directory permissions keep getting reset
 

Okay on 10.1 CE I set up directories in /home and set the permissions as 777 RWX for all so they are open for all users. But the keep changing to 766 RWX owner RW for others. Nothing in roots cron that is doing this. Where is this coming from?

Probably msec, the mandrake security daemon. Check your security setting in mandrake control center>Security and both "level and checks" and "permissions".

That was it! kewl utility! Thanks much!