gmac

What will you need wine for? I work from home and will be doing more so inthe future. I have to use some packages that are made for windows only, hence either dual boot which i have or find some method of accessing them. More and more stuff in internet based so this may be less of an issue in future. I also have to contend with web sites that only support internet explorer. I'm sure I can work round this but not yet. I will also be keeping confidential information that I need to protect. I don't at the moment but thats why I'm footering about with firewalls. Basically I've gone over the last four years from no computer to the point where I need to control a full blown data management system, use the internet to download and pass on information. The security aspect is a legal requirement that i need to meet.. I can either 1) pay someone else to do it. Frankly I am underwhelmed by a lot of "computer consultants". The number that haven't heard of linux is surprising. You might not use it but surely you keep up to date with your own industry. 2) master windows. xp etc 3) spend time learning linux. I'm doing 3. sometimes I wish i hadn't started. but compared to windows linux is breathtaking. I like to know whats going on otherwise its a bit like buying a car and not asking about the engine. Actually I now know some computer consultants that work with linux and pursue 1 but thats no fun.

"If you're still using Windows I'd recommend checking out Oupost Firewall instead of ZoneAlarm as it's very customizable and you can set up each and every application according to what ports, hosts, and directions are allowed for all internet traffic." Sadly I'm stuck with windows in the short term until a) I get a comparable printer b) get my head round linux properly. c) learn how to use wine etc. Right now I,m trying to get my cd working. Do you remember what it was like having basic problems like that? I am that rare commodity a genuine newbie, not only to linux but to computing generally. At the moment I'm not even sure I know what the firewall is doing. It was a free download and firewalls are just one area I am going to have to master. :( Thanks for the tip but I need to get familiar with this one before I spread my wings.

Anon. I use telewest as well. I know they do that but I didn't realise it was quite so often. This could explain why I have been cut off without warning recently, I shall investigate. I am currently being bombarded by some very strange e-mails and my virus checker has stopped a couple of viruses as well, hence the interest in the firewall. I need to get to grips with Mandrake. Ideally I would prefer to sit and work through a manual step by step till I am familiar with it. I lack the patience to spend hours experimenting and trawling through the computer based manuals. Any suggestion as to what would be a good one to buy? Most of the ones I have seen seem to be little help with Mandrake. I am not knowledeable enough to be able to extrapolate from the general to the specific, if you get my drift. My issues are pretty basic like how do I get the cd and cd burner burner working. I can get the floppy disc but not the cd and haven't yet worked out if it is me or the hardware at fault i.e I just am not mounting it correctly or I have a cd that in incompatable with mandrake. Tyme. I'm impressed. I wouldn't have the foggiest idea how to track that down. Pccw looks familiar in that I have seen it appear a couple of times. I am being bombarded with adverts for yoghurt and web sites that are related in nature. I assumed most of them were american in origin. I wonder what kind of respense they get.

"ZoneAlarm blocked what was most likely a port scan by a remote computer trying to find out if you are using Windows 2000. By default, Windows 2000 assigns port 445 to them SMB (Server Message Block) protocol which is used to share files, printers, and other services. ZoneAlarm prevented the computer at 218.102.196.62 from being able to see or access your files or printers, or to know what your computer name is." I recently installed a firewall on my computer, at least in he windows half of it. I never fully appreciated how often my computer was scanned, during the course of one e-mail send there were 29 attempts. The message above occurs several times. Maybe it means someone will offer me windows 2000 for free. Actually I thought that was now superceded by XP. Its taking me a while to get the hang of Mandrake but the more I see things like that the more the effort seems worthwhile. "ZoneAlarm prevented a remote computer from connecting to port 139 on your computer. This connection attempt was probably legitimate network traffic. Port 139 is commonly used by networked Windows computers to enable file sharing and other resource sharing." The most recent of 5 such attempts while I have been typing this. My computer is not networked by the way. I could start believing in conspiracy theories. On second thoughts seeing the above its not a theory is it? How secure is mandrakesoft? I would buy from them but I am incredibly loathe to put credit card details on the internet, even more so now. I can't believe how often it happens. two more now.

I'm consider buying a cheap laser printer to save money on ink. lexmark & samsung are two makes I've looked at. They seem compatable with linux. Any comments as to the best choices?

Thanks for that I looked at the site but the md set I have had the x73 drivers with it. That was the option I tried-actually i tried them all. I got fooled by lexmark, all the other printer state on the packaging that the printers worked with linux so I assumed they were one of the companies supporting linux. The machine itself is great and relatively cheap 1/2 the price of the competition and certainly better than the previous HP I had. I just wish I had done a bit more research first. I'm really tempted to buy a cheap printer just so I can use mandrake on a dialy basis rather than just playing with it

I have a lexmark x75 scanner printer that mandrake can't see. I bought lexmark cos all the other printers seem to be compatable with linux and in the u.k. they are heavily discounted at the moment as they seem to be trying to build up their brand. I knew it wasn't supported but reckoned it would be in the future, big mistake. Lexmark have said they have no intention of bringing out drivers for linux for the x75.. I'm not too bothered about the scanner as I heve the computer dual booted but I would like to start using mandrake daily and need the printer. short of buying another printer is there any way I can get it to recognise the printer? I tried all the lexmark options in the hardware manager with no luck but hopefully somebody can suggest a way round it. I will probably have to buy another printer anyway as I didn't appreciate how much the cartridges would cost or how much i would be using it, so economically a cheap laser printer looks attractive, but in the meantime any suggestions?

I have a lexmark x75 all in one that i can't get to work. have tried X73 as being closest, no luck. When left to own devices it detects a Z53 (which it is not) However, it still does not work. Any suggestions?

Actually being really thick its just dawned on me I can just print off the pages since the manual is on the cd roms. This wasn't a viable option before but now I can actually get it working. All I have to do now is try and get the printer working. Its a lexmark x75 scanner copier printer so I am in for some fun. Its not working at the moment, i got lexmark as their ptinters are advertised as being compatable with Linux. I checked with them beforehand about the scanner and they say it is not compatable with linuxm but hopefully I can get the printer working at least. "well, yes but my point was that you shouldn't see "localhost.localdomain" when you run " Thats what I get but I think I'll count my blessings and quit when I'm ahead. Sorry to hear about your computer. I had one that seemed to be totally wrecked by a virus, although that was the one I got mandrake working on initially after umpteen practice set ups. Windows just wouldn't reinstall at all. I got a virus two weeks ago that resulted in a complete reinstall, the good news is it led on to the dual booted machine I now use. Actually one of the main appeals of mandrake is that if i get everything working I'll end up with a better understanding of whats going on. Windows seems to call for blind faith but I prefer to make up my own mind.

This now seems to be resolved. I am currently using Mozilla for the first time ever. I don't know what was wrong because I did not do anything different that I am aware of but thanks everybody for your help and patience with a newbie. "[bvc@localhost bvc]$ hostname localhost [bvc@localhost bvc]$ hostname -i 127.0.0.1 [bvc@localhost bvc]$" I think I see what you mean I should see gmac@localhost gmac? I wasn't particularly wanting to use the console but I suppose its one of the attractions of linux as opposed to windows where, if anything goes wrong you hope uninstalling and reinstalling will sort the problem. I was contemplating getting the md9 definitive guide as I get fed up trying to find what I want off the computer based manuals. What do you think is it actually much use to a newbie or is it better to keep plodding away trial and error? books are a way of gaining access to somebody elses experience and cutting down the llearning time. The more I play around with this the better it looks.

Thats makes me feel so much better. If a multi talented mega being like a moderator can have difficulty then maybe there's hope for ordinary mortals like me. At this point I don't know what my/etc/hosts mean but I hope it wasn't too painful. You say cracked do you reckon someone broke in to your system?

"It does seem there could be a permission prob. When you connected as root, could you then open a browser and go to web sites as a user?" I could get to this site but not any others. I will check the hosts as you suggest. I think I recall you saying you did an Upgrade (sorry if not the case). It's fine that you're a point-click kinda person but if this is the case I really recommend a clean install, It was a clean install but not by me. I came across someone more familiar with linux than me when he was fixing my computer. I took the opportunuty and got him to dual boot it for me. I'm not averse to trying to install but I only have one computer that I need for work. I suspect it is something daft i have done rather than anything else wrong with the installation. I won't have time until the weekend to try again. This is some learning curve I'm on.

When I tried to go to another web site there I got the unknown host error. I did as usual and wrote www. then the address. but no new web site. I begin to suspect the problem may simply be my unfamiliarity with mandrake rather than any intrinsic problem.

Hey guess who is now connected to the internet with mandrake? I logged in as root and did exactly the same things as before. I did get an error message kppp deleted @/root/kde/share/app/kppp/kppp another instance of kppp seems to be running ppp daemon died unexpectedly exit status 16 see man pppdf for explanation or kppp faq on http/dvel-home.kde.org I closed kppp and tried again this time it worked. I haven'y the foggiest idea what I'm doing.Hopefully thats it sorted. One odd thing I am used to the modem squealing as it connects, this it didn't do. Is that a characteristec of windows? the squealing I mean. Does windows hurt the computer? I don't want to anthropomorphise the computer but i do suspect mine of having a warped sense of humour so maybe it feels pain. I will try agian logged in as myself just to see if I have sorted it. Actually if it works I think I'll leave it working and not try and work out what was wrong. My next problem is getting the printer/scanner working.

when i typr hostname i get localhost.localdomain. what else should i look for. the interface is pppo is that correct? I'm kind of loath to poke around too much in the comsole as it is completely unfamiliar, at least for the moment. thanks for your patience.

Thanks guys I'll poke around again. The host name is local host at least that what comes up at set up. bear in mind I'm used to windows so a lot of what you are saying is totally new to me. I am not networking so ythis seemed the most appropriate forum.

Double checked everything still no joy. How do you change the IP protocol? The lan configuration bit is not active on mine. It was at one point I don't know why it is not now. I have now tried the wizard several times. I actually got it working on a previous computer so I am not entirely unused to this but hardly an expert. That was a duff computer and I know of no problems with the present computer itself. I am switching between windows and linux on the same computer at the moment. I had decided that I would concentrate on learning KDE and would rather get it working than switch to Gnome. Apart from that I hate admitting defeat. Any other suggestion? It turns out I have a neighbour that uses red hat so I lent him my mandrake installation pack as a gesture of good will. Incidentally he didn't know how to find my mouse. This is ridiculous, I like to think I am reasonably bright but I can't get this. I'm buggered if I'm going to give in. My typing is deteriorating as well.

I had the right port. Tried them all just to be sure. The log on ID and oassword are correct. I reconfugured just to be sure. the modem clicks I get the message as above. "Sadly the error message, as is all too often the case, is quite meaningless to an ordinary human being. " If I'm using mandrake how can I be ordinary? I'm having trouble using KDE never mind Gnome. IP addresses dynamic? HMM

it is kppp I am using. I did go in through themandrale control centre. I got an error message pppd daemon died unexpectedly exit status 5 kppp could not prepare ppplog its very likely that pppd was started without the debug option I added the bdebug option "logon script debug window" AT2 ok amolo ok atdt 01506501000 Does that mean anything? I will also try different ports. I donm't think I have the wrong one but then again. thanks for the help

You seem to have the common speech defect in that you are not rolling your rrrs enough. Then again I'm not sure I can say ixthusdan. is it icks or ixx. I had a look at that downloaded stuff this morning. It says the same fill all required fields which I have done. The only one I was dubious about was domain name which I don't think is necessary to fill in. Am I right.

I was using konqueror. The first time I got it to connect it wouldn'y until I put in a domain name. I was basically trying all the combinations I could think of. I have configured it wrongly but I can't see how. Then again I would not pretend to understand what I am doing. I'm a bottom feeder on the learning curve at the moment. Each stage seems to take forever. I put in the isp phone number user id and password. The modem tries to connect but doesn't. I was going to try konqueror to begin with and then Mozilla. A lot of the sites I need to use seem only to recognose internet explorer at least that is what they say. I've downloaded the info off the website suggested above but haven't had time to look at it properly yet. Today I had a powercut for 2 1/2 hours and then the phone lines went down. I'm finishing all the stuff I was intending to do earlier on today so I'm buggered if I'm going to play with linux just now. I'll have a look tomorrow and try again. asaaargh is an ancient celtic cry that means "Oh dear me I have spent ages on this and I just can't get it to work but I'm going to stop now before I throw the computer (or thing) out the window and come back to it when I have calmed down." I would just like to add that I can spel, very well, my typing, however, is crap.

Magic thanks. That looks a lot more useful than the manual. I was refering to the one that came with the box set and with the cd's themselves. At my level of expertise they are not much help as I am still trying to work out what I need to know. On a slightly dofferent tack I see a lot of web sites seem to be only compatable with internet explorer. How big a problem is this likely to be?

Sorry, I didn't meam to offend anyone I have had a lot of help on this forum and in fact it is the only reasion I have persevered with mandrake. Windows works it would at this point be the easy of more expensive and less satisfying option. I did actually get that response on an earlier post, the perpetrator then subsequently gave me some good advice. Mandrake powerpack edition 9. An ordinary 56000 modem with a dial up connection. Telewest cable (not broadband). Previously when using the connection wizard apart from the phone no login id i had the authentication as PAP (I don't know what that means) I put the domain name as blue yonder. This did connect but when I entered a web site address I got the Unknown local host error. I had successfully connected on a different computer with the above. Now when I try it the modem clicks as the computer communicates but doisn't connect. I've tried the manual pages and forum but can't work out whats wrong. I suspect its probably quite simple but but I'm stumped. I must be doing something different but what? I must confess to cheating. My computer got a virus and ended up being reformated. Since I did not have the original windows installation disks I took it to a local computer shop. It turns out that not only had he heard of Linux he used it. To cut a long story short I now have a computer dual booted with windows and mandrake. I had been tryiong to pluck up the courage to diual boot myself but cannot afford to be without a working computer. Never mind using Mandrake I am having problems with the basics. Who said it was fun at the bottom of the learning curve? The applications look great I just want to get to the point where I use them to their full potential. I don't mind the English in fact I married one. If you can imagine Norah Batty with a black belt in judo you can imagine the living hell my life is. Any spelling mistakes in the above are the jeyboards fault and nothing to do with the two bottle wsif beer I have just drunk. (Austrian berr, Scottish beer sucks thats why we invented whisky)

The message appears after i put in a web site address such as the one that would get me access to this forum. I am a real newbie to this I don't understand your question re /etc/hosts/file. The problem is now worse as I can't even get the modem to connect. The computer obviously is picking it up. I've pored over the manual and trawled the forum without finding anything like this. I can't work out what I am doing wrong. All the applications etc look quite good bit I am having incredibe problems with the basics. All the manual says is complete the sections in the wizard as appropriate.

Last night I could connect to the internet but couldn't access any web sites, I got an error message saying unknown local host. Now I can't even do that despite doing exactly the same things. I have successfuly connected before on a different computer but I can't work out what I'm doing wrong now. Does the domain name matter? What do the authentication letters mean and does it matter. Yes I have rtfm and it didn't help much. Part of the problem I have as a newbie is knowing which questions I need the answers to. Never mind using the applications I am having trouble getting past the first steps $£%^&. Any help appreciated and if you are going to say RTFM don't bother.