Ive been using windows since i started using pc's and i got curious a few days ago downloaded Linux in the mandrake version, my install went as smooth as i could have imagined a OS install being, id done windows clean installs before hardly any of them without running in to a bsod any how. im running linux now and getting used to it but i have some newbie questions as ive never had the opportunity to operate a unix/linux machine. Ive tinkered around with installing new programs a little bit from what i understand some programs are made into easier installs threw "rpm" basically like a windows type exe installer program. all the programs ive tried to find in a rpm file type have a error "the following packages have bad signatures" every single rpm i dl does this.
i can still continue threw the install process tho, some programs i tried to isntall aka "limewire" gives me a message "Everything already installed"... so umm ok if its installed where is it? im getting fairly used to the different extentions, operating the konsole ect ive been able to install a rpm based theme, as well as a tar.gz zipped theme. so basically my questions are. i guess ill stop rambling and just ask my questions

Where do the isntalled RPM packages go?
Why am i getting the bad signature error?
Is it possible to mount a harddrive partioned in fdisk/fat32?
Why cant i log in as user "root"? and or where is that option?
any pointers anyone has are appreciated as well

tia, sorry for the long post.

i believe i answered one of my own questions much thanks too.
http://www.digitalferret.com/section...owcontent&id=2
or so i thought.. i cant get the bin file for java to execute?

well i coudnt and now i can i had to download a previous version of java for it to install properly i had:

j2sdk-1_4_1_02-s1studio_ce-4u1-bin-linux.bin
which wouldnt install properly...for me anways so i got:

j2sdk-1_4_1_01-linux-i586-rpm.bin
which worked like a charm using the command,
sh j2sdk-1_4_1_01-linux-i586-rpm.bin.

turned that into just sh j2sdk-1_4_1_01-linux-i586.rpm
so now im stuck @ part D. of ferrets guide making programs recignize ive got java.

he speaks of a text editing program called vi?
and doing " vi /etc/profile.d/java.sh"

somebody help meh out...again lol


thanks.

Welcome.

That depends on the program. I know thats not a good answer, but there isnt one place. Common places are: /usr/bin , /usr/local/bin , /bin

Yes,you will have to edit your /etc/fstab file in your favorite editor (you must be root).

Add a line like :

/dev/hda1 /mnt/windows vfat auto,defaults,umask=000 0 0

change /hda1 to whatever it is, and change "/mnt/windows" to whatever directory you want that partition mounted in (you must create the folder yourself).

Well, in a console, doing "su" will log you in as root in that console. But for an option on the login screen. I belive its in the KDM properties in the KDE control Panel. Search the forums for this, its asked once a week.

im trying to finish up the last part of the java install by creating the java.sh file but apparently i dont have write permission on my own damn computer...ahem..so can i create such a file using commands in konsole/terminal since i can log in as root there... or what do i need to do.


FIGURED IT OUT

lol, it seems if i tinker enough ill understand how to do it, while being loged in as me(user) i can create files that need root permission by using K>Applications>File Tools>File Manager Super User Mode. which asks for the root password before opening thus giving me root powers in the GUI konqueror interface. so i went and created the java.sh file and inputed the appropiate code with Kwrite.

let me know if anything i said is a wrong or what so i make sure im understanding correctly.

Faster method:
Open up a console.
type su
Enter root password
kwrite filename.sh

The above will save you some precious seconds going through menus.

P/S: Give vi a try... vi filename