Linux - NewbieThis Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question?
If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
unless you have a router with a fire wall
you do need 1
zone alarm is no good unless you buy it for windows
i found out the hard way on that 1
i have been windows clean for 4 years now im happy
i started with the op sys gos v2
do not sudo and drink !
Linux installs software very differently from Windows, there is nothing remotely in common.
In Windows, there is an executable that, when run, installs the files in their appropriate places.
In Linux, there are packages. They are archives containing the files that make up a program plus some metadata. They are installed using a package manager program. Note that Windows programs come with all the stuff it depends on built-in, because there is no way of knowing what else is installed. In Linux, the package's metadata says what other packages need to be installed, and it will either warn you or automatically download the required dependencies.
Also, you don't surf the web to find software in Linux -- instead you just type in the name and it downloads it for you from the distribution's repository. If that fails, then you look online.
That is almost Chinese to me:The bit about windows I get,then metadata?"don't surf the web" but type in the name,but where?
I do hope to get less geeky replies,that is why I am here;bloody clueless.
My impression is that linpus wasn't that great to begin with and it's now based on a very very out of date version of Fedora, so getting newer software releases can be a pain in the you know what. I highly recommend taking the time to install a different linux version. One of the best netbook linux distributions out there is Jolicloud. It's heads and tails above linpus.
The fedora bit I managed to find out-though it took tyime to realise linux was not just a single browswer.
I'll wait for a few replies re linpus as some posters have commented that they can offer asdvice but also I will try to download jolicloud to a pendrive or cd.
Most importantly is that you repeat the aspireoneuser hack which I made a comment on because I was unable to change my desktop because the icon does not appear while of the six I do get,clicking on panel(is that desktop?)does nothing,like it is not active.
the problem with linpus is that no experienced user would install it on his/her PC. It only comes preinstalled on laptops. Also it seems that the Linuxversion where Linpus is based on is completely outdated.
So what can you do? If your Laptop is not a netbook and has a DVD-drive, I'd recommend to download an isoimage (live-CD) of a more common and userfriendly distributions DVD or CD, burn it and boot it. You may then (without making changes at you System) try Linux out.
If your satisfied you may as well install that distribution.
That is almost Chinese to me:The bit about windows I get,then metadata?"don't surf the web" but type in the name,but where?
I do hope to get less geeky replies,that is why I am here;bloody clueless.
Archive: a file containing a whole tree of files and folders for easy sharing. Similar concept to the Windows .zip format, but doesn't necessarily have to be compressed.
Metadata: data that's not part of the real content of the file, but supplies extra info.
The fedora bit I managed to find out-though it took tyime to realise linux was not just a single browswer.
I'll wait for a few replies re linpus as some posters have commented that they can offer asdvice but also I will try to download jolicloud to a pendrive or cd.
Most importantly is that you repeat the aspireoneuser hack which I made a comment on because I was unable to change my desktop because the icon does not appear while of the six I do get,clicking on panel(is that desktop?)does nothing,like it is not active.
The panel is the piece of real estate often at the bottom of the screen where you'd usually find the menu, a clock, and so on.
I can almost guarantee you'll be much happier with jolicloud. The challenge is just getting it installed, which can be daunting if you're unfamiliar with installing an OS.
I can almost guarantee you'll be much happier with jolicloud. The challenge is just getting it installed, which can be daunting if you're unfamiliar with installing an OS.
Also an option, but I'm making a couple of assumptions. AFAIK, no newer netbook models come with linpus, so this is likely a 7" or 9" screen. Joliclouds interface is, in my opinion, a little better suited for small screens than a normal desktop. For other netbook interfaces, I personally do not like Ubuntu Netbook Remix, Jolicloud is more usable in my experience. And the KDE inerface is right out 1) because I don't know of a distro that uses it by default and 2) KDE is probably too heavy for an older netbook. Also, the poster is very new to linux - Jolicloud comes with software that Ubuntu doesn't, notably restricted firmware and the broadcom wifi driver. I don't know what nic the Aspire One has, but I'd rather direct him towards something where I know everything will work "out of the box" and avoid having to go through all this again trying to get wifi working.
Lastly, Jolicloud is a full distro. It's Ubuntu 10.04 underneath as of the 1.1 release. Just a different user interface. Anything you can do on Ubuntu or Mint you can do on Jolicloud.
The panel is the piece of real estate often at the bottom of the screen where you'd usually find the menu, a clock, and so on.
I can almost guarantee you'll be much happier with jolicloud. The challenge is just getting it installed, which can be daunting if you're unfamiliar with installing an OS.
I followed the instructions so opened the terminal and get the pop up saying "customize your desktop".In that pop up are 6 icons:display,mouse,keyboard,user interface,file manager-all clickable and producing a new pop up.The sixth,panel,produced a message(text,script?) in the terminal saying "panel not running".
The weird thing as I say above is that it IS a laptop,in answer to a few comments above,rather than a netbook.However,my panel or desktop whatever is a line of icons which appear when I move the cursor to the top of the page OR click on the microsoft symbol key,though onviously there is no microsoft here.
I'm looking at all these replies wondering whether to follow jokicloud,mint or ubuntu.I would prefer not to resort to windows if I can.A friend has an older ubuntu on disc but advises me against if I don't know what I am doing.Ubuntu website download confuses me as they ask if UI am downloading via windows,mac or ubuntubviously none of them.
Basically,either I can update this linpus lite moblin or download to dvd or cd another os wehich I can install "out of the box" like,ie not having to change texts,reset programs.
Also an option, but I'm making a couple of assumptions. AFAIK, no newer netbook models come with linpus, so this is likely a 7" or 9" screen. Joliclouds interface is, in my opinion, a little better suited for small screens than a normal desktop. For other netbook interfaces, I personally do not like Ubuntu Netbook Remix, Jolicloud is more usable in my experience. And the KDE inerface is right out 1) because I don't know of a distro that uses it by default and 2) KDE is probably too heavy for an older netbook. Also, the poster is very new to linux - Jolicloud comes with software that Ubuntu doesn't, notably restricted firmware and the broadcom wifi driver. I don't know what nic the Aspire One has, but I'd rather direct him towards something where I know everything will work "out of the box" and avoid having to go through all this again trying to get wifi working.
Lastly, Jolicloud is a full distro. It's Ubuntu 10.04 underneath as of the 1.1 release. Just a different user interface. Anything you can do on Ubuntu or Mint you can do on Jolicloud.
Just to point out,see my reply above(below?)- it is a laptop;15·6 screen so definitely not netbook or tablet but it has a microsoft windows symbol on the key betwen fn and alt so clearly this linpus lite was not intended for it.
Just to point out,see my reply above(below?)- it is a laptop;15·6 screen so definitely not netbook or tablet but it has a microsoft windows symbol on the key betwen fn and alt so clearly this linpus lite was not intended for it.
also,was there a confusion re wifi? I didn't have any problem with it.Very easy in fact
I use easypeasy on my netbook. I have an older netbook, an EEEPC 900. Can't get much easier than that. I got tired of the interface though and started running openbox.
Mint,huh? Just looked at their pdf manual.It looks good,at least to my eyes.Either download to cd/dvd or to pendrive,if the forum explains any problems about usbs.
My earliest question is the bit I have no reply to:downloading to the computer;on windows you downloasdf,open or save and run.On this linux I download,open or save and click on "downloads" then WHAT"? I get lost:"open" produces the same thing in the downloads,"open containing folder" gets me "open,add,extract etc etc"......brick wall time.Sorry
I'm looking at all these replies wondering whether to follow jokicloud,mint or ubuntu.I would prefer not to resort to windows if I can.
This is why I just picked one option that I think is good, rather than throw a whole array of options at you. Sometimes all this choice can be paralyzing. Basically know that you can't really go wrong with any of the major distros, Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuse, or Mandriva. Mint is very very similar to Ubuntu, but has some added goodies and many people consider it one of the best distros for people coming from Windows. Just pick one and run with it.
If you prefer a more traditional looking operating system, don't use Jolicloud. In that case I would definitely recommend Linux Mint. I thought you had a netbook. (Though if you like social networking, you might still consider Jolicloud. It's very web oriented.)
Quote:
A friend has an older ubuntu on disc but advises me against if I don't know what I am doing.Ubuntu website download confuses me as they ask if UI am downloading via windows,mac or ubuntubviously none of them
If you go with Ubuntu, don't use an older one. Use the long term release (10.04) or the latest release (10.10). It is one of the more beginner oriented distros. Any linux will have a learning curve, since it is different from what you are used to, but not ultimately more difficult than Windows. (Outside of relearning stuff.)
It doesn't matter which OS you are using to download the Ubuntu iso, or any linux iso file. It's just a matter of using the programs available to you for burning the iso to a CD/DVD or putting it on a flash drive so you can install it.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.
bviously none of them.
Sometimes all this choice can be paralyzing. Basically know that you can't really go wrong with any of the major distros, Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuse, or Mandriva. Mint is very very similar to Ubuntu, but has some added goodies and many people consider it one of the best distros for people coming from Windows. Just pick one and run with it.
