On 05/19/2013 07:06 AM, partsabuser wrote:
>
> Hi all,
first: -=WELCOME=- new poster.
generally it is best in these forums to put only one problem into
each thread. and put that thread into the correct forum, and use a
descriptive of the problem subject line–what you want to do is
attract the attention of someone knowledgeable of your specific
problem…
> I’m brand new to Linux and I have a couple simple questions. I’m using
> openSUSE 12.3 and KDE.
you did that perfect, most any potential answer giver will need to
know the version of openSUSE and the Desktop Environment (DE) you are
using…
as you ‘grow’ in openSUSE you will learn how to introduce new
versions of KDE and since the newer versions might (will!) have
different problems and solutions it is also best to give your DE’s
version number…
> When I minimize any window, YaST, Firefox, etc., the window disappears.
> I would expect programs to minimize to the task bar (sorry, I don’t know
> the proper name for it…).
it sounds like you may have inadvertently deleted a really good part
of the ‘Panel’ (panel= that thing, usually at the bottom of the
screen (but can be top, or sides–as you wish) that holds all the
other things together (like: it default installs with a clock on the
right end, and a lizard on the left that calls up the menu system)
so, to get that thing back:
-right click on a blank spot on the desktop
-if you see “Unlock widgets”, left click it [if you see “Lock
widgets” don’t click it–because we want them unlocked right now]
-once the widgets are unlocked, single left click on the far right
end of the ‘Panel’
-in the resulting pop-up settings dialog, click on “Add widgets”
-the display will change, in the search box at the top of the setting
dialog type in the word Task (or ‘task’) and it will show you one or
more widgets with ‘Task’ in its name
-find “Task Manager” and hover the mouse over it, click and hold the
left mouse button and drag the a new Task Manager to the spot on the
Panel you wish it, and drop it in place
-now (and this is important) to keep from accidentally changing the
panel (or the desktop) again right click the desktop and pick “Lock
widgets”–most think it is best to leave it locked! because if not it
is pretty easy to delete parts of the panel, or the entire panel! (of
course, they are easy to get back–once you know how)
> Also, I’ve set the clock/date more than once now but it keeps changing.
> Am I doing something wrong?
do you dual boot with Windows or another operating system?
> And finally, after unsuccessfully searching, is there a tutorial for
> absolute beginners?
you bet! have a look at
http://doc.opensuse.org/products/opensuse/openSUSE/opensuse-startup/
>As in, how to install software,
http://doc.opensuse.org/documentation/html/openSUSE/opensuse-startup/part.reference.software.html
> how to set the clock…
that is not as easy to find, and the answer you need depends on your
situation…hence the question “do you dual boot?”
> And, I watched a video from the urban penguin where he advises against
> using the desktop while logged in as root,
yes, it is bad practice and far far too easy to hose your system, and
it opens up your system to let bad things in if you log into the DE
as root. so the simple rule is: Do not log into the DE as root, ever.
> but he doesn’t specify how to tell whether you’re logged in as root
by default (depending on the choices you made during install)
openSUSE will either boot directly to the desktop as the User you
named and gave a password for…or, it will boot to a log in screen
where you must give the password…and, that log in screen will (by
default) show the name of the User you gave during install…
so, unless you do something strange (or WRONG) like not select YOUR
User name and give the pass, and instead type in the name of that
superuser named root–you will be in the DE as your User.
then to do root power required duties you can use a root powered tool
(like YaST to install software, and others)
read up on that here:
http://tinyurl.com/593e4c
, and if you are, how do you change that?
right click on the desktop and select “Leave”, in the resulting
dialog click “Log out”, the system will then land on a Log-in page,
log in as yourself and then you are yourself!
–
dd
openSUSE®, the “German Engineered Automobile” of operating systems!
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat
