why don't commands work

[porsher_puddles]

i try to copy commands to get output to paste back into the forum but i get nothing.

[charles@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost charles]# lsusb
bash: lsusb: command not found
[root@localhost charles]#
this happens alot and its frustrating
[root@localhost charles]# fdisk -l
bash: fdisk: command not found
[root@localhost charles]
why does it not work

[daark.child]

Thats probably because you are using "su" and not "su -" to switch to root. If you want to inherit roots path, you need to use "su -" because it starts a new login shell with the users defaults settings. Using "su" just switches user, but does not use that users settings.

[porsher_puddles]

thanks darkchild, that has been driving me crazy, it works.

at least i now know thing about linux!