Finally Knoppix up and running into my HD, but...

[xaviers2002]

Can anybody tell me why I have two accounts when I go over the dual boot screen?
I have root and another account (my name) that I've created when I installed knoppix into the hd. I don't quit understand the purpose of having another account.
Can anybody give more informations on it?
Thank You.
PS. I have dual boot, LILO on MBR, and Debian type install.
Since this is the first time with linux, should I may go with the Beginner type installation?

[eco2geek]

To quote from O'Reilly's book, Running Linux, 4th, pg. 64:

"Every Linux system has several preinstalled accounts, such as root. The root account, however, is intended exclusively for administrative purposes. As root you have all kinds of privileges and can access all files on your system.

"However, using root can be dangerous, especially if you're new to Linux. Because there are no restrictions on what root can do, it's all too easy to mistype a command, inadvertently delete files, damage your filesystem, and so on. You should log in as root only when you need to perform system administration tasks, such as fixing configuration files, installing new software, and so on.

"For normal usage, you should create a standard user account. Unix systems have built-in security that prevents users from deleting other users' files and corrupting important resources, sucy as system configuration files. As a regular user, you'll be protecting yourself from your own mistakes. This is especially true for users who don't have Unix system administration experience."

Want to delete everything from your partition? As root, you can do that. As a normal user, you can't.

[xaviers2002]

Ok thanks,

Now I see! I would like to say also that i was expecting a little more speed from opening-closing programs and the internet. Is there a trick or something like the virtual memory in windows that speeds the process?
Thanks. However I am very satified with knoppix. I love the "do it yourself" "I'll do only what You want me to do" attitude!!! I can't wait to say goodbye to w$!!!

[xaviers2002]

ok thanks,

Is it normal that my system is kind of slow? I was expecting a little more speed. Is there something that I have to do somewhere? I would like more speed on closing opening programs.
Thanks

[mzilikazi]

What are your system specs? I have an XP2200+ w/ 1G system RAM and KDE is too slow for my tastes. I prefer XFCE4.

[xaviers2002]

Well, my system is not as fast as yours... it's a cel950 128ram 20gb. I am saying this because i'm comparing it to w$. So I tought there was something wrong... Maybe is just the setup! It si soo different from w$ and the options are incredible!!!
Anyway, I was trying to install opera but it ws very difficult. Could give some tips on hhow install programs on knoppix... oops, sorry debian?
Thanks

[mzilikazi]

Well a comparable WM to win would be Icewm. It's light and fast. You can get an Opera.deb from their web site. Be sure to get the QT static verison then simply do this:

dpkg -i opera.blah.deb

[xaviers2002]

"root@box4:~# dpkg -i opera.blah.deb
dpkg: error processing opera.blah.deb (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
opera.blah.deb".

Unfortunately I got an error. Maybe I did something wrong? Is there a common way of istalling programs in knoppix like w$?
Thanks.

[mzilikazi]

My apologies. I didn't literally mean for you to type "dpkg -i opera.blah.deb'
Anytime you see the word 'blah' it usually means to substitute the correct name for the app or file you're referring to.

I will post literal step-by step instructions this time!

Go here:
http://www.opera.com/download/

Download this:
QT Shared Sarge and Sid

Save it to your home directory.
cd ~
su
dpkg -i opera_7.51-20040602.5-shared-qt_en_i386.deb

HTH

I'll try to remember not to write blah from now on.

[xaviers2002]

Could Youn give more informations on what "cd~" and "su" mean?
Thanks.
PS. sorry but I am completely new to knoppix and the only OS that I know... sorry knew was w$.