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Re: editing configurations


(Like I said... let's keep this on the list!!!!)

On 2009-09-07 17:23, John Mundinger wrote:

I think I created two accounts when I installed the system.  I don't see an
option for logging into a root account while the system is booting up.  The
only login option that I see is at the GUI.


Good enough.

While logged in as yourself, open a terminal window and type this:
su -
Once you've done that, and entered the root password, you can edit /boot/grub/menu.lst with the editor of your choice.
nano is the "standard" newbie editor, but others, like joe, would also work just as well. 


I'm not too concerned about security on this machine.  It's an only system
that I am using for the purpose of reducing my level of cyber-cstupidity.  I
will not have data on it that needs to be secure and there is nothing I can
do to it that I can't fix by inserting an XP SP3 installation cd and
starting all over again.  And, if security were an issue, I'd need more than
the password to get onto my wireless network anyway.
Except that someone might hijack your connection and Use It To Do Bad Things. Or *download* really disgusting pictures of very young people, the downloading of which would be traced back to you, the ruined life being yours, even if you (eventually) are found innocent. 

Have you plugged in the WG511, and Debian not recognized it?



On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 4:09 PM, Ron Johnson <ron.l.johnson@cox.net> wrote:


(Let's bring this back to the list...)

On 2009-09-07 16:46, John Mundinger wrote:


I got as far as I did by doing my own research.


Great!

 When I installed the system, the routine instructed me to create a user

account, which I did, and I logon with that account.


That user doesn't have the privilege to edit system accounts.

You also had to create a "root" account.  Hope you remembered it!

Are you at the "console" (i.e., the oooo scary black and white text screen
that looks like aold MS-DOS) or using the GUI to log in?

 The wireless card is a netgear wg511.
That old card only supports WEP encryption, which is nothing more than an
invitation for bad guys to get into your computer.

Spend the USD40-50 to get a cardbus NIC that supports WPA2 (since WPA was
recently cracked).  You might also have to upgrade your router.

                                       I have the installation cd that came

with it.  I am able to read the cd while logged into Linux but am not able
to run the application.  Based on the reading I have done, it should be
possible to install the drivers that came with the card.


Probably no need.  Linux has it's own drivers for many cards, and
NDISwrapper for the others.


 thanks.  jgm

On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 3:37 PM, Ron Johnson <ron.l.johnson@cox.net>
wrote:

 On 2009-09-07 16:11, John Mundinger wrote:

 I have an older laptop computer and decided that I would like to become

familiar with working in the Linux operation environment.  So, I
downloaded
an image file for the minimal installation [i386] and, after burning
that
image to a CD, I used the CD to complete the internet installation.
Apparently the installation was successful and I now have a dual boot
computer with Windows XP SP3 operating in one partition and Linux/GRUB
in
the other.

Now, my question.  I would like to change the boot sequence and change
to
a
30 second delay on startup.  I found information about how to do that by

 By doing your own research?  If so, *excellent*!

 editing file system/boot/grub/menu.lst.  However, that file is read
only.


 I

 system?

 am not able to revise permissions and, therefore, am unable to edit/save


that file.

 As what user are you trying to edit this file?

 I also would like to figure out how to install the drivers for the


wireless
network card.

 What card?  Specifically, which chipset?  lspci is your friend, here.

              I have found some preliminary information about how to do


that.  But, I suspect that I will not be able to edit the configuration
files necessary to do that, either.

 Sure you can.  Millions of people have done it, and so will you.  :)

 Do you have any suggestions about how I might be able to change the


permissions so that I am able to modify some of the configuration
settings?


--
Brawndo's got what plants crave.  It's got electrolytes!
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