In a Linux installation, the administrator is known as root and usually has it’s own password. Most operations that need root privileges will ask you for the root password or if you are working on the command line, you would swap to root for a time by typing su (for Super User) and then the password. This gives an element of protection and security to the system.You are advised not to work as root under normal operating circumstances. This is one of the ways that Linux helps protect you from virus infections and other problems.

Ubuntu is a little different and you need to understand the differences if you are to get the best from your system. When Ubuntu Linux is first installed, a normal user account is set up along with a password. When certain operations are attempted – for example going to synaptic package manager – you will be asked for your password. This is your normal user password. If you are working on the command line some operations will require su type privileges. In these instances you need to type sudo before the command and you will again be asked for the password. If you need to have a dedicated root account there is a way of setting one up, but for normal use you wouldn’t need that.

http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2008/04/howto-install-virtualbox-in-hardy-heron.html

When I last checked VirtualBox did not update their repositories for Hardy Heron. It’s not a problem, there is a hardy package without a repository. I have created a howto last year on howto setup VirtualBox completely and to seamlessly integrate windows xp into your ubuntu desktop here:
http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2007/10/howto-integrate-windows-xp-desktop-into.html Read more »

If you have been a Windows and/or a Mac OS user to date, you are probably used to searching for a program on the internet (often offered in an executable installer) and having to download and install it.

You’re probably familiar with software distributed on CDs, DVDs, etc. which often have an autorun feature from where you can then install them. For free and open systems like Ubuntu GNU/Linux there is some software distributed in this fashion, but those are mostly proprietary and closed programs. Read more »

I recently had a hard drive die in my laptop. Actually, 3 of them died. I know, fool me once, shame on me…

The problem may not have been with the hard drives, but possibly with the laptop. I read online about issues with some laptops overheating, etc. So I had to buy a new laptop, and it made me start thinking about how I could make this one more resilient to crashes and other problems with the operating system. At work, I do a lot of virtualization with VMware ESX, so my thought was to create a virtual machine (VM) on my laptop that I would regularly backup. In the event that it crashed (not if, but when), I would be able to restore the backup image of the VM and I would only lose the data since my last backup. Also, running the guest O/S’es as VM’s would also let me run other O/S versions, such as Linux. Read more »

From http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4392496

Ok, this if my first how to.  So if i do something wrong just tell me I will try and fix it.

Ok, so for starters the whole reason I’m writing this how too is because i just installed a LAMP server onto my box and phpbb. And I had a really hard time with it because i was trying to follow other sites tutorials and they used terminal. Now don’t get me wrong i love terminal and have nothing at all against it. but i learned the hard way that you should check synaptic package manager and add/remove programs first. because if you use synaptic or add/remove you’re ensured that the packages will be installed correctly unlike with the terminal where it’s easier for you to mess up somewhere. Read more »