Confusing Linux Error, Can Someome Hep?

[zat]

I'm trying to help out a friend who has recently installed Linux Mandrake and is having problem.
Here's the thing I can't access any folders, cd drives or the home directory from the desktop.
I created a new folder for his documents and when i try to access it, it sends me an error saying KDEInit could not lauch /mnt/cdrom/backup
I've checked the permissions and it doesn't seem to be them. What's even stranger is that I can access the folder through a program e.g. openoffice
Can anyone give me some advice?

[fingal]

Here's the thing I can't access any folders, cd drives or the home directory from the desktop.

I created a new folder for his documents and when i try to access it, it sends me an error saying KDEInit could not lauch /mnt/cdrom/backup

I wonder if you have home on a separate partition? If so, is it mounted? Can you physically see the folders, or anything else on your desktop?

If you are accessing a folder, this shouldn't involve your cdrom drive unless the folder is on a cd. If you are really trying to mount your cdrom drive then your fstab file might not be set up properly. This is located in /etc/ You might need to give us a few more details before we crack this problem!

[zat]

Ok well maybe there is a separate partition but how would i check cuz i
didn't actually setup the computer.
As i said it's my friends PC and the computer shop how installed Linux
are now telling him they actually don't know much about Linux, so he's on his own.
But I'll try giving you some more info on the problem.

I can physically see the folders on the desktop.

I can't access the two cd drive, and it only tells me that the cdrom could
not be access, not why.

Any folders i have created and try to open give me the message above
but there not on a cd thats why the error message is so confusing

The Home directory just won't respond

The only icons working on the desktop are programs and a zip file which
the shop put on for some reason, I can use it to get to folders in a round
about way.

I'm not sure what else I can tell you or try to do. I've only recently started
working with Linux myself, so if there is anything you think i should try tell
me and i'll give it a go.

cheers

[fingal]

I won't pretend to know all about the solution to this problem, but I think it would help to read this:

http://www.start-linux.com/articles/article_136.php

If you start with your fstab file in the /etc/ directory, this might help you to understand the problem. Linux is more about learning than, perhaps, Window$ and you need to know a few things in detail about mounting and unmounting filesystems. The thing with Mandrake thinking that folders are cdroms is really weird and new to me, but I would be interested to know what happens, and hope someone else 'chips in' with some advice too.