[plug] stupid newbie question

[Mike Holland]

On Thu, 30 Aug 2001, Tim wrote:

> this is my first post so please don't flame me for asking stupid newbie
> questions :)

 Some newbies have thin skins. If you get advice, rather than a direct
answer to your (possibly misdirected) question, please dont take it as an
insult. Clinton is still with us, so presumably has realised that none
hates him.

> Anyway I got sick of Window$ and finally took the time to try
> out Mandrake 8.

Good. If you had tried installing Debian by yourself, we might have never
heard from you again. :)

> don't have privileges to read that directory, even when I log in as admin.
> Can someone please give me step-by-step instructions on how I can access my

Can you give us step-by-step instructions on your problem? Its far from
clear what you are doing. Using a shell? Or what GUI program?
By 'admin' do you mean 'root' or is this some other user?
Quoting actual text commands and responses is helpful.

First thing is to get a terminal window, and do 'su' to get a root prompt.
Try "chmod 666 /dev/hdc" to give everybody access to the cd-rom.

> looking forward to a crash free existence,

Well, the OS might not crash, but !@#$%% netscape!

-- 
Mike Holland  <mike at golden.wattle.id.au>
                          --==--
There goes the good time that was had by all.
                -- Bette Davis, remarking on a passing starlet