mode numbers and user levels

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: mode numbers and user levels
started by: froggg

Posted by froggg on May 24 2006,13:38

I'm pretty new to DSL, and really enjoy it. However, I'm having a problem understanding a couple of things, and any help would be greatly appreciated. First question: When booting up, I get the boot line, and I hit <Enter>. Then I get the message "You have passed an undefined mode number". Since I already have the video mode set up in the backup file, what is it asking for?
Second question: I've seen mentioned both here and within the program of different user levels. How and where do I set them? I'm using the computer at home, and no one else has access to it, so security or multi-user access is not an issue. Thanks in advance for any help given.

Posted by mikshaw on May 24 2006,15:34

All I can say about the first issue is perhaps you have a config file in your backup that isn't appropriate for your monitor.

What do you mean by "user levels"? Do you mean file ownerships? file permissions? User groups? The concepts of running/writing certain files only as root, and of NOT being root unless you have to be, are basic truths of Linux, even if you are not concerned with security. Doing everything with root power is dangerous also because of the ease with which you can destroy your own system by the simplest of errors.
In DSL, running a program as root is as easy as using the "sudo" command in front of the desired command, so what more you need?

Posted by froggg on May 25 2006,11:27

OK, that clears it up, on both questions. Thanks for the help.