I’ve been using Backtrack since the vesion 4 beta. This new version has a ton of updated and new packages.
If you are not familiar with Backtrack, it is a “penetration testing” version of Ubuntu.  Definitely not for the casual user as a GUI login is not enabled and the default user is “root”. I install Backtack in a dual-boot configuration with XP on my laptop.  These are some tweaks I have to do:

• Install wireless drivers.  Intel IPW2200.
• Enable the kdm login.
• Allow the Chrome Browser to run as “root”.

Installing the wireless drivers was incredibly easy.  First download the firmware from Sourceforge into the /lib/firmware folder.  Version 3.1 is the latest as of the time of this post.  Then execute these commands:

tar -xzf ipw2200-fw-3.1.tgz
modprobe -r ipw2200
modprobe ipw2200

And that’s it, should be up and running.  Backtrack uses Wicd for network management.

Next is the kdm GUI login.

Start by editing /etc/init/kdm.conf, remove or comment out the following section:

if [ -n "$UPSTART_EVENTS" ]
then
[ ! -f /etc/X11/default-display-manager -o "$(cat /etc/X11/default-display-manager 2>/dev/null)" = "/usr/bin/kdm" ] || { stop; exit 0; }
# Check kernel command-line for inhibitors
for ARG in $(cat /proc/cmdline)
do
case "${ARG}" in
text|-s|s|S|single)
plymouth quit || : # We have the ball here
exit 0
;;
esac
done
fi

Reboot and you should see the GUI login.

Allow Chrome Browser to run as “root”.

After downloading the appropriate package run this command in the folder you saved Chrome into:

dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb

Now you must add an unprivelged user.  This can be done with the command line or you can add the package kuser with the command “apt-get install kuser”.  Once that is done create a folder for that user. Then right click on the desktop of the root user and select Create New, Link to Application.  Now select the Application tab and the Command text box.  Click on Browse and navigate to /opt/google/chome and select the Chome application.  After returning to the Command text box enter this after the text:

%U --user-data-dir="/home/user/folder"

Use the user and folder you created.  You can edit the icon and change the name if you wish.

That’s the extent of the tweaks.  Happy testing.

##Update##

I had some trouble with shutting down with kdm enabled.   Here’s the fix for that little feature.  Get into Settings, System Settings then Login Screen.  Navigate to the Shutdown tab and click on the text box next to “Halt”.  Enter the following text: /sbin/shutdown -h now.

In the “Reboot” text box you should have /sbin/reboot as that seems to work ok.  You can enter /sbin/shutdown -r now if you have trouble.

##########

First of all, one must download a certain extension, jUpgrade. Getting it into the installation took a bit of work with permissions. Two different settings, ftp=off, and set /tmp to 777. Next we enable the MooTools Upgrade plugin. So far so good, now the fun starts.

Apparently, testing this little tool is only accomplished in one browser, Firefox. Don’t bother with chrome, it won’t work at all. At least with IE8, it actually started before stopping at the half-way mark. Next we have to actually MOVE the previous installation out off the root directory because the jUpdater has made it’s OWN directory OWNED by apache. This is problematic. And one of the things about the server adding and moving files that I can’t stand. The new folders and files have to be owned by the ftp user in order to have any chance of changing or moving them.

What a failure. One browser worked, ftp didn’t.

The only cure was to ssh into the server and rm -rf jupgrade. The last time I had to do this was with Drupal.

Too bad. This isn’t even a good try. Take an example from wordpress.

I wasn’t born yesterday:

WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
=============================

ATTENTION ! Security Center has detected
malware on your computer !

Affected Software:

Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows Win98
Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution / Virus Infection /
Unexpected shutdowns

Recommendation: Users running vulnerable version should install a repair
utility immediately

Your system IS affected, download the patch from the address below !
Failure to do so may result in severe computer malfunction.

http://www.registryscan.cc/?q=scan

Are people really that stupid that they click on this crap?  I thought about limiting chats to the contact list, but what’s the fun in that?

It’s a Dell Dimension 8400, P4 3.0ghz with 1mb cache, 512 megs of ram, ATI x700Pro Video with 256 megs of ram, Audigy 2 ZS for the Firewire port, and a 160 gig harddrive with XP Pro installed on it.

Santa is very happy this year.

To be eligible, you need a Gear Live account, a Twitter account, follow the Gear Live Twitter account, post a tweet with “#glmagic” in the tweet, and finally, leave a comment in the Giveaway thread. Wew. That’s some stuff to do, but not that hard for the basic entry.

There is also the opportunity for some “extra” credit. Post a Facebook shared link, a Del.icio.us bookmark, on Friend Feed use the post a link, and put a link on your site, blog, or what have you. Then post the link back in the Giveaway thread.

There you have it, not much work for $6000 in HP stuff. Now get to it!!

The TweakGuides Tweaking Companion (TGTC) is the complete system optimization guide for Windows users. Designed for novice and advanced users alike, it is written in plain English to help you genuinely understand all aspects of Windows and your PC. The guide covers every major topic, from the correct installation of Windows and critical drivers and software, through to recommendations for every significant setting and feature, all the major performance and convenience tweaks and customizations, as well as detailed troubleshooting advice. There are also links to a range of reliable free applications for optimizing and maintaining your system, as well as to important resources for finding out even more about Windows and your PC.

enjoy