so much to get through, better get started....

1. after a fresh install, when booting from hd, i get 'stage 1 Read Error'. what could be causing this (ie. where is the startup config file so i can sort it out)? (btw, i can get into the system using the boot disk created at install time)
2. where is the menu config file for icewm? i'm fairly new to all this, having a bit of trouble getting around?
3. Iomega Zip Drive (Parallel port version), how do i install/configure it?
4. ppp setup? i tried to use my modem to connect to the net at install time, but it told me my modem could not be found. it (the modem) is a pace 28.8 internal model, and most definitely is not a 'Winmodem'
5. monitor refresh rates. which file contains the options?
6. i'd like to create another boot disk, in case my current one is wiped by accident, how?
7. its a bit late now, but for future ref., how do i save a list of all the packages i select at install time, so i don't have to scroll through the ENTIRE BLOODY LIST all over again?
8. is there any good 'Windows Explorer' clone out there, with similar options and right click menus etc.?
9. how do i properly configure a boot partition at install time, again for future ref.? (i now realise that mucking about with the one i have now is probably what cause the cockup in q.1)
10. fool-proof way to find any file on the system please? something close to the 'Find files' tool in Win95 would be nice....
11. why did asking for a text-only login leave me with a gui-style one? grrr...
12. playing real-audio files - how?
13. in case we have any sound-people knocking about... any good sample editors and multi-track stuff out there?

oof, that lot'll keep you busy. i'm not really a complete newbie, as i tried out linux a few years back, but its changed so much.... oh well

any help would be much appreciated, if you can please email solutions to me directly
- jinn1400@yahoo.co.uk

toodlepip chaps

A clone for IE5
 

I am also a newbie to Linux and have just installed Mandrake 7.2 on my system. After much cursing at the poor quality of Netscape, I got hold of a copy of Mozilla. This is much better and far more akin to IE than Netscape ever was. The right click menu functions are also much better!

Modem problem
 

I had problems setting up my modem too. How far does yours get? Does it attempt to dial?

If your problem is authorization / login, check that you are using CHAP authorization (this is the most common). Also try checking your ISPs website, and emailing their helpdesk.

Athon Solo
http://www.teamarena.net

Hardware config
 

Ive found that the most useful tools for hardware configuration are HardDrake and DrakConf.
.
Athon Solo
http://www.teamarena.net

Browser / File Explorer
 

My personal favorite is Konqueror. Its alot like IE I think. Very easy to use.
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Also, if u go into 'Tools', there's a 'Find Files' option that looks & works just like the Windoze one!
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Athon Solo
http://www.teamarena.net

jin,
That list of questions is really WAY too long to address in one post. You may want to break them up and post them in the most appropriate forum.