Well, this is my first post and it's a beg for help, so let's hope this doesn't become too much of a pattern.

I am completely new to linux. I just had a friend install Fedora on my Dell Latitiude C800 and I'm having a parade of problems. A starters list is as follows.

- I do not know how to install a video driver
- Fedora doesn't know what type of monitor I have, and neither do I.
- I need to install Flash
- I need to install Java
- I need to get my resolution higher than 800x600

Any help at all would be great. Keep in mind that, as much as I am used to computers, command lines I am a little rusty. Windows has been my bane for years and linux is... different. A dumbed down, step by step set of instructions would be a lifesaver.

As a side not, I'm also a newb to these forums so if I screw up, feel free to let me know what I should be doing different.

And as a last note, I've been thinking of installing Ubuntu, since I tried a Live CD and I didn't have the video problems. Any advice on a different distro would be great.

Begging - Indref.

1st the screen.
open a console.
type choose a Display - Dell Laptop Display suitable to your Display size.
then you'll be able to adjust more then 800x600.
Regarding a correct driver I'll need to know if you've got a C800 with ATI or Nvidia Card? Regarding flash
Go here and get flash.
The steps to install are very easy and they are well explained. BTW it recognizes that your running Linux.
Regarding Java. Just download at www.java.com in /tmp
copy it to /usr/java all as root! then next go forward to the end and accept the license. (yes)
java is installed but it will not work till you make a symbolic link to your brwosers dir. and I think that you use firefox. (Don't forget everytime you update firefox you'll have to create a new link)
so for e.g thats it.

Come back with an output of to see which video card you use or go into the bios or just tell me.(us)