umm... command prompt? The world is coming to an end

jmcdonald21 · 02-08-2005, 06:37 PM

Alright, I've been winging it with this whole mandrake linux thing for almost two months now. I am trying my best to figure everything out, but I cam into the game with little skill to begin with. I used to use XP, but decided to switch because I wanted to learn to program and heard this was the way to go. I have been having several problems heres a list if anyone cares: no sound on certain applications, random crashing of applications, firefox keeps telling me my profile is in use and I have to make a new one and wind up loosing all my prefs, tons of random plug-ins are missing for my programs, can't get into my bios or boot menu anymore with f12. Thats just some. I have only managed to successfully install flash player plug-in because it had a step-by-step install doc. I can't use the command prompt worth beans. The Konsole that is. I got a book from a friend at work called Using linux. It's larger than the bible, and it just confuses me. If anyone can help on the topics above, or point me to a good place to learn the command prompt stuff thats geared toward computer inept, please feel free to help. Thanks

Peacedog · 02-08-2005, 07:00 PM

This should help with the cli.

http://linux-newbie.sunsite.dk/index.html

good luck.

detpenguin · 02-08-2005, 10:49 PM

this is a pretty newbie friendly online book..helped me tons with stuff:

http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/

jmcdonald21 · 02-09-2005, 02:37 AM

Thanks guys! Those sites are helping quite a bit. I've been reading for about 4 hours straight. I am linuxed out for the night! Thanks again for the links.

shengchieh · 02-09-2005, 09:44 PM

Read all the docs on my webpage,

http://www.websamba.com/Linux_Docs_Links

Have fun!

Sheng-Chieh

Sepero · 02-09-2005, 10:49 PM

www.google.com/linux

dockpunk · 02-10-2005, 08:43 PM

most likely firefox keeps asking you to create a new profile because you already have an instance of it running. if you need a new window open do it from firefoxs file menu, not the program menu in your window manager.
if you list the specific apps that you're getting no sound on you can probably get some help, there is usually an option to select which sound driver it uses and it may be set to one thats not actually in use.
switching to linux may be a little intimidating at first but you will appreciate the control and stability in the long run and mandrake is a pretty newbie friendly distro to start with. it takes time to adjust but be patient and you'll find yourself catching on pretty quick.