I really do love Mepis, and its my first introduction to Debian and I am very impressed with it. But I would like to tweak a few things for the default install and I am interested in learning a few aspects of it:

1. Is Mepis free? During boot there are two files that say "(C) Warren" and one is the audio driver file; what is the license for the distro (minus GPL progs) as a whole? Can it be cloned?

2. I cannot seem to find /etc/skel to set the default new-user home folders. I don't need some of the folders that are created by adding a new user, and I would like other folders created, as well as different icons, etc (i.e., Firefox for, well, Firefox)

3. Does anyone know how to run "bootcd" ($ bootcdwrite), it's a package on the repository but I cannot seem to get it to go.

4. For debian/unstable, in general, is it a good idea to remove the Unstable sources from my repo list now that Debian 3.1 is out? I read somewhere that now the "unstable" branches would be very much more unstable as the packages have been frozen and officially released. Or something.

I've no desire to create yet another distro, just a customized Mepis for personal use and occasional installation for other people.

Ideas? suggestions?

1. You can make as many copies as you want. For example, there is someone on the Mepis Lovers site that carries a bunch of copies around in his briefcase and hands them out to people. The more Mepis out there the better!

2. Don't know

3. Don't know

4. Mepis is based on unstable but you can set the repos however you want. I have been running unstable and it has been pretty stable to me.

Do you mean remastered?

Yes, I meant Remastered. Upon boot, there are two files (meauto and me?? I forget the second) both "(C) Copyright 2003-2005 Mepis LLC." Not that I want to rewrite these files or anything (or the beautiful distro itself), I just want to default install to look/act as I desire, and not have to reinstall/deinstall all the progs I want/don't want. Also, the Mepis Control Center has a (C) on it, I think...

I've read that guy's MEPIS givaway story; its inspired me to do the same (sorta). I've begun to leave little stacks at coffeeshoppes, local computer shoppes, etc. with a quick "how-to" written on... makes me wonder: should there be a standardized version of a "how-to" sticker/label/envelope for different distros so that we can flood the world, AOL styleee, with free bootable CDs?

I think I read on either the Mepis.org or the Lovers site someone asking the same thing. I want to say you can do that but why would you want to? Meauto is what gives Mepis it's excellent hardware detection and OS Center with it's useful tools. Without them it isn't Mepis anymore.

I keep forgetting when I give out copies of Mepis to tell people about the root and demo passwords, lol.

I didn't know meauto is why it works so well, but that is good to know... i am wondering if i can remaster AND keep these files (those which are (c) MEPIS LLC), if that is a freedom i have, or if it is a limitation on the fsf four freedoms.

p.s. i would still like it to BE mepis, just with other software/panel setup/desktop look, without offending or stepping on toes

Ask Warren for permission. I think his email is: warren at mepis.org
(he will probably even let you use mepis tools) Anyway, he's the right person to ask.