Hi,
I'm new to Linux and finally managed to get it installed on my PC a the weekend. Now that I've got it Installed I've got a couple of question on how I go about doing a few things.

I hope these question don't sound stupid but I've spent the last 5 years on Windows Systems.

I've installed Mandrake Linux Version 9.1. When Selecting the Software to Install I selected KDE as my Graphical Environment and Didn't install Gnome as I was short of disk space.

Question 1: I want to go back and install other software from the Installation disks that I missed on the original Install. Someone on this Forum told me that in the sys tray I should have some sort of Mandrake Control Center which should allow me to install the packages I require. However all I appear to have in my sys tray is a Clipboard type Package. One Thing I didn't install was the Configuration option. Is this required before you can do this.


Question 2: When I boot up Linux it logs me straight into the Graphical Environment with the user that I created during Install. I have Noticed that there are some functionality that requires you to be logged in as Root. How to I change it so that I can log into this Environment as root.


Question 3: Is there any way I can Reconfigure Hardware. One of the Things I want to do is Change the Screen Resolution. Most of the Screen is off the Page and I cannot Select the OK buttons on the Button.


Hope Someone out there can help me and I hope my questions were not to stupid.

Thanks in Advance

Peter

you can install software from the cd with the urpmi command

open a terminal and su to root

type

urpmi rpmdrake

this should add the INstall Software option in the Config menu

you can add anything from the cd'as by using the urpmi command. It will also check for and notify you of, required dependencies.

The GDM config entry in the Confg menu is where you can choose the "no not load straight to KDE" option

Mandrake doesn't allow for logging into root from the GDM.
you either have to su to root
or exit X and log on as root

The Mandrake Control Centre has an entry for display where you can change the deafault screen res.
also

CtrlShift- changes the screen res up
and CtrlShift+ changes it down

Question 1:

Software install tool should be in Kmenu -> Configuration -> Packaging

go to easy urpmi to add network software sources. it will tell you how to add sources to urpmi.

Question 2:

You don't really want to log in as root, open a terminal window and type "su" then your password. this will make you root in that window, you can then launch whatever apps you need as root.

Question 3:

Go to Mandrake Control Center by clicking on Kmenu -> Configuration -> Mandrake control center. You will be prompted for the root password. From here you can do virtually all your config and setup it also has a software menu to launch install software, remove software . . . ect

For configuring your screen resolution, once you have Mandrake control center running click on Hardware and you will see a tool to change screen resolution.

Also if you want it to prompt you for a username and password on a graphical menu when you boot you have to set it up in Mandrake control center click on "boot" then "Drakboot" then click on "no, I don't want autologin".

I would also change your GDM (Graphic Display Manager, this where you put in your username and password) The default is MdkKDM, I have seen problems with it. In Mandrake control center click on "Hardware" then "Choose the display manager" (It's a stop light Icon). I would select "KDM" It works great.

Questions are NOT stupid, that's what we are all here for. A lot of us may tell you to search google and search the forum, but that's usually when we know the question has been asked many times.