just a few random questions..

how do you set permissions for each user? i'm about tired of having to log into root every time i want to install something.

does everything (besides rpms) usually install in a ./configure, make, make check, make install chain of commands, or am i going about things the hard way?

mandrake detected my scrollmouse fine on install and still does now, but doesn't detect the wheel scrolling up and down. it detects me pushing it in though.

more as they come. thanks a million.

chris.

"does everything (besides rpms) usually install in a ./configure, make, make check, make install chain of commands, or am i going about things the hard way?"

Usually they do. When the developer does not conform to the standard pattern that is often a sign of a shoddy job and a difficult install.

If you want to make a tarball into a rpm then you could use checkinstall. After you install checkinstall then the install sequence becomes:

./configure
make
checkinstall

and then install the resulting rpm package.

http://asic-linux.com.mx/~izto/checkinstall/

"how do you set permissions for each user? i'm about tired of having to log into root every time i want to install something."

An easier way is:
As user start a terminal. Use the su command to temporarily become root. Use rpm (or checkinstall) to do the install and then exit out of root and out of the terminal.

"mandrake detected my scrollmouse fine on install and still does now, but doesn't detect the wheel scrolling up and down. it detects me pushing it in though."

Mandrake has a utility to configure the mouse. I do not know its name. Maybe some Mandrake user knows the name or you might find it on the Mandrake web site.

About the permissions thing, if you're suicidal, you can give your local user account the UID 0, which would imbue it with rootly powers. But this is insane and a good way to shoot your foot off.

I would recommend using the "sudo" command when you are doing mundane patches and updates and/or system file editing. You type "sudo command, enter your own user password, and it'll give you root power for a limited amount of time, or until the completion of your task. It's the most reasonable alternative to su'ing to root all the time.

You'll get used to su'ing and/or sudo.....it's just another way that Unix is different than Windows. I know there have been times when I was tired and/or being hasty that I was saved from making really horrible mistakes by not being root.

Good luck.

For mouse, select Mandrake Control Center->Hardware->MouseDrake and select your type of mouse from the list. My Microsoft Intellimouse works well with 'Generic PS2 Wheel Mouse' under 'PS/2'.