Note: Linux abstracts every device attached your computer, including hard drive and floppy drive as a file. Files in /dev/ folder are equivalent to device driver files in Windows. Linux provides device files for most common devices, but if you install an uncommon device, you may need a special device file.

After mounting drive, you can access floppy disk. Before removing disk, you have to "unmount" drive. If you find yourself frequently mounting and unmounting drives, you can right-click on "Disk Manager" in menu and select "Add this launcher to panel".

When you installed Linux, information about devices on computer was stored in file /etc/fstab. If device that you want to mount was not configured during installation, use LinuxConf utility to configure device before you mount it.

For example, if you wanted to configure a floppy drive to access DOS floppy disks, insert a DOS floppy disk into drive, then log in as root and open LinuxConf - Main Menu | Programs | System | LinuxConf. In LinuxConf window Config tab, click on "+" next to "File systems" to open that branch. Under "File systems" click on "Access local drive". The "Local volume" windows appears.

In "Local volume" window, click on Add button. The "Volume specification" window appears. In "Partition" text box type /dev/fd0. Then click on drop down button for "Type" text box and select msdos. In "Mount point" text box type /mnt/floppy. Click on "Accept" button. Then click on "Mount" button.

Note: To mount a partition or drive you have to use an existing subdirectory as mount point. By convention, drives use /mnt/ subdirectory as mount point.

To copy files to and from mounted floppy disk, drag and drop them to and from directory /mnt/dosfloppy just as you would any other directory. ----------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com -----------------------------------------------------------

Some programs, particularly shareware programs, don't list themselves in Add/Remove Programs list. To delete these programs, first check for an uninstall utility in program's Start menu, or in program's folder. If none exists, drag program's folder to Recycle Bin, then restart your computer. If your computer restarts without an error message, you can safely empty program from Recycle Bin.

If you receive an error message when you restart your computer, check folder c: WindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup for a link to program that you removed. If there is no link, run Registry Editor (Start | Run | regedit) and check following keys.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SoftwareMicrosoftWindows CurrentVersionRunServices

HKEY_CURRENT_USER SoftwareMicrosoftWindows CurrentVersionRun

If you find an entry related to error message that you are receiving, carefully record that entry, or back up your registry before deleting that entry. If there is no entry in those registry keys, you may want to restore program's folder from Recycle Bin until you learn how to dispose of it cleanly.

If you are not comfortable messing with Windows registry, you can purchase a commercial utility like McAfee's UnInstaller or Norton's CleanSweep to do job for you. These utilities are experts at removing abandoned program pieces and orphaned registry keys. ----------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com -----------------------------------------------------------