On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:54, Nick Rout wrote:
I recon Lindsay might need something a bit more explicit.

> # represents the root prompt
by which he means the account for the privileged system administrator who can 
write to files anywhere in the file-system. Don't use this account unless you 
actually need the privileges.

> $ represents an ordinary user prompt
who cannot change the system files.

> thats if they are at the start of the line, you don't type them, if you
> look at a terminal (console or xterm) you will see them :-)
>
>
>
> if they are in the middle of a command you probably need to type them in.
If you see a '#' in the middle of a command line it means that the rest of the 
line is a comment which will be ignored by the command interpreter. vis:-

cp .bashrc /tmp   # save your login environment file in case of accidents.

in this case you don't have to type either the hash sign or anything to the 
right of it.

> but there are dangers in typing stuff you don't understand....
Only as 'root'. While you can stuff your own files, you cannot ruin the system 
as a whole while logged in as an unprivileged user.  
>
>
> On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:50:31 +1300
>
> Judy & Lindsay Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > I printed out some info this arvo on installing Ubuntu on a system with
> > small RAM (32-64mb). I am afraid I dont even understand what the # & $
> > signs are used for.  I am afraid I dont have time to go to the library
> > and explore this info, so can I have some newbie help with this?

> > When the # and $ are used, are they typed in as part of the command or do
> > they represent something? _____________________________________________

-- 
Sincerely etc.,
Christopher Sawtell

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