Newcomer to Linux
 

Of what sites and articles I have read, so far, on the Internet with regards to Linux, I get the feeling that you have to also understand the code and how to use it in order to use Linus in general. Is that a wrong assessment? I thought that changing over to Linux from Windows XP was going to be an OS that would just "work out of the box" type. I had previously asked a question about hard drive configuration and I was given a code to enter to get my answer. I had no idea what the person was taking about which led me to post this on this General site. Is Linux only for technical oriented users? Excuse my ignorance. I had to ask.

Like anything new there is a learning curve. Linux is different from Windows. You don't have to be a programmer or understand code to use Linux but it does help to learn how to use commands.

According to your profile you're using SimplyMepis which is a good choice for a Linux newbie.

People here are willing to help you, but we don't have a crystal ball so we have no way of knowing your level of knowledge or experience. If you don't understand an answer just say so.

You do need to be willing to learn a new way of doing things, and ask intelligent questions and provide enough information for us to be able to help you.

It may be all the same to you but you do not need to know how to code as in write source code, but it can be useful to know commands. Using commands is not too difficult.
The Mephis install CD is also a "live-CD", it can run in RAM without hard drive install so you can check it out before installing.
There is probably a GUI partition tool as well as command line tools.
Why not start it up and take a look?
Good Luck.

Some things about Linux are easier, some are more difficult. In the latter case, it is often BECAUSE the user is so used to Windows.
With and Apple-II and the early PCs with DOS, everyone learned commands---no big deal. Now there are a significant fraction of Windows users that don't even know that it is possible to enter commands.

OK--I read your other thread. The request to enter commands throws a lot of new users---e.g. enter WHERE?.
Linux uses the command-line interface (CLI) much more than does Windows. It is good to get used to it from the beginning.

When looking at the GUI (graphical user interface) menus, there will always be an entry for some kind of terminal--this is a CLI that works inside of the GUI. You can also go directly to a CLI, by configuring the computer to do that on startup. Finally, you can open a CLI IN PARALLEL to whatever GUI is running---by typing ctrl-alt-F1.

As already discussed, boot up from the Live CD and start exploring--after you have poked around a bit, it won't seem quite so scary.

You will find a lot of answers provided here and in other Linux groups make a couple of basic assumptions. Firstly, that you have access to a commandline interface (sometimes requiring root access), and have a basic understanding of it's use. Secondly, that when you are recommended to do 'foo bar baz', you would interpret that as a commandline to enter, and the result will most likely be reflected in some text output being printed, which you may elect to paste back into an article in the forum. This works a lot better than trying to describe in words something graphical that may occur. Commands are unambiguous, and for anyone using a desktop with copy/paste capabilities, is trivially simple to do. A happy byproduct of it is that the resulting text becomes searchable by tools such as this web forum and online search engines. That is why you are sure to have someone point out that 'Google is your friend'. So, too, is xterm or konsole, or whatever your favorite terminal program.
The use of plain old words and text still has a lot of advantages over everything requiring a GUI. While it is perhaps a different way of doing things, to those acquainted only with Windows, it should not be interpreted as arcane, primitive, or difficult, but merely as concise, unambiguous, and simple.
--- rod.

Amen and Hallelujah!!! Using the CLI (terminal, console, whatever) is in fact the easiest and fastest way to do many things.

It is my belief that from DOS days forward users have been learning how to interact with their computers. Who knew about a config.sys and boot.ini when first using a Windows box? I think it is an acquired knowledge. Users who start out and get confused can easily get help in their home or office form someone close by, because everyone uses it.

Once you've used Linux for awhile it does get easier. But you will not have that close by support group that can answer all your questions, so the Internet is your best friend for Linux advice. I think it is unusual to have to enter the code you did. I've never had to do that, ever. Must have been something 'special' about your system setup (I have not read your original thread).

One of Windows weaknesses is that it does not use the command line interface for much of anything. Years back they came out with Windows scripting language, but I don't believe it took off as expected. In Linux you can accomplish most everything from the command line. At first you might hate that thought. If you give it a chance and work with it, you'll grow to appreciate the power of the command line. So much easier to get things done ... you can string commands together and create scripts and automate them all using commands that have now become familiar to you. Granted, it does take some getting used to.

Years ago I was in a 'C' programming class. We had to use vi to edit our little programs. I argued with the instructor about how dumb vi was and why couldn't they make it work like most other text editors (ie: notepad). I was very frustrated and shut off the idea that vi could have be anything I would need or like using. Less than a year later I had to eat those words. I hunted down a vi program I could use on my Windows desktop because I liked the power of the two vi modes for getting the job done. I fought it, but after using it awhile I saw the light. I hope you stick with Linux long enough that the proverbial 'light' comes on for you. :D