Hi,

I have recently installed redhat 9 and am completely new to linux enviroment (previous OS is windows XP). I have been going through many threads but haven't found the answers to some basic stuff :'( Plz help:

1) I get two option to boot from at start and wish to know the diffrence between linux (2.4.20-8smp) and linux-up(2.4.20-8)?

2) My USB mouse and keyboard dont work on the 2.4.20-8smp boot up but they do work SOMETIMES (have a 50/50% chance to work) on the linux-up(2.4.20-8) boot, why is this?

3) is there a shell prompt interface where I can use the command line to install/edit/etc or is redhat 9 pure GUI? if there is a commandline interface? where is it because i can't find it? ><

4)I have an MP3 player mass storage device and it doesn't appear on /Mnt, i gave read threads where they tell me to turn SCSI SUPPORT on but how do i do this?

4a)I have found a configuration script and BUT i can't EDIT it, why is this?

4b)under /etc/sfat I am adviced to manually put in "/mnt/usbstick" or something similiar but can't (AGAIN ) edit the file, is their a way to do this?

4c) what is vfat file and where is it?

I am sorry as I am probably biggest n00b and am fresh off the boat when it come to linux so I would be greatfull if anyone can answer my many questions PLZ THX 4 any help!

4a) This is probably a permissions problem. Make yourself root before you open it, then you should be able to edit it.

To get in the command line interface you can use a terminal console. You can use CTRL-ALT-F1 to get to the first console (other F keys till 6 are the other). Use CTRL-ALT-F7 to get back to the GUI. You can also kill the xserver with CTRL-ALT-BSP.

1. 2.4.20 means the kernel version (which is quite dated). The latest stable version is 2.6.10. 2.6.11 is on its way. SMP means "Symmetric MultiProcessing" and it refers to the machines with more than 1 CPU.
2. I 'm not surprised to find out that it won't work under the smp version, but what about the other one? What do you mean by a 50/50% chance?
3.You have been answered by darkleaf above. Also there are graphic mode terminal emulators, basically a command line prompt in a window, so the whole desktop won't disappear. See the menus for something like 'console' or 'terminal'.
4.There's a more in-depth explanation for this but anyway, that is done by instructing the kernel to allow SCSI support (if you're lucky you can just add a line in the modules configuration file or might have to recompile the kernel if it has absolutely no kind of SCSI support).
4a.Why can't you edit it? Someone stopping you? Check no. 3 then type 'pico filename'.
4b. mmm....
4c.vfat isn't a file, is a filesystem, originally used by Micro$oft OSs, at the moment readable/writeable also under Linux.

You might consider looking at the beginner courses at http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/index.html.

1. smp stands for Symmetric Multiprocessing. It is a kernel that is designed for motherboards with more then one CPU.

3. There is an icon that looks like a window or monitor on the taskbar. If you click on this icon a console windows will popup.

4. Should not be necessary. If your mp3 player is recognizced as a mass storage device then all you need to do is create a directory to use as a mount point and then mount it.

mkdir /mnt/mp3
mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/mp3

You need to be logged in as root to edit files located in /etc/

The /etc/fstab file entry should look like this
/dev/sda1 /mnt/mp3 vfat umask=000 0 0

vfat is the designator for a FAT32 filesystem. FAT32 is the filesystem with windows 98

you also might want to think about not using red hat 9, as it is no longer supported... if you want to use a red hat based distro.. use fedora orbuy red hat workstation at best buy, compusa, etc..

you might also like to try slackware, suse, or Ubuntu