changing caps-lock to ctrl on opensuse 11.3

after some trial-and-err, one workable solution is:

1. create a file .Xmodmap in home directory ~/ with the following lines:

keycode 66 = Control_L
clear Lock
add Control = Control_L
keycode 117 = Caps_Lock
add Lock = Caps_Lock

2. that's it. turns out .Xmodmap will run automatically at login. see scripts in /usr/X11.

nVidia graphics card on opensuse 11.3

turns out the fix to stop machine noise after installing openSuSE 11.3 on HP Pavilion E9290JP is to add nVidia software repository through yast.

http://www.suse.de/~sndirsch/nvidia-installer-HOWTO.html

new driver for GeForce GT 220 was automatically updated via software update, and due to power management, the fan is not blowing constantly. peace of mind.