Ok, so I dusted off those mandrake linux disks that I downloaded a few months ago, and, with beer can in hand set about installing linux to dual boot with xp. I must admit that I'm impressed. Everything except the scanner (umax astraslim) works, and was easier to set up than with windows xp. So for the questions...

1. When I log in as root and start x the watch-like timer doesn't go away and nothing appears in the task/control bar. The k menu works ok though. Is this normal? and if not how do I fix it? (everything works fine in my user account though).

2. Do I need to set up a firewall with linux? The control centre offers to set one up for me but when I try to all the options are greyed out.

3. Do I need any sort of anti-virus software?

4. I updated my linux system with mandrake update (a huge download). I have heard about kernel updates though, does mandrake update apply these kernel updates automatically or are they a manual thing? if they do have to be done manually is it very complicated/necessary to do?

Ok so those are my questions. I know your all probably going to scream FTFM, so if someone can point me in the direction of a really good introduction to linux I would be very grateful. Many, many thanks in advance...

at your mandrake OS, there's doc installed. open your browser and you see a brunch of mandrake store, mandrake expert, mandrake help...etc on top


go to start reading the mandrake document. it will walk you through what linux is basically all about. then it will wak you through how to use mandrake.

some of the doc (included in your os) also teach a little more complex stuff such as how to compile software, kernel, etc...

If your mouse pointer is working fine with your user account(s) then its most likely a minor glitch with your root acct. I'm not a mandrake user so I'm not up on this . A quick search of the mandrake forum just might turn up a fix.

Yes you most definately need to setup a firewall. Are you in your user account
when you try to set the firewall up? Root should the only user thats allowed to
muck around with the firewall, which would explain the greyed out options if your in your user account

I'd say that anti-virus software would be optional unless you're planning on
running a mail server or something. One thing that you should have in your
kit though is chkrootkit . It checks for the presence of rootkits (suprise, suprise) you can get it at http://www.chkrootkit.org

Upgrading the kernel can be a bit intimidating. Study up on the procedure before diving into it. There are plenty of good articles and howto's around.
Do a search of the forums here, or give http://www.google.com/linux a shot

RTFM? No, you won't or should'nt see that here... Ever. The only stupid question is the one the goes unasked.

What's a rootkit?

from http://www.rootkit.nl/articles/rootkit_hunter_faq.html


I found this cool article. You might want to read the introduction
http://www.niser.org.my/resources/rootkit.pdf

You shouldn't see that here, but it is EXPECTED that you have done some googling at Google/linux and then have gone through the man pages #man chmod or whatever the issue is.

I never have any problem explaining things to people who have googled and read man pages and such but are still lost as of what to make from them. However, those who ask questions that are answered in man pages, and they fail to make mention of not understanding them or whatever not working.... well, they just seem lazy. And linux is not a system for people who are lazy.

Also, feel free to use the search function of LQ, questions are often answered many times over because people dont bother to do a quick search.

since you have posted this a thread on the merits of running an antivirus was started.... so you can check this one out here

This, however, is not in reference to this original post. It is just some advice to a newbie to make their linux experience much simpler.... so don't be afraid to post. Just make sure you have read some before you do, cause you may be able to answer your own question... and nothing is more satisfying...

Mandrake tries to discourage you from running X as root (which is a good thing), so it starts you off with a totally bare desktop. You need to go into the Kcontrol center (might be called the mandrake control center) and select the options to have icons on the taskbar, on the desktop etc.

If I may also recommend, run X as a regular user. You don't need to be root all the time.