StarDestroyer.Net BBS

OK, so my family and I switched to Linux (kUbuntu, the KDE version of Ubuntu). We like it, but it still needs tweaking. We're total newbs to Linux (but I know computers), so any help would be appreciated.

1) I'm having some trouble getting root access. I seem to be "enabled" for it, but I sometimes am denied permission to root or the Windows HDD.

(FYI, our eMachines mobo finally died, so we bought a linux tower (AMD, 512 MB RAM, 80GB HDD, DVD+-R/RW, everything else on mobo) for only $350-ish. We took the 80GB Windoze HDD and put it in the linux computer, hoping to be able to at least read files off of it.)

2) My brother wants to watch DVD's, but I don't know how to install anything (except with Adept, the update manager). I want to be able to play DVD's on this computer, and maybe help with running DVD's on a Win98 computer.

3) We have a Microtek Slimscan C6 (scanner) , and I don't know how to go about installing that.

4) The printer, an HP 3650, installed and prints, but it prints in green instead of black and white. I looked it up on other forums and they suggested changing the color ink, but I think it goes farther than that. Shouldn't the printer use the BLACK ink cartridge for BLACK?

Also, could you guys point me toward some good Linux sites for Newbs?

Thanks!

Root isn't enabled on Ubuntu- you have to use sudo to run commands as root (to enable it, run "sudo passwd root" and set a password).

The update manager is apt-get (there's a GUI on regular Ubuntu called Synaptic, not sure what's on Kubuntu). You have to have libdvdcss2 installed, and I believe you use totem to play it (if you can't find it, see here to add a repository which does: http://seveas.ubuntulinux.nl/).

For scanning, install xsane . Not sure about how to get the drivers working for that, but I think it should be straightforward and do that for you.

Not sure about the HP- try setting it to grayscale before printing (not sure about KDE's printing setup, should be easier than GNOME's though).

Post again if you have additional questions.

Ah, finally, I've been looking for a repo for 5.10 that had libdvdcss and w32codecs.

Neither of which seem to work in totem, had to use Xine, which is no biggie.

BTW, have you had a play with E17? It's pretty swish...the bits of it that work anyway.

You have to install all the gstreamer plugins (dunno which one you do need- just install all of them) to use Totem w/o Xine. Rather pointless though, since you could just use Xine.

Haven't played w/ Enlightenment recently (just a GNOME user now).

When is E17 going to be anything but a beta? I really want the damn project to be complete.

They're still pre-alpha from what I've seen. They're getting there, just very slowly. I've installed it and tried a couple of themes out, it's very pretty and quite responsive, qualities that rarely seem to go together.

In the meantime, I'm just happy with gnome until they get something up that's a bit more stable.