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Starting to Use Your Computer

You may have previous experience with MS-DOS  or other single user operating systems, such as OS/2  or the Macintosh.  In these operating systems, you didn't have to identify yourself to the computer before using it; it was assumed that you were the only user of the system and could access everything. Well, Unix is a multi-user operating system---not only can more than one person use it at a time, different people are treated differently.gif

To tell people apart, Unix needs a user to identify him or herselfgif by a process called logging in.  You see, when you first turn on the computer, several things happen. Since this guide is geared towards , I'll tell you what happens during the boot-up sequence.boot-up

Please note that if you're using on some type of computer besides an Intel  PC, some things in this chapter won't apply to you. Mostly, they'll be in Section gif and Section gif. (Some parts of Section gif will pertain.)





Ross Biro
Thu May 25 10:45:54 PDT 1995