Re: does Linux have a registry?

Matt Giwer <jull43@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

JM wrote:
Thanks for the info Chris, John, Keith, Nico, Unruh and Matt. Its great
to know that no one will be controlling my computer.......especially
Bill Gates. You know, the name Bill Gates fits really well with that
guy. His software gives you a high credit card Bill for something that
isn't that good compared to linux, and then he puts Gates up in your
computer so you can't get to and control everything and he can.

From 1984 through 2000 I used DOS and Windows and then switched to linux.
The MS years were a constant opportunity to learn such as learning how to
make crashes less frequent, how to reinstall the OS after the hard disk
crashed, the importance of backing up important data, and a host of other
essential bits of knowledge to keep the computer running. And what I found
that worked in one area had no necessary relation to what worked in another
area and usually did not.

I have never regretted switching to linux.

What you learn about one aspect of linux is useful to all of linux as
consistency of design is a goal of linux.

One other thing.......can editing the configuration files for
applications or the OS mess up the computer? I'm assuming that you would
have to have a decent amount of experience to edit the configuration
files and know what you are doing so you didn't mess up anything. I
personally don't have any experience when it comes to editing
configuration files.

Yes you can screw up lots of things.

Yes, but you can almost always get out of the mess as well. Make backups,
not jsut of everything ( always a good idea) but of the files youare
changing -- then you can go back.
Secondly test on a running system before you reboot. Eg if you change
/etc/fstab, do mount -a and lok at the error reports before you reboot.
Then you can fix them. Almost everthing is testable in situations where the
test does not produce a disaster.



Rule 1. NEVER become root unless you know what you are doing and that you
have to become root to do it.

Well, maybe. If you are working on a crucian system yes. On the other hand
if you can stand a crash, go ahead and experiment.

Rule 2. Do not violate Rule 1.

Nuts.



That said, if you change something in your home directory it will only
screw up the application for you. Which leads us to Rule 3, make a backup of
what you intend to change so you can put it back the way you found it. And
Rule 4. Regardless of your years of experience as a senior systems
administrator, never violate Rule 3.

These two I agree with, but do not follow. As I said if you know what
youare doing you can usually rescue yourself.


As you will eventually screw up like we all have, most applications will
create the home directory files needed when they are first run. So in your
home directory, if you cannot restore the file as it was, simply erase the
file and run the program. This does NOT apply to .bash and other basic files
like .kde and .gnome so be careful.

Actually it DOES apply to .kde and .gnome. And there isalways a backup
default for .bashrc (/etc/bashrc) which is used if youerase .bashrc



If all else fails create a new user and as root, copy the needed files from
the newuser account to yours and chown you.you

Ordinarily you should not have to manually change any of these files. And
while learning almost everything can be done with a small script run after
the system is booted.

When all else fails, ask questions here.

--
It is very difficult to explain how the US could fight two world wars to
save the Emperors of India and claim it was fighting for democracy.
-- The Iron Webmaster, 3919
http://www.giwersworld.org a1
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: does Linux have a registry?
    ... to know that no one will be controlling my computer.......especially ... the name Bill Gates fits really well with that ... most it will just mess up the program they are the config files for. ... configuration files. ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)
  • Re: does Linux have a registry?
    ... Its great to know that no one will be controlling my computer.......especially Bill Gates. ... the name Bill Gates fits really well with that guy. ... I'm assuming that you would have to have a decent amount of experience to edit the configuration files and know what you are doing so you didn't mess up anything. ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)
  • Re: does Linux have a registry?
    ... to know that no one will be controlling my computer.......especially Bill Gates. ... the name Bill Gates fits really well with that guy. ... I'm assuming that you would have to have a decent amount of experience to edit the configuration files and know what you are doing so you didn't mess up anything. ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)
  • Re: does Linux have a registry?
    ... to know that no one will be controlling my computer.......especially Bill Gates. ... the name Bill Gates fits really well with that guy. ... His software gives you a high credit card Bill for something that isn't that good compared to linux, and then he puts Gates up in your computer so you can't get to and control everything and he can. ... The MS years were a constant opportunity to learn such as learning how to make crashes less frequent, how to reinstall the OS after the hard disk crashed, the importance of backing up important data, and a host of other essential bits of knowledge to keep the computer running. ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)
  • Re: does Linux have a registry?
    ... to know that no one will be controlling my computer.......especially Bill Gates. ... the name Bill Gates fits really well with that guy. ... His software gives you a high credit card Bill for something that isn't that good compared to linux, and then he puts Gates up in your computer so you can't get to and control everything and he can. ... As you will eventually screw up like we all have, most applications will create the home directory files needed when they are first run. ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)