I Just bought the book "Linux for Non-Geeks". It contained 2 CDs and the author guides the newcomer into setting up and using Fedora Core 1. A root password and a user account and password were required and all went well with the installation. I have a usable printer and internet connection. However, I have several questions that I haven't found an answer to. First, when I click on the KPPP icon to connect, I am directed to give my root password. Isn't that risky, connecting in the root mode? I would think connecting as a user would be safer. Second, sometimes -- for no apparent reason to me, everything locks up and the only way I can excape is by hitting Contl-Alt-Backspace, which brings me back to the log-in page. Any idea what may be wrong? Is this a problem with FC1 that is corrected in another version?.
Many thanks.

In general, access to devices like the modem is a priviledged operation and thus must be done as root. Some people like to use the setuid bit on kppp, but if you don't have a problem typing the root password that's probably the best. Not sure about your freezing problem -- is there any pattern to when it freezes?

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I realize that root has to serve as the system administrator and control the modem and do other things. I was thinking along the lines that if there were, say, five users, then the root user would be kept busy serving the users. Also, I had heard never to work in root mode when you're online because it exposes your computer. As for the lockups, I'll try to keep a record of when it happens. I know it happens when I mouse click between various files. I'll try to come up with some specific examples. Thanks again for the response.

Simply running the dialer program as root isn't that big a risk (there's risk in everything, of course, it's just a matter of degree). Running things like Web browsers or IRC programs as root, though, is a really bad idea as you said.

Thanks for your response. It may be that I'm not looking at this from the right perspective. Can it be that the root password is required just to sign on, then it automatically returns to user mode? I have learned a lot about Linux from that book but there were several little projects that didn't work out when I tried them. As for the lockups, I was hoping someone would tell me that that was a problem with FC1 but that it had been corrected with a later version, such as FC3. I'll keep plugging away with it and maybe someday I can leave MS Windows behind forever and forever and forever. Again, thanks.