After fighting, mostly unsuccessfully, with everything I tried to do regarding Linux, I found a simple way to cure all of my problems.

I switched back to Windows.

Now my OS installs without major problems.
My wireless adapter works flawlessly again.
I can install the programs I want to easily and quickly.

I wasted 2 weeks trying my best to figure out and learn Linux, and I'm no dummy. The bottom line is it's simply too complicated for me.

I don't have a clue what to put in terminal. xyz-b + get this or that /install.sh blah blah -d /bin/it's probably not gonna work anyway/apt blah blah I don't know why I'm wasting my time blah blah cannot find file....

I really wanted to use it, I really did. There's just no way the average computer user can use Linux. Sure if you want to run an ethernet cable and use only the programs in the OS then maybe you can get by. Just don't trip over the cord when you are finished.

But I do want to say thanks for those that tried to help me. I really do appreciate it. It's just not for me. I'm not THAT much into writing code or whatever you wanna call to be able to use it.

But anyway, I'm out and thanks again. I would really like to use it one day but for now it's just not something I have time to learn.

Good bye.

The "Average user" doesn't have a problem with Linux.

It seems that only Windows users do.

I respect that decision. A lot of people just need stuff to work.

I appreciate the opportunity and not gonna argue for or against one or the other. For me my problems that I've spent 2 weeks trying to figure out using Linux have been fixed simply by switching back to Windows.

The only argument you'll get is that there is no way the "average user" automatically knows all of the code that is involved in getting something in Linux to work (or in my case not work).

I actually agree with this. A friend of mine uses linux (his pc died, he has no money, I gave him one with Linux). Prior to that, he used Windows at work and a TINY bit at home, but never learned how to do ANYTHING in Windows. So when he switched to Linux there was no relearning, only learning the first time. He's now more comfortable in Linux than Windows, and vastly prefers it.

And in the meantime I plan on learning what I can about it and once I think I'm comfortable with it I'll give it another try. I think it's awesome that it's free and has so many other good free programs. I made the mistake of completely erasing Windows and going only with Linux, and I tried several different distros. If it's not a huge mountain to climb to figure out I may even dual boot and play with it every now and again.

Being pragmatic is never a bad idea. My neices, wife, brother, and sons are not linux users.
I am the only one.
No one is ever right or wrong in that.

Hi jkirksey1889...

I understand completely. There was a time a few years ago (2007) when I dumped Linux entirely after about five or six months of stuggling to iron out bugs and glitches, let alone the fact that I missed a lot of the software I was used to, which only ran in Windows. However, I came back later in 2011 and found that Linux had matured significantly and year later, I installed Ubuntu 10.04 and ran it as my sole OS up until earlier this year when the hard drive went out. Now I use Lubuntu 14.04 on both my systems, although I dual boot Windows Vista on my desktop system for the things I need (or like) Windows for.

Thank you for trying out Linux, though. It's not for everyone and I would agree that some improvements are badly needed.

Regards...

you MUST use mint or buntus or makulu (aero) ...

http://makululinux.com/

http://www.networkworld.com/article/...inux-aero.html

Good bye btw !

un1x, if I may be so bold, that was not called for.

If Linux is about choice, it's also about the choice not to use Linux.

Your comment was unkind and unnecessary, apart from the fact the OP was using Mint.

Regards...

I understand when people write success stories. It is a great feeling to accomplish something and sharing it makes it even better. But failure? I keep my failures to myself.
We do not sell Linux here, so I really do not care how many people are using it.

sorry ... didn't know !

I gave up on Linux completely several times as well. Mind you, this was in like 96/97, as I was a Windows "Power User" and I knew how to do a LOT with Windows. Switching to Linux I couldn't get ANYTHING to work. While I was intrigued by the open source nature, I simply couldn't get anything to work. Once I finally did start getting things to work (tried again around 2001), I found myself falling in love, and have actually been using Linux as my primary desktop since ~2006. In hindsight, I wish I'd learned Linux before Windows, as it's definitely IMO a superior OS, and I've gotten to the point where I hate supporting Windows anymore.

first... you DO NOT need to use terminal !

second ... mint is designed to not use terminal !!