prob with mandrake 9/gnome

[randy82103]

new to forum, new to linux

installed Mandrake 9, had it start with gnome.

So I am sitting here with my O'Reilly Running Linux, and want to reduce my GUI to something minimal so that I HAVE to learn how to use it. Any advice would be great.

Also, if someone knows how to make it stop turning on NumLock on my laptop, that would be great.

thanks

[Satanic Atheist]

Originally posted by Randy82103:
new to forum, new to linux
Welcome to Linux and welcome to JustLinux. If you need anything Linux based (and sometimes not) then you've come to the right place. Just remember to read the forum rules before you post - saves a little work when the Admins are in a bad mood!

You might prefer KDE to Gnome, since it's a little more like Windows which a lot of people like, and it gives you that functionality when you want it. Of course, it's your choice.

As for learning, well, you've already taken a big step and now you'll have to understand why you took that step. You HAVE to learn Linux anyway. It's not Windows, so you can throw most of what you learnt about that OS out the Window now. That's the most important point in learning Linux - it isn't Windows. Don't expect it to behave as though it is.

A lot of Linux is configured from the command prompt, so I suggest you fire up a shell and take a look around. You'll find a few commands similar to DoS (hehe) and Windows. Things such as "cd" to change directory, for example. If you want a list of commands, look on this website and you'll find a load listed (helpfully compiled by the mods) and also in /sbin, /bin, /usr/sbin and /usr/bin.

Using the "man" function, (e.g. man bash) will give you a manual page on the function you want help with.

I also recommend you fire up a browser and look at tldp.org for The Linux Documentation Project that can help you configure some basic functions.

Lastly, if you're stuck, stick a post on here and we'll help you.

Good Luck,

James

[randy82103]

ok, I am in the system, but my permissions are pretty low. I have been in the manager, but can not raise them. Any advice?

[Satanic Atheist]

How do you mean by "low"? Which system? The computer itself or a specific program?

To increase permissions per se you need to be root. You can run the command "su" from a command prompt to become root in that shell only. You can run GUI based programs as root from that shell if necessary, though.

James

[randy82103]

I think I was confused, but the root thing worked.

I was trying to access my NTFS volumes through /dev but I figured out that they work much better through /mnt :) I do appreciate it though.