I found a simple fix to all of my Linux problems.
 

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 !!

While Mint is designed to do as much as possible without a terminal, there are SOME things that simply MUST still be done in a terminal as no gui exists to do so. No, not a lot, but there are some.

Dead a buried. Long live Butter.

https://popcorntime.statuspage.io/

so

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

Needs a update of their site page. I guess it still supports netflix but I am not a user so I cannot say.

Try it> here is what you will get

http://status.popcorntime.io/

Yes, in ways it is, no doubt there. :)

Regards...

That is big news to all the average people using it. When I switched to Linux I was almost computer illiterate, but had no trouble installing and using systems like Debian, Ubuntu, Mandriva and Federa. Without reading any of your threads, I am guessing you insist on applying Windows thinking to other operating systems. If so, you are not alone. That is a mistake many people make.
What do you want that is not in your distribution's package repository? The major distributions have everything most people will ever need and installing something is an easy # <name of package manager> install <name of package>. Most people will never need to install anything from outside their chosen distributions. So this argument only applies to a very small number of people, not to "the average person." Which strengthens my suspicion mentioned above.

I am not trying to be confrontational. Just suggesting that you approached the endeavour with a wrong mindset.

Point One: I use Mint on my primary laptop (long story that has to do with kernel support of the audio chipset; it did not work with Slackware and did work with Mint) and I do almost all root stuff and much user stuff in the terminal. Mint is designed to be as friendly as possible to persons not familiar with the terminal, but the terminal in Mint is as powerful as the terminal in any other distro.

Mint is a nice piece of work.

Point Two: Belittling others seldom yields positive results.

My suggestion is to use both. Computers are pretty cheap, my desktop environment is a windows 7 system and a fedora 22 systemside-by-side, with a CentOS7 server supporting both. Both OS have their own strengths and weaknesses, it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing choice between the two.

I find myself usually using windows for general web surfing/email/software development and games, and linux for server work and development, nuts and bolts tools, and diagnostic/testing. I pretty much can do whatever I need to do on either OS with varying degrees of ease of use.

For me the biggest problem with linux is the lack of coherent documentation that sends you to the internet for answers, and the nasty attitudes of some advocates when you're trying to get support in some community forum. As a user of support forums since usenet days, I do find that windows support forums are generally more helpful and civil than *nix oriented ones.

I agree that this is an issue on some forums. Some Linux users forget that we were all newbies once. That's why I hang out here.

I've pretty much abandoned Windows. I find it just too clunky and annoying for words, but it has taken me a decade to get to that point.

Microsoft does seem intent on making Windows as annoying as possible. I dread booting over to Windows on my one dual-boot machine, because I keep having to fend off boarding attempts by Windows 10. I feel like the I'm the hero in a bad pirate movie continually having to repel attackers.

So... your never ending problem was essentially getting hardware to work then? Your argument is then "It's too hard to get this hardware to work".
That's actually fine. Using hardware that isn't supported by linux because the manufacturers make it a major pita to support will cause it to not work easily.

As for easily installing programs... I heavily disagree. There is nothing easier then package systems to install programs.
However, are these programs you want to install windows programs? Well, windows programs work better in windows. Forcing windows programs into linux through wine is a predictable recipe for frustration, one I make a lot actually.

Your problems are most likely caused by the manufacturer and software causing trouble for linux, not the other way around. If either had provided methods to make it accessible in linux, I sincerely believe it would be quite easy to install and deal with.


So... it's too bad it didn't work for you. This may not apply to you, but I almost continuously warn people, if you try to force windows or non-supported hardware onto linux, you will have a terribly frustrating time and will likely give up and mistakenly blame linux. I on the other hand, use other hardware that I knew was supported (quick online search) and programs natively based in linux. Because of this, my experience has been much, much different then yours. Simple OS installs, everything immediately supported, all programs installed and updated at once.

So good luck and if you want to try again in a better method next time, linux will be around.

As a now ex-Windows and Mac user, I found learning how to use Gnu/Linux was no harder than learning how to use MacOS after knowing just Windows - it isn't more difficult, just different.

If you try again, I suggest either dual booting or loading Linux on a second PC. Get your stuff done using Windows while you get used to how to talk to your Linux box. Then start getting more and more of your stuff done using the Linux PC. After a while you may find that you'll be happily selecting the most convenient system for a given job (whether that's one or two depends on how your mileage varies).

Broadcom wireless and nVidia graphics probably do more harm to Linux than anything else, I avoid this hardware like the plague. The other major issue is folks trying to make Windows programs run under Linux. If you need Windows programs and nothing else will do - run Windows...

Have any of you who posted a reply to this thread thought that,... just maybe,... the original poster was baiting/trolling?!?!

I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt, until proven wrong. If a person is a troll, his nature will soon become apparent.

that thread title was just too good to be true, i knew there had to be a catch... ;)

jkirksey1889,
while i totally respect your choice, you know that posting this on a linux forum will get some reaction, right?
i think you do.

here's my :twocents::
my first computers were laptops handed down to me, with totally bogged windows installations on them.
so i chose to reinstall windows with some standardized installation cd.
after switching to linux, i can say that that was neither easier nor harder than installing linux.
video & wifi drivers wouldn't work out of the box, and so on.

but, the approach to fixing these problems is fundamentally different on linux.

i think it has something to do with windows being totally non-diverse. there's no compatibility problems (only time-wise). one solution fits all.
this is very different in linux.
babylonian confusion.
the first step to finding a solution is to find the proper channels where to look for a solution, or to recognize which solution might fit my system.

Yeah, I know, it's terrible to just install a driver and have something work well. If you are referring to Optimus then you may have a point but for desktop cards the NVIDIA drivers have been a good reason to pick one of their cards.

Back to the original post: This is why I never try to persuade anybody to use Linux and why I recommend people only choose Linux if they're prepared to do a lot of reading and be frustrated. Linux can be extremely rewarding to use and having to use anything else annoys me greatly but thanks to lack of manufacturer support and manufacturers pre-installing Windows on 99 of machines it's not going to be for everybody.
IF you can though, jkirksey1889, I would suggest dual-booting Linux then just dipping into it every now and again looking to resolve and issues -- if your wireless card doesn't support Linux though it will be an issue until a driver appears.

The initial post actually was help request: help to convince me it is not me who is failing, it is Linux that is bad.

I'm confused, you're not the OP?
Assuming you're just trying to translate I would respond that Linux isn't bad but thanks to the actions of certain manufacturers it can be next to impossible to get working in certain circumstances and in those circumstances it's probably a better use of somebody's time to use Windows (and possibly use Linux in a VM) and keep an eye out for Linux-friendly hardware next time they purchase a computer.
I know I only started using Linux when I could ditch my Winmodem for an ethernet-connected cable modem as otherwise I simply could not get onto the internet. I've had issues with wireless cards also that have prevented me using Linux on machines for a while. Sadly Linux is thought of as an afterthought to most hardware and software companies so there will always be situations where somebody simply cannot use Linux.

Can't you read between the lines? What would be possible reason to post something like this on a support forum?

Let me translate the original post:

Guys, I feel dumb. All you get around in Linux and I failed. I need patting on back. Please tell me it is Linux that is impossible to learn.

How long did it take you to come along with Windows?
Not all Distributions are targeted to all levels of skills of users. I've installed more than 30 Debians in the last two years on machines which where bought by people at the time of their retirement, "to learn that computer thing". These people are now in their beginning/mid seventies of age. When they bought their machines, those computers came with WinXP. They understood, what it means that there is no more support by MS to XP and they understood the benefits of Open Source Software and switched to Linux. They are all average computer users, no one of them is "computer affine". Exactly one complains about Linux, and that's on a very old machine from about 2000 or 2002. The rest of them is really pleased by the system and glad about the fact, that most malware is targeted to MS (one of the strongest reasons for the big problem of malware is the "average windows user", even those, who claim to be to be well versed in computers/windows). They had no problem in understanding that there is no start menu to run a program. They don't miss that on their smartphones either. They simply want to use a program.

What expectations did you have on Linux? For what reason did you have to use the shell?

Yes you are right, I completely failed. Maybe my intelligence level isn't quite as high as I think or thought it is or was.
I need to add a few things that I didn't mention originally as I was above my frustration tolerance level when I started the thread. However I am kinda in a hurry now but I will be back later and clarify some things.

Completely agree. After over 20 years of using ATi cards I made the switch to NVidia and it was one of the best things I've done. Wish I had made the move many years before.
Cheers!
:)

This isn't your failing but the failing of manufacturers to support Linux.
Mind you, even supported hardware can be problematic -- I spent hours compiling and recompiling software to try to get a software defined radio card working only to discover that the issues I was having were a combination of bad antennae, living in a poor signal area and some less-than-perfect software. I've played and worked with technology all my life and it never ceases to amaze me how hard the simplest task can be.

I am not and never will be a gamer so Intel graphics work just fine for me and I don't have to install any drivers or battle any blank screens. Many folks trying to convert to Linux don't understand that hardware vendors don't consider Linux a priority so they expect stuff to just work. After struggling to create a bootable ISO, they load it up and get no WiFi or a blank screen. Yes, if you know how you can get past this but that's why there are so many frustrated folks using forums like this.

I always recommend Intel hardware as it just works with Linux. BTW, I only use laptops - haven't owned a desktop in over 15 years...

Why?? Honestly, if you're done with Linux and have gone back to Windows, there is no point in coming back here...unless this was a troll thread to start with. This:
...would indicate 'troll' to me. I have installed Linux on MANY laptops and desktops, and have ZERO 'major problems'. Wifi has worked right out of the box for many years now, as well as 3D/openGL graphics. And unless you have VERY bleeding-edge hardware and/or something very exotic (CAD input systems for example), I find it very hard to believe that shoving Mint onto ANY system would fail. It's entire purpose is to 'just work' for end users.

You start out by trying to install a touch-screen POS system onto Mint....right off the bat, you need to realize that Linux DID NOT FAIL...your Mint installation worked, and your problem was you were trying to install a touch-screen POS system (see: 'exotic hardware' comment above). Would you say that Windows had not installed without 'major problems', if you tried to install a third-party piece of software on it, and encountered problems? Nope...you'd quickly say that the PROGRAM had problems.

If you don't want to learn something new, that's fine, but please, be accurate about what you're saying. If you expect Windows programs to work on Linux, that's not going to be the case, anymore than wanting a Windows program to work on a Mac, right? The two ARE DIFFERENT...would you go to the Apple store and complain that your copy of XXXX software for Windows doesn't work on Mac? Nope...this is no different.

thanks for posting that.

personally, i don't think the op of this thread is trolling anymore than anybody else on this forum.
i'd never have thought of it this way if somebody hadn't brought it up (otoh i knew immediately that this thread would grow cancerously; doesn't exactly take clairevoyance).

or, if it really is so, then trolling has to be redefined as something that is not "bad" or "evil" or "offensive" behavior in itself.

Did the OP have some highly specialized need (like installing a touch screen POS), and is that the reason Linux didn't work out?

A bit silly to generalize that to "the average user can't use Linux" isn't it?

Agreed...
If it wasn't meant to be a troll post, why post at all? If you're going back to Windows...just GO. There is absolutely zero reason to post on a Linux forum a 'goodbye' message, with all of the faults/flaws that someone perceived.

The OP began posting about a touch-screen POS system from sourceforge...not exactly something you can just shove onto a system, unless you know what you're doing, even on Windows. Not sure why the OP thought that Linux wouldn't need drivers, or have to be configured...Windows would (and does), when you plug in new hardware. If it can't find a driver, you have to provide one, or your system won't work. No different than Linux, Mac, or any other OS.

But, according to the OP, the OS had 'major problems'. Wifi didn't work (on Mint...hmm..), and having to type in a command was too difficult.

Hi...

Sometimes they're not just perceptions, they're actually problems the community needs to work on. ;)

Regards...

Sorry, no...if you think that ANY OS is going to install perfectly every time, support every bit of hardware in every configuration with zero problems/drivers/configuration, keep dreaming. There is no amount of "community" in the world that will make that happen, and no amount of money, either. If you want to see this in action, go to the store, and buy a copy of Windows 10, and try installing it on any laptop you can find. See if you don't get dragged into driver-hell about your devices. Try setting up a printer on Windows 10...see how 'intuitive' it is, when it FORCES YOU to scan the network first, before letting you enter details, then asks you about creating ports for a printer. If you're totally new to things, you'll quickly be lost.

The OP said they had "major problems" installing Linux...they did not. The problems they encountered were with the POS software they tried to install. That is a perception ("The OS is broken, because my third-party program won't work"). What, exactly, would you like the community to 'fix' in that situation? How is the 'community' going to get someone to read instructions and follow them? Post answers to questions when asked about their wifi?

TBOne, wow you really have an issue. Instead of just calling someone a troll because an OS you like didn't work for them, and to continue to go on and on about a troll, why don't YOU just leave it alone. I personally don't care what you think as you obviously believe I'm someone that has all of this extra time on their hands that I have nothing better to do than come here, start a few bogus threads asking for help, then try to convince everyone that Windows is a better OS than Linux.

This will be my last post unless I am asked a question directly from someone.

I didn't think I'd have any problem converting from Windows to Linux. The 1st problem I had was getting my wireless adapter to work properly, yes on Mint. So I buy a different wireless adapter because I found the instructions somewhere on how to install the drivers on Linux. I bought the Alfa AWUS036AC. Remind you, I already had wireless adapters that worked just fine with Windows, Rosewill. I didn't need any new wireless adapters but I bought one thinking it would work with Linux. It didn't. It would work maybe 5 minutes and then start disconnecting. This single problem did not deter me.

I went to Lowes and bought a 1000' roll of cat5e, a cat5e tool and ethernet ends. Again, remember I didn't need to do any of this because I already had perfect internet using Windows. I ran ethernet cables to all 4 computers at my office. I'm thinking if I can just get stable internet I will not have any other problems. I was determined to use Linux.

After the internet issue was resolved with ethernet cables, I needed a POS software Unicenta (says it works on Linux) and with some help finally got it up and running. However, I could not get it to create a desktop shortcut and didn't like having to go into terminal everytime and start the program from there.

Also had some other problems. Printer was recognized with no problem but scanner was not. I do alot of scanning and getting my scanner to work was not an option, it was a must. DVD drive was knocking when installing Ubuntu on my home PC, the one I had just built. I was just about to pack up the new drive and take it back to Best Buy. I said, for the heck of it, lets try installing a Windows OS to see what happens. The knocking of the DVD drive stopped. I put the Linux Ubuntu install cd back in and got through the setup just to have text breaking up, li e th s. I as v y diffi ul to r ad. This is where I gave up.

So in my effort to troll this forum I spent 2 weeks fighting with a OS I really wanted to use. I spent money on wireless adapters, cat5e cable, cat5e tool, cat5e ends, etc. Now I've just spent more time trying to convince someone that I'm convinced cannot be convinced that I'm not a troll. So you're right, why? You don't have to answer that.

So back to my first question: If you're going back to Windows, why post about everything you perceive to be wrong with Linux? Why not just GO???

Your problems weren't severe. DVD 'knocking'? Absolutely ZERO to do with Linux, more likely to do with the actual media you had in there. You had no need for CAT5 and a thousand feet of cable either...Rosewill devices are cheap for a reason, and you don't say what kind of systems you had...because a USB 3 device on a system with USB2 ports could very well have problems. You just now told us what kind of Wifi devices you had in play. Scanning

I NEVER SAID you opened bogus threads...just that there was (and is) no point to this one. If you're going, go. Use whatever you like. But assign the blame correctly...if there are MILLIONS of people using Linux and YOU have problems, it makes no sense to lay the blame on the OS.

Good luck to you.

Oh come on. Linux is not an OS you can learn in two weeks. Anyone can learn it, I'm no genius but I did it. When I installed my first Linux my sound didn't work. I started reading ... I found out I have to patch kernel sources for my Gravis Ultrasound ISA card. So I patched the kernel, I configured it and I built it. And it worked. Do I have to add I knew about ten words in English when I started my Linux adventure and all documentation was in English? I had to learn a new language, Linux basics and much more to get it working. Did I go to usenet and started complaining how awkward Linux is?

@TBOne: People can't start threads here about what they want? Really, you were proven wrong about the troll thing.. Get over it (and maybe apologize!?)

@jkirksey1889: Just use the best tool for the job... You most likely missed something since there is little chance that two separate wireless cards failed to work and trust me, the DVD drive either fails in both systems or doesn't fail at all (the actual DVD in it, that another issue)... But hey, maybe dual-boot one system and try to play for a bit...

About Unicenta, that's an open-source software and these usually work better in Linux (but that depends on developer support)... However, this isn't any kind of "avarage use" and I truly recommend that if you need any computer to be just a POS then make the time to make it work on Linux...