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On Thursday 10 June 2004 8:52 pm, John Marshall wrote:
> Hello Everyone:

Hey John

> I am hoping you can help me with a number of Mandrake 10 Official Linux
> problems.  Note: I had none of these problems with Mandrake 9.2.  Wherever
> possible, please use the KDE menu method of changing whatever needs
> changing (I am still uncomfortable using command line commands).  If
> something really does need to be done at the command line, then please be
> specific about commands and options:

I cannot speak to Mandrake specific problems but I will try to answer your 
questions. I would like to say first off that the tone of your email is VERY 
demanding. The people that are subscribed to this list, myself included could 
take offence at this. Any aid that anyone on this list receives is by the 
good graces of those offering it, please don't ever take that for granted.

We are all busy people and any time we give to CLUG is on a voluntary basis. 
The French word for volunteer is benevol�, which bears more than a visual 
resemblance to benevolent or someone who is characterized by or suggestive of 
doing good.

Linux is tough for new folks. That is what this LUG is about, at least part of 
it. Helping people deal with Linux. I do not profess to know it all but I am 
trying to learn and ask the right questions when I need help. Something that 
has been bandied about this list a great deal is Eric S. Raymond's "How To 
Ask Questions The Smart Way"

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

> Internet Connection
> ==============
>
> I cannot connect to the Internet!
>
> -----> Internet Access:
> -------------------------------
> ----------> Connection type: lan
> ----------> Status: not connected
> ----------> Parameters:
> ---------------> Host Name (optional): (blank)
> ---------------> First DNS Server (optional): 64.59.135.133
> ---------------> Second DNS Server (optional): 64.59.135.135
> ---------------> Third DNS Server (optional): (blank)

Way back when I was on Shaw, they used to have a 'Network Address' mine looked 
like CS######-A, this would be your computer's hostname. Shaw used to be 
really fussy about having this set even if they use DHCP. I'm not sure if 
this is still an issue but it's something for you to try. You mention a 
firewall later, I'm wondering if the firewall is where your problem lies. 
Your network settings should reflect what your firewall is set up as.

I use IPCop and my Internal network settings bear little resemblance to those 
that my ISP has given me. The only common denominator is the DNS addresses.

> Documentation
> ===========
> Even with all security updates, bug fixes and all optional updates, when I
> click on the Welcome screen "Documentation" link, it says it can't find it
> at the specified location.

It's possible that you didn't install the documentation. The Welcome screen is 
there by default but the documentation may not be.

> Root User GUI
> ===========
> Mandrake indicates that using a GUI at "root" level is hazardous.  Aaron,
> in KDE 3.3, can we make a GUI at "root" level safe?  Or if not, what things
> can I do safely by KDE and what things can't I do safely?

Here is a common question. Linux was designed to be secure. Running as root is 
dangerous because that user has ALL the privileges to change ANYTHING. You 
have to get out of the Windows mindframe and into a more UNIX-like mindframe. 
That is to say that you only use root to make changes to your system as you 
need to do them. For all other things the user you login as most often (any 
non-root user) should be just fine. This is where learning command line stuff 
is important. You can flip to root to do something, and logout of the 
sessions bag to your normal user. It's not as painful as it sounds, you just 
have to try.

> Alphashield
> =========
> I use the Vancouver-based "AlphaShield" to protect my computer.  It is a
> sort of hardware-based firewall.  After 15 minutes of no access to the
> Internet, it blocks the Internet and I have to press a button on it to
> activate the Internet when using Windows XP.  I notice that under Linux, it
> never times out.  Why?

Not familiar with this one but see my comments above with regards to your 
networking.

> Thanks for your assistance while I make the transition from Windows to
> Linux.

You're welcome. I know that this probably didn't help you much but it's a 
start. I fought with Mandrake for months before I got comfortable with it and 
how things work in Linux in general. This also included several re-installs 
to fix some things that I had broken because of my ignorance. Don't be 
expecting to do anything really productive for a while. Take the time to play 
and learn. You are on the right track.
- -- 
Jarrod Major
GPG Fingerprint: FA4A 1EA3 A0EE A842 07BB  804C 0090 14F6 BE6E DE3D
Registered Linux User: #224211
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