Linux FAQs
Note: FAQ is RedHat/Fedora Core specific
due to it's popularity in the desktop segment
How do I add eye-candy to Linux?
My MP3s don't play on
Linux!
Is there a video player for Linux?
How do I set up my modem to access the Internet?
Can I access data on my
Windows drives?
How do I
use floppies in Linux?
How do I add eye-candy to Linux?
If you use Gnome, try
art.gnome.org where you can find loads of
wallpapers, window borders, splash screens, icons and styles. If you prefer
KDE, try www.kdelook.org. They have a
massive collection of wallpapers, themes and the like for KDE. You can even
change the GDM theme. Use the Login Screen utility from the System menu.
Click here
for GDM themes.
My MP3s don't play on Linux
RedHat/Fedora Core removed MP3 support from
the pre-installed versions of XMMS 1.2.x due to patent restrictions (MPEG
Layer 3 is a patented format of the Fraunhofer Institute). However there are
patches available freely online to circumvent this.
RedHat 9 (XMMS
1.2.7)
Fedora Core 1
(XMMS 1.2.8)
Alternatively, you can download the latest tarball from
www.xmms.org and get
your MP3s to play.
Is there a video player for Linux?
You bet there is. And a rocking one at that,
too. XINE from xine.sf.net and MPlayer for
Linux from www.mplayerhq.org
(fix this!). All instructions for installing and usage from the respective
sites.
How do I set up my modem to access the
Internet?
If you have a modem plugged in, chances are
that Linux has auto-detected it. Check for it from a
kudzu -p | less.
That done, you can configure the internet connection either from the CLUE or
GUI. man wvdial
for CLUE. GUI setup: run kppp
as root. Click on Setup. To check whether the modem is detected, click on the
Query modem button in the Devices tab. It should show a few modem commands
such as AT0, AT1, etc. In case it doesn't, change the modem port in the
previous tab and try again. Without the modem being detected, you can't
connect to the net. That done, use the Connections tab to setup a new internet
connection by using the Add dialog. Enter the ISP's name and phone number.
Give the username and password. In the KPPP main dialog, choose the connection
and click on Connect. Make sure that the modem is switched on and the
necessary connections made.
Run the default browser (mozilla
or konqueror)
and surf your way to glory. Use the minimised KPPP window to disconnect after
your session completes.
How do I use floppies in Linux?
Insert floppy into drive. mount /mnt/floppy
or mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy.
These commands are for a regular 1.44 MB floppy. The floppy will be mounted
onto /mnt/floppy.
After usage, use the umount /mnt/floppy
command to unmount. It's always a better option to unmount before removing the
floppy.
Linux allows you to create 1.72 MB floppies on a standard
1.44 MB disk. No, I'm right. 1.72 MB floppies on a standard 1.44 MB floppy
disk. Virtually all 1.44 MB drives support 1.72 MB just fine, but it is
possible for an extended format to break a floppy drive, so use it at your own
risk! Insert a blank 1.44 MB disk.
fdformat /dev/fd0u1722
(in case the device doesn't exist,
mknod /dev/fd0u1722 b 2 60).
After format, use mkfs
to create a file system on the disk (mkfs
-t [vfat, ext3,...] /dev/fd0u1722).
Mount it with mount /dev/fd0u1722
/mnt/floppy and use it as
a regular floppy!
-signing off
ashish |
