1. Exploring the Desktop

Figure 4.1. The KDE Desktop

The KDE Desktop

On your desktop's background sit a series of icons which give you access to your personal and system files. Here's a quick overview:

Table 4.1. KDE Desktop Icons

IconMeaning
Home. Gives you access to your personal files through a file manager.
Media. Allows you to access all of your computer's storage media such as hard disks, removable media such ase USB external hard disks and USB keys, audio CDs, etc.
System. Enables you to access the same features as through the Media icon but it also gives you access to network places (such as shared folders on your local network).
Welcome. Gives you an overview of all Mandriva-related web sites.

1.1. Managing Your Files

Organizing and looking for your personal and system files can be done in many ways. Here are two of them.

 Click on this icon on your desktop to access your personal files. With this file manager (called Konqueror) you can copy, move and delete your files, organize them by topic, and more. From Konqueror's sidebar (located on the left) you can access your audio player (Section 1, “Audio Applications”), your bookmarks (Section 2, “Browsing the Web”), your browser's history, the root folder (which contains the system and configuration files), as well as services (your printing system, your external storage media, etc.).

 This utility sits at the bottom right of your panel and is used to look for files on your system. Right-click on it and click on Configure Kat.

Figure 4.2. Kat Configure Dialog

Kat Configure Dialog

Click on Add to configure a folder in which Kat will look and index all files. Typically you would choose your /home/user_name folder to index all your personal files. Once this is done click on the Ok button to start indexing. Click on the Kat icon to check its status.

[Note]Note

Bear in mind that if you have a lot of files, this operation can take a very, very long time.

1.2. Configuring your Background

Figure 4.3. Changing the Background Settings

Changing the Background Settings

Right click on an empty space in the desktop and select the Configure Desktop item. You can personalize your background by opening the file dialog.