I am having difficuly (an understatement) with just simply downloading a file (grub-0.5.96.1.tar.gz) and compiling it on my RH7.0 machine (Gnome manager).
I have to download the file using my Windows machine since it is too difficult to set up my modem and connect to my ISP. When I save the grub----.tar.gz to a floppy and load it into my RH machine it changes the filename on me to the 8.3 format(I use sneaker net between my computers as I can't set up my NIC on RH; It dual boots to NT and the network works fine with that...its simple too). I tried the rename command from a terminal (rename grub-0~1.gz grub-0.5.96.1.tar.gz). It doesn't print out an error but I also can't find the renamed file anywhere...the old one still exists.
So next I try the Command > Find file function from the Home directory window and I get the craziest looking windows that doesn't even look like the find file window that I have used before on this very set up (something changed on me without me giving permission to the computer to make any changes to my system). One crazy looking window actually says Find file on its window frame bar, but it has one edit box and then a 5 by 5 gridwork of separators on it. It looks as though a button may be under the edit box (I'm not sure) but there is not an OK button that I can see on the window.
The second window that opens when I use the Home directory Command > Find file function says gmc in its title bar and has 12 control buttons on it, but none of them are OK buttons.
So next I try to use find from the terminal (using the man find as a guide) and I cant get it to go through all the directories (In my opinion that should be a default setting for the find command).
Also...the windows are slow and jerky when I move them. In fact if I drag a window over an active GIMP window it leaves a trail of 20 overlapping copies of the window thats being dragged in the GIMP window. It takes 15 seconds or so for them to clear!!!
What do I do to sort out these problems? Why can't Linux be user-friendly and simple to use (and polished)? I have other work that I would like to be doing on this machine..I don't have the time to fight with the OS.

Please have patience, and take one thing at once.

First... "When I save the grub----.tar.gz to a floppy and load it into my RH machine it changes the filename on me to the 8.3 format" - you are mounting your floppy as msdos or fat, use vfat to avoid the 8.3 format and get long filenames.

Next... sorry I don't use Gnome.

Next... using a terminal for find should work, but you have to give it the path to search and the filename, but you must have permission to read those directories - what user are you logged on as and do you have permission to read the root directory? i.e. try ' find / grub* ', does ' ls / ' give you anything?

As for your screen being slow. What processor/memory/etc machine are you using? Do you have the correct Xconfig?

Linux does need you to polish the set up yourself, but then it does not expect you to be as stupid as other OSs.

Joe

Just so you know I've been this frustrated before.

In some ways what you are dealing with is a different set of philosophies.

I probably will not be able to help you with all of this.

I like the solution offered by the other poster for the filename issue. I would not have thought of that one.
The thought behind MS solutions is the same as that of a instamatic camera in photography. The thoughts behind NIX solutions is more like using a real camera. You have to understand what the fstop is and how it relates to filmspeed if you are going to get the result you want.

Now some real answers. The find command default is to search from the directory where you enact the command. The idea here is on a big system it can take a really long time if you are not a bit selective in your searching.

If you are having problems with X (the funny screens and stuff) it has been my experience that somewhere I dropped a stitch in my Xconfig.
I would run (at the command line) Xconfigurator. Go through this maybe a few times until:
1. I understood
2. got what I liked for a display.
Note: DO NOT EXCEED THE MONITOR SCAN RATE.
In most cases you can find your monitor listed by the Xconfiguration but if you cannot do not experiment with this. find the specs or go generic.

It has not been so long for me that I do not remember how hard it was for me to learn all this crap in MS Windows. After learning MS though I came to understand it's shortcomings and they are far more than a bit of a steep learning curve.

Stick it out. Get a good book or 2 and don't have the expectation that this stuff is or should be like MS products.