At work our research os is linux mandrake 9.1, I have been given a log in and have also been given the root pword, my question is once I log in how do I get access to seeing all other users and their files or how to switch and browse with the root pword enabled..... I need to manage users and add users etc... do I do it in my login , do I need to login as root... a newbie here who is a little confused. thanks

If you log in as root, you can browse and edit anything.

If you want to browse and edit files as root when logged in as a user, open a terminal (like Konsole or xterm). Enter the command "su" you will be prompted for root password. Enter the root password, then enter the command "konqueror" which will open the konqueror file manager as root. From the Konqueror window, you will now be able to view, copy, or edit files as root.

If you want to add users, try the "kuser" program. It allows you to create or delete users, set user passwords, and set groups that users belong to.

Safest way to use root privileges is always to login as your normal user, then type

su

at a terminal, give the root pwd, and you will then have root power inside that terminal. This method will allow you to use other programs in user mode while using your root power only where it is needed.

thanks alot guys, wanted to know how to use root privilages outside of the knosole window, so then once supplying root pword I can launch any utility as the root user

well you can open a terminal window...do your su and from there you can start any utility you want (such as userdrake) and it will be running as root even if its a GUI thing on your desktop.