is working OK, then you can safely assume that it just means that Mandrake aren't aware of that particular device working. There's a way of notifying them - see Control Centre > Hardware for details. For example, I have a couple of 'unknowns' in my hardware list, but the system works anyway - I've just told Mdk about them and they'll add them to the list.

2. If you are using KDE, go to the KDE Control Centre > Sound.

3. Each GUI generally shows different menus. On top of that, Mandrake have their own menu version - to make things as easy as possible for new converts. You can change it whenever you like. As far as root and system menus go, you should do the minimal amount of time as root as possible. In a file manager, the root is the branch that all other branches come from - a bit like 'C' under Windoze.

4. Don't worry - in a default installation, there will be root and at least one 'user' - as well as 'users' which are in fact processes going on in the background. 'Deleting' them is actually disabling them - until you are confident, best go with the flow. Mdk is a user-friendly distro and its best to wait until you've got some Linux-miles under your belt before you tinker

As far as being hacked goes, again try to unlearn what you've got from Windo$e - viruses aren't such a problem under Linux (except when you are linked to Windo$e boxes) but firewalling is. As you're using 8.2, install Bastille using Software Manager and set your security level as medium - you shouldn't have too many problems.


HTH


Dutch

Thats fantastic. Thanks very much thats going to help a lot. Im really starting
to enjoy the way in which everyone helps each other with linux and you dont
have to wait a month and a half for help.

Thankyou very much
s0

On the issue of security, a good place to check is the Security section of this board. I would recommend you check out UnSpawns weekly security updates that he started posting like a week or two ago.

Like Dutch3 said a good means to start is installing a firewall, and I would recommend trying to learn about iptables.

The file called snort is a networking program (network sniffer if i remember correctly), i tried it a few days ago on my network.

Ahh i c. I just thought that snort sounded like a username but it doesn't surprise me cos im starting to get used to the weird and wonderful names in the *nix world :-)

I installed Bastille but when I try to run the script "bastille-firewall" it doesn't work it says that another script "bastille-ipchains" isnt in /sbin. The b..-ipchains script is in the same directory as b...-firewall so i copied b..-ip.. to the /sbin directory but still no good.

Any ideas?

s0

i would recoommend firestarter for setting up a firewall, not too keen on bastille tho.

Under Mdk 8.2, you can install the Bastille rpm and the Bastille Chooser rpm. The first time you run Chooser, you get two or three options, then the configuration is done and Bastille should load when you start Linux.

I agree with acid_kewpie, but for someone starting out in Linux, Bastille is OK for a start.......


HTH

Dutch

feel free to ask questions

more converts to linux is always good