Linux Topics     Hints & Tips     PPP & Tinet     Apps to Use     Getting Linux     Program Development   Colour Depth   One of the most annoying things about X (when using XFree86 X server, anyway) is that it starts up in 8-bit resolution. It is possible to change the colour depth using different methods. I know of three methods, of which two have worked for me. In all cases make sure there is a screen size that corresponds with the colour depth you want in the X config file (/etc/X11/XF86Config). When starting X using startx, the colour depth can be specified from the command line. Type startx -- -bpp 16 2>&1 >/dev/console to start X in 16 bits per pixel mode and divert any messages to /dev/console Or else backup and then edit your X config file and place DefaultColorDepth 16 in the Screen section. I read this in a magazine but it didn't work for me, I didn't try too hard either. Or download a copy of Login.App and install it. It will provide a graphical logon prompt. It is a replacement for XDM which provides a similar function. All the examples set the colour depth to 16 bits per pixel. The depth can be set to 24 or 30 bits but makesure your monitor and card support these depths. Find that File!   Win95 has one good utility built in which is the ability to find a file. Linux provides two methods to do this. One involves looking up a database and the other searches through the file system. The fastest way to find a file is to use locate. Before using locate for the first time it is necessary to run updatedb, this will create the database. It can also be used to update the database in the future. Once this is done, locate pattern will print out any files or directories that match the pattern. The most versatile method for finding files (it can also be the slowest) is to use find. This allows the user to search for a file using any combination possible and to execute a program on finding the file. There are apps that will provide a graphical interface to locate or find, e.g. gtkFind, kFind. Have you the Correct Time?   To makesure you have the correct time on you system you should link the correct timezone to localtime. This can be done by typing ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Eire /etc/localtime. This should automatically adjust to Summer Savings Time and back again.