is it possible to globally stop mandriva 2006 password requests? I'm constantly bugged by all the pw entry requests when copying files, connecting to ethernet/wireless, accessing the control center, logging on, etc. thanks. using kde.

Do you mean password prompts when using "su" or "sudo" commands? In general?

Like any Linux distro you login as your own user, which is 'unpriveleged', and not root. This means that when you have to do something that requires root priveleges (opening the Mandrake Control Centre, installing software, moving/copying/editing system files) you need to put in the root password. For normal use like webbrowsing, playing music and videos, editing office docs, instant messaging, burning CD/DVD and all that you don't need to put in the root password as all those programs will run fine (and should be run) as your user.

It is possible to login as the root user but this is a very bad idea as is takes away most of the security of the system and makes it very easy to stuff things up.