anyone here use Linux

Kenny Yates · Post by **Kenny Yates** » 15 Jan 2006 6:18 am

A few days ago I picked up an old book, "Redhat linux for dummies". The bood had three cds included with Redhat linux version 7. I loaded it on an old computer and it loaded fine and comes to the prompt Login: and I can;t get passed there, I've use every password and name tat I entered and nothing seems to work.....perhaps I'm doing it the wrong way. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.
Ken

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 15 Jan 2006 11:46 am

It's been a while since I looked at RedHat 7.0. Are you at a command line or a graphic logon screen?

Are you trying to log in as root, or as a normal user? I don't remember if the installation prompted you to add a normal user account and password.

I would also check if the CAPS LOCK key is enabled. Passwords are case-sensitive.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Ester on 15 January 2006 at 11:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 15 Jan 2006 11:48 am

I've been running linux systems since about 1994. They still haven't gotten trivial to run, but it has certainly gotten easier.

If you plan on having this computer connected to the internet, you shouldn't use those old Red Hat CDs. There are security holes in the older versions that have since been fixed. Red Hat's consumer version is now called Fedora, and you can get information on ordering the new version here for about $10.

As for your login question, do you get prompted for a login right after booting off the installation CD, or is this after you've gone through the installation process and then booted off the harddrive?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 15 Jan 2006 5:04 pm

Try login root with no password.

Kenny Yates · Post by **Kenny Yates** » 16 Jan 2006 6:54 am

Thanks guys, I got through to the root directory and then got to a user directory and finally startx...so with everyones help I'm starting to get the feet a little damp and maybe really wet in a few days...thanks again
Ken

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 16 Jan 2006 8:02 am

I concur with Will's advice. I would strongly recommend you not run RedHat 7, particularly in a default configuration. But if you must, don't do so without installing all the security patches.

If you're running in X-Window mode, use the KDE or Gnome control panel to disable all the servers and any but the most basic services. Do this before connecting to the net.

Then, install the security patches. This should be the first thing you do after connecting to the net.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 16 Jan 2006 8:24 am

Linux, welcome to the bazaar...
That's from "The Cathedral vs the Bazaar" as the metaphor for comparing Windows to Linux.

I've been tinkering with Linux and its posix and RTLinux real time extensions for several years now. Some steepness to the learning curve grade...That bookstack is about 5 feet high.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 16 Jan 2006 8:35 am

Once I read a ".. for Dummies" book and I found it was quite effective. By the time I finished, I was twice as dumb as when I started.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 16 Jan 2006 9:17 am

My experience has been that I have always found the route "down" much easier and more frequent than the route "up".

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www.genejones.com

Kenny Yates · Post by **Kenny Yates** » 16 Jan 2006 11:20 am

Ernest, I suspected that when I found this thirty dollar book in the special section for three dollars. At least it gives me something to play around with and keep my brain from getting any duller. I have found thousands of files, now if I can find what they are and what to do with them.

Ken