let's fix the problems one by one :-).
1. Fixing the normal user path.
You should look in your home directory (typically /home/username) and open the file '.bashrc' with a text editor of your choice (try an easy one like nano / gedit / joe). There is probably a reference to your path variable in your file like:
PATH=/bla/bla/bla
whatever it is, add this:
:/sbin so it reads:
PATH=/bla/bla/bla:/sbin
You can add additional directories by using the ':' sign and then the path. Easy eh? Then save the file, logout & login and it should be fixed.
2. Difference between 'su' and 'su -'
su - creates a login shell, this gives you the 'true' root shell, ea: it's exactly the same as if you logged in as root from the login prompt.
su 'only' gives you the root permissions, but keeps your current information like PATH and stuff like that, so thats why your path does not change when you use 'su' (and so, the programs that are in root's path are not accessible by just typing their full name).
3. Linking firefox so you can start it with the command 'firefox' and get a new instance each time.
This is actually a tricky one, but there are existing solutions for this. I've googled around a bit and these sites looked good:
http://www.wlug.org.nz/MozillaFirefoxStartupScript
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_:_...tance_in_Linux
If these not work, I might have some old perl script hanging around somewhere to do the job, but I think those sites will work.
You should try the scripts they mention on those sites, and download them.
Then move them to the correct folder and give them the correct permissions:
Code:
mv /home/username/<path to downloaded script>/scriptname.sh /usr/bin/firefox
chmod +x /usr/bin/firefox
That should do the trick! Good luck,
Marno