Mandrake, KDE and root user
 

When i log in as root I get a red background in KDE and i can't even add icons to the desktop. Is this supposed to happen? Infact there is not one single icon on the desktop? The mouse icon has that hourglass shape when it is over the desktop. Hope i have been clear.

u can right click on the desktop go to properties, and then behavior there u can enable deskto icons , but u are not suppose to run linux as root , u can always login as a normal user and su or if its som graphical setup t'll ask u for the root pass , so TRY NOT TO USE YOUR ROOT Acount in X

I know about being root user and all. I want to be able to do what i want on my computer. If that means reformating and the like that's the chance I'm willing to take. i always wanna feel I know the ins and outs of a OS that I am using.

However as I said there is just the hourglass mouse icon meaning i can do nothing with/on the desktop

I'm afraid to say that if you want to know the ins and outs of your system and want to be able to use it the way you want, the best thing to do is scrap mandrake..

Mandrake is designed with newbies in mind, which is nice, it adds nice config tools and the like, but it doesn't want you to be the root user!

So.. use a different distro if you want to login as root regularly.
I recommend Debian or Gentoo.... then you'll really find the ins and outs of your system!

I have no problems as root in a Konsole so i don't see what you mean by Mandrake not wanting to let you login as root regularly.

That is what I mean, you can use root in konsole, but not in X. This is mandrake being too over-protective.

Logging in as root in konsole isn't ALWAYS the best way.

ok, KDE, specifically mandrake, is signalling to you that it STroNGly dislikes your being in root, that is why u can't add icons and there is an hourglass and such, all there to discourage u from using root and all for the better

i agree, if u want to really run root without that trouble, use deb or slack, both which won't really care what u do

mandrake is definitely meant for noobs, that is why "root" is not listed on the login menu by default, it does not want people, specifically those who may not have any clue as to the hazards, messing up their os and being frustrated

thanks, someone who agrees with me!

hehe