I give up

[oshunluvr]

Re: I give up

Excellent post and I agree with most of what you have said. In fact, we could be brothers...

Back to the issue - you didn't say whether or not you've edited the kdmrc file, which would be required for root login.

In the past, I also enabled root GUI login. But after trashing numerous installs (my own worst enemy ) I decided to give the Ubuntu way a real chance. I've gotten used to it and don't even miss the old way.

One tool thats helps a lot is "kdesudo". I'm an old DOS user so often the cli is faster for me. But when I really want the GUI for something particular, like a real text editor, I use kdesudo and I'm all good. In fact, I use "kdesudo kate" so much I added a command alias "suka". I also use Yakauke, so a quick F12 followed by s-u-k-a-ENTER gets me there in a jiffy.

If you're often using just a few programs as root, A couple of sudoers entries and a special menu list or desktop icons might actually be more efficient than a full root desktop.

[MAHillsgrove]

Re: I give up

My special thanks to all of you but especially to Jook_roberts (you were typing your reply as I was typing my first post). I amended your procedure as follows and will reboot now but the procedure I used was:

1. Set the root password Code:sudo passwd root and give root a password

2. type cd /etc/kde4/kdm and then sudo nano kdmrc

3. Changed AllowRootLogin=false to AllowRootLogin=true near the bottom

4. Save with CTRL-o and ENTER then get out of nano with CTRL-x

5. Reboot, Login as root

I use nano more then kate and the kdesudo thing didn't work for me.

To answer your question about the tone of posts - Natty Narwhale happens to have more serious issues than previous releases and those issues - like flash - tread all over Kubuntu's big strength which was always multimedia and usability. It was like buying a new car that had 2 flat tires. Functionally useless.

If nothing is wrong, you don't complain, hence the gentle tone of previous posts.

And in my case, I'm in a neck brace because of an operation and my mood could be better. Having to reload an OS yet again when I'm trying to type (painful) in a chapter of my book was frustrating.

[oshunluvr]

Re: I give up

You might consider setting the desktop significantly different for your root login so you are keenly aware when logged in that way. The old standard was to have a red background...

Oh, and not that it matters much but rebooting isn't required to effect this change. Simply logging out and back in is sufficient.

I am wondering why kdesudo doesn't work for you. Obviously, it's not needed for nano but I've never had issue with it using any distro.

[dibl]

Re: I give up

I'm writing books and moving toward IA in anticipation of being recognized as the dinosaur that I am and being put out to pasture (which for a horse means getting your name changed to Alpo).

I empathize -- your life is not far different from mine, too.

I do run Debian on my hardware, so I also know how to "be" root, as well as how to "use" root with sudo/kdesudo. But it is still true (same as Windows, btw) the biggest threat to your system is yourself, and "sudo" provides a great layer of protection from that threat, especially for the new users (at least until they figure out how to defeat it ....). Be especially careful when using a GUI package while you are "kdesudo". And don't ever "sudo kate' or any other GUI package from the terminal -- that will hose up your desktop faster than I just typed this.

[Jook_roberts]

Re: I give up

Glad I could help.

I miss the super user options in Linspire. It was a heck of a lot easier for me to get things done that required root powers. I was a Linux noob when I went on Linspire, so I never even knew how to use sudo when I came over to Kubuntu. Thanks to the Kubuntu Forum members, I now know enough to get along on my own.

[GreyGeek]

Re: I give up

.....
But I am an old geek whose skills are on the slide rather than the upswing. I've already forgotten more than I currently know.

I haven't "been there", I AM there, and doing that (at 70 ) I didn't begin using Linux (RH 5.0) until May of 1998. I wish I would have found it earlier.

I was already old when the Hercules card and amber displays were the vogue.

And I trained in "data processing" when the main machines were the IBM 402 Tabulator and the 540 Gangpunch.

My problem now is retaining enough to stay employed in technology because the next step is giving away smiley faces at Walmart or trying to kill pigeons with well thrown bread crumbs in the local park.

Ya, the older you get the harder it is to learn new stuff, and the more easily the old stuff you've already learned becomes useless or fades away in your mind. If it weren't for my wife I'd have no mind at all.

.... I'm writing books and moving toward IA in anticipation of being recognized as the dinosaur that I am and being put out to pasture (which for a horse means getting your name changed to Alpo).

Yup, you ARE a writer, and a creative one at that. That line about the pidgeons and this one about the Alop is FUNNY stuff.

......
The reason that Windows kicks our butts is because they give the appearance that everything is easy. We will kick their butts the instant we give up making everything a test of manhood and make our stuff just as easy.
....

On that point I have to take exception. The ONLY reason Microsoft has a larger market share is because they have the PC OEMs by the short hairs. PCs are a commodity and their profit margins are so thin that the majority of their profits are ad rebates from Microsoft, and the occasional under the table deal with Intel to not install AMD video chips on their hardware. IF PCs were required to be shipped with OS neutral hardware and no OS installed, Microsoft would loose half of their desktop market share and ALL of their server share immediately. IMO. 99% of all machines running Linux had Windows pre-installed on them out of the OEM, so everyone who is running Linux had to:
1) download the iso of their favorite distro
2) md5sum check it
3) burn it DAO at 10X or less
4) verify the burn
5) boot it.

Those running Windows merely had to turn it on and answer the name, password and timezone questions, and reboot a few times in the process. IF they had to install Windows from scratch ... they couldn't.

[dequire]

Re: I give up

Those running Windows merely had to turn it on and answer the name, password and timezone questions, and reboot a few times in the process. IF they had to install Windows from scratch ... they couldn't.

How a world-wide monopoly exists like it has for so many years is beyond me. Jos is a friend of mine - I feel for him. The M$ tax is unavoidable.
http://blog.jospoortvliet.com/2011/0...-licenses.html

The answer, of course, is for us to build our own, hire someone to build a computer for us (if one is not able to do so). Or, of course, support models from Dell that are Ubuntu pre-installed or a PC from System76 or ZaReason

Sometimes you have to put your $ where your mouth is. After all, the alternative is to buy a MS pre-loaded computer, wipe it, and install Kubuntu. But hey, what does MS care? YOU ALREADY PAID THE TAX!

[GreyGeek]

Re: I give up

......
How a world-wide monopoly exists like it has for so many years is beyond me. Jos is a friend of mine - I feel for him. The M$ tax is unavoidable.
http://blog.jospoortvliet.com/2011/0...-licenses.html

Here's how:
http://billparish.com/msftfraudfacts.html
and
http://www.billparish.com/20000222fraudfactsupdate.html

It's called "corruption", and it tentacles spread to the highest levels of the Stock Market and even to Congress. Welcome to the Cabal.

The answer, of course, is for us to build our own, hire someone to build a computer for us (if one is not able to do so). Or, of course, support models from Dell that are Ubuntu pre-installed or a PC from System76 or ZaReason

Sometimes you have to put your $ where your mouth is. After all, the alternative is to buy a MS pre-loaded computer, wipe it, and install Kubuntu. But hey, what does MS care? YOU ALREADY PAID THE TAX!

If only everyone could afford to do that. The difference is paying $500-$1,000 for a full featured laptop or desktop with WinX pre-installed and eating the MS tax, or, $1,500 - $2,000 for a computer with Linux pre- installed. IF the Sherman-Clayton Anti-Trust Act, which is still the law of the land, were enforced the PC OEMs would be selling naked boxes that are OS neutral and letting users install the OS of their choice on them. But, from the top down, this country hasn't been about observing the law, or exhibiting basic honesty, for an entire generation.

[MAHillsgrove]

Re: I give up

You do know how easy it is to build a computer don't you? My daughter built her first from spares at age 12. It ain't rocket science. She has a couple of degree's now, but it's not that hard. Actually, my son built his first at about that age also.

You get a case, a mainboard chip and fan combo, some memory a HDD and a DVD player. In the old days there were switches and jumpers put those are all gone now and everything autoconfigures. Since all the cables are unique and only go one way, it's so easy a cave man can do it.

Things like videocards and ethernet cards and HDD controllers are now on the mainboard. Only the video card is a separate option on the better mainboards and they are no brainers also.

And you get to shop for really cool looking cases!!!! All of mine have a multiblinky yin/yang dragon thing on them. javascript:replaceText('%20',%20document.forms.postmodify.message);

[GreyGeek]

Re: I give up

You do know how easy it is to build a computer don't you? ....

A 70 year old retired programmer, physics & electronics teacher building a desktop? Is the Pope Catholic?

I've built a few white boxes in my time. My last white box had a royal Blue case with a plexiglass window showing the electronics inside, which allowed me to keep an eye on the dust level setting on the parts, and with two fans to keep it cool. I stopped building desktops after March of 2005, when I purchased a Gateway mpr675 laptop to do a custom programming job writing a fly-by-wire guidance system for a new kind of ag tractor, which required that I have the computer setting in the cab at times.
[img]http://i.tfcdn.com/images/SwDLmbFZdxrDNIZFtkwM6YlFKal5DBklJQVW-vrl5eV6aYlFucUZ-eV6yfm5-pnFxaWpxfrGhvoGpvqZuYnpYI6BqYGhXlZBOgMDAA**?m=1&g= 1[/img]

I have no plans to return to desktop computers. I can't justify burning a Kilowatt of power to do what I can do with a device that consumes only 90 Watts, and I won't give up the portability and the built-in UPS. My Sony 16" fits into a small briefcase size totbag, and my wife's Acer One 521 fits into a small purse size totbag. Try toting your 17" LCD (and certainly not a CRT) monitor, minitower, keyboard, mouse and speakers out to your car for on the road computing.

Unfortunately, the laptop market is not amendable to users building their own out of standardized parts. There are no standardized frames, LCD & lids, speakers, keyboards, touchpads, etc... Except for some CDROMS and the RAM, most laptops seem to have their own special parts. Not even the screws holding them together are standardized. However, I do accept donated laptops (usually old or broken) and refurbish them, if possible, install Linux on them, and then give them to folks who, for various reasons, can't afford a computer. If you have one or more laptops that are outdated (as far as Windows running on them) or broken, send me an email and lets talk about shipping them here.

[dibl]

Re: I give up

You do know how easy it is to build a computer don't you?

It's fun, actually. Probably it depends a lot on the temperament of the individual, and the schedule/deadline situation. I quite enjoy taking my time and spec'ing a new computer, and shopping for the components. I have built a half-dozen of them in the past 5 years and it's always fun and there's always one more thing to learn that "didn't used to be that way". So if you have the right attitude (relaxed) and the necessary attention to details, it can be a very rewarding experience.

Or, if you're completely horrified at the very thought of it, my fine services can be made available at a nominal fee.

[de_koraco]

Re: I give up

If only everyone could afford to do that. The difference is paying $500-$1,000 for a full featured laptop or desktop with WinX pre-installed and eating the MS tax, or, $1,500 - $2,000 for a computer with Linux pre- installed. IF the Sherman-Clayton Anti-Trust Act, which is still the law of the land, were enforced the PC OEMs would be selling naked boxes that are OS neutral and letting users install the OS of their choice on them. But, from the top down, this country hasn't been about observing the law, or exhibiting basic honesty, for an entire generation.

I actually prefer the US government and economic model greatly over the European one, but the hold Microsoft has over the US computer market has surprised me to a great extent. In Europe, it's almost trivial do do stuff that most Americans can't even think of, i.e. get a OS free machine, and come out cheaper. In fact, it's only when you exceed the 400-500 dollars price range that the computers actually come with Windows preinstalled. And there are a lot of users who have come to respect this kind of faulty logic that's prevalent in the US computer market - why would you campaign for OS neutral computer sales, when computers are cheaper this way.

Of course,
1. they're not
2. they wouldn't become more expensive even in the short term if things were to change. It's Economics 101.

[GreyGeek]

Re: I give up

......
I actually prefer the US government and economic model greatly over the European one, but the hold Microsoft has over the US computer market has surprised me to a great extent.
....

I don't know much about the European economic model, except that a foreign exchange student visiting from the Netherlands said that in his country corporations are not allowed to participate in the political process in any way. No contributions to candidates, no position statements, etc... I wish it was that way here.

In America, "virtual persons", a.k.a. a "corporations", now have MORE rights than real flesh and blood people, a.k.a. citizens, which have been disenfranchised by the corrupted political process. To make matters worse, those "virtual persons" represents, in each case, only one or a few individuals, yet with their millions of Dollars of bribes, a.k.a. "campaign contributions", they effectively nullify the votes of MILLIONS of citizens. The most recent Supreme Court decision on the matter has made their hold over American politics iron fisted, allowing them to bribe as many politicians with as much money as they wish to spend, but WITHOUT any accounting what soever. Federal agencies originally designed to protect the people from abuses of corporations have been hijacked to protect corporations from the wrath of abused citizens.

I believe I can identify the year in which America took a turn to the Cabal form of government. It was in 1972 when Dick Halderman walked into Pres. Nixon's office and sold him on the idea of "Health Maintenance Organizations", i.e., "HMO"s. The quality of people's health care as been steadily declining while costs have steadily risen since then. Five years before, the "Great Society" became law and eventually created the "Grate Society", of which the poor and minorities were the most effected, for the worse.

What the extreme Left and Right hasn't destroyed in the Constitution, the corporations have steadily chipped away, so that most of what is written in that fine document is given lip service at best, ignored on the average, and reversed in the worst cases. So, "freedom" of speech is allowed in public schools only if you do not mention your Christian religious Faith, even though that right has been allowed for the first 200 years of our history. About every other Faith is politically correct and their tenets are the topics of class lessons which Christian students are forced to attend and submit to. While large corporate ag businesses have been the source of contaminated food stuffs reaching the market and making people sick or worse, the Senate law S510 made it illegal for persons (but not farms or restaurants) to produce food stuffs without jumping through a lot of expensive regulatory hoops, the same kinds of hoops that the FDA made corporations jump through, but which did no good in protecting the food supply, just raising the cost of food to consumers. It gives dictatorial powers to the head of a Federal agency that cannot be appealed in a court of law but in Federal "hearings". So much for due process. The word "corporation" is not in the act, but the word "person" is many times. The wording of the act is so vague that the "Secretary" can make it mean anything he or she wants it to mean, but those who can afford lawyers will, no doubt, find ways to avoid its effects, while those who cannot will suffer the "full weight" of the law. In other words, it will end up being used as a tool by corporations to suppress competition from small growers and home growers. Sec. 107 discusses "fees". There you get the real sense of the Act, which is to collect fees to support the weight of the bureaucracy. Sec 108, in affect, nationalizes the food production in the US as part of a "defensive strategy", in affect making the control of food sources a weapon against the freedoms American citizen.

It's like the "PATRIOT" Act where the accused has no rights to face their accuser, nor see the evidence against them, nor tell anyone about the charges against them, including family members, and are tried in "special courts" presided over by "special judges". We used to call them Kangeroo Courts.

I could go on, and I want to, but I've expressed my views on this topic before, and this is the wrong section.

[woodsmoke]

Re: I give up

One might also remember "standoffs" when building a metal bodied case.

woodsmoke

[gjartin]

Re: I give up

so

everyone who is running Linux had to:
1) download the iso of their favorite distro
2) md5sum check it
3) burn it DAO at 10X or less
4) verify the burn
5) boot it.

Unless you have some problem with the disk, there's no need whatsoever for steps 3 and 4, it just takes a LOT of time.