iv'e installed debian sarge, but have a serious problem that i'm finding difficult to pinpoint a solution, not because the problem is a complex one but because i don't yet understand the inner workings of a linux system.

could anyone suggest a forum where i might find a knowledgable debian/linux user willing to help a newbie, as i'm sure there is a simple answer to my problem. the official debian user forum feels like a ghost-town, had no luck here either,
thanks in advance,
anton.

it helps if you post the problem, then somebody can think about it and reply.
most problems are not distro specific.

you could try linuxquestions.org if you don't go into the debian forum there and act as though there were no knowledgable debian-ites. It might also be a good idea to post the problem there instead of asking about "forum quality"

part of your problem might have to do with the fact that you are actually logging-into X11 as root in the first place (one of the most common newbie mistakes):

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=317232

huh?

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=317232

please see my earlier post
anton.

anton_w - perhaps if you described the actual problem you're having, people would be able to offer advice. Both the Debian forums and (naturally) LQ are excellent places to get assistance, but you have to provide some actual details if you expect to get meaningful answers. In other words, help us help you by describing the question as fully and completely as possible - simply saying that you have a question related to Debian isn't likely to produce useful results. Good luck with it -- J.W.

there are a couple of links in this post, to my other post, see my answer above, here it is again:-

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=317232

maybe you can offer me a clue as where to start looking and then if i am still stuck i will at least have more information to give
about the problem.
thanks
anton.

(Patient) Hey Doc, it hurts when I do *this* (ow!).
(Doc) Then don't do that.

There really is NO reason for you to log into X as root. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. If you learn to correctly administer your system (by NOT logging in as root) then your issue will become a non-issue. There is a reason why the display managers are set up default to not allow root login. It's because its a BAD IDEA. There is nothing to do that can't be done using su.

you are right of course, but imagine you had a fast car, and when you drove that car at 90mph, flames shot out from under the bonnet for no apparent reason, if you took it to the garage and the mechanic said the solution is to drive no fater than 70mph, would you be happy with that? no you would want the problem fixed.
it is the same here, i know the security issues related to running as root, and i'm also aware of the damage that can be done to system files as root, but there has been a couple of occasions when logging in as root, to handle some files that had root permissions was a lot easier than doing everything from the command-line.(the files were simply pictures i had moved over from another partition and, due to my own stupidity, they had acquired root permissions only, sorting them into their correct folders was a breeze as root, did'nt have the knowledge to handle them from the command line)
regards,
anton.

[ ANALOGY DELETED ]

liked your analogy, anyway the car has now been fixed, and is now working as it should,

thanks for your input

anton

yeah i'm sure it's working "as it should" now... LOL...

good luck with those root x11 logins...

well, since fixing the problem, there has been no reason to log in as root, did it all as su, from the command line, learnt where to find the config files, and now have a (slightly) better understanding of how x works, or maybe i should have taken your advice and ignored the problem, and learned jack shit.

btw, my previous debian install dissapeared because i was using su, one simple command and everything disappeared! the command was of course rm with i believe a space where it should not have been, at this stage logging in as root was disabled by default, maybe if this was not the case i would not have done this. we learn by making mistakes, lol

your analogy does not stand up in many cases, many "maximum security prisons" not only allow you to take a gun inside, some actually give you a gun as you walk into the system, depends on the individual, in the hands of some (me!) it is a dangerous weapon, but in the hands of others it is a useful tool, perhaps a lifesaver (inmate might have stashed a knife into his cell). should you deny the freedom of many because some might misuse that power.

anton.