How do I open something? If I right click save as a picture to my hard drive, how do I open it? There is no "my documents" or "My Computer" on the desk top or the "start menu". How do I search for saved files

you should have an icon on your desktop called "users home" or something similiar....example ... "stilanas home"
you can also navigate to your home directory in the terminal, again i will use your LQ alias for example...you could type::
cd /home/stilanas
ls
and see the contents of your folder that way...

Do as you would in Windows. When you choose "save picture" or whatever, pay attention to the file dialog box that pops up and choose where you want the file to be saved. Then you'll know where it is.

Or, as DrOzz posted while I was typing this , take a look in the home directory. It is probably the default "save" folder anyway.

odd, I don't have any icons on my desktop.

Does going through folders in Linux always involve working with a terminal with a dos like interface rather than clicking on folders and icons like in windows?

Also, Say if I download an installer or some kind of executable program. What do I do if I want to actually run the file?

Since you have no icons, use a file manager for a GUI. Depending on which (KDE or Gnome..) KDE- Kicker (start menu), applications, file managers, konqueror. Now you'll see a tree structure that you may be used to as well as folder icons for you to click. Gnome uses Nautilus by default.

You should have icons on your desktop.
Are you logging in as root or a user?
In root I only have 2 icons, but I do have 2.
In my user loggin I have a user home icon, a cdrom icon, a floppy
icon, a Mandrake online icon, and a trash icon.
The "User Home" icon is the same as My Documents, actually,
all of the stuff you create or store is stored in you home directory.

No you don't have to mess with the terminal if you don't want to.
These techies use it all the time but you can do without it.
BUT, if you learn it, it is easier and much much more powerful
than the stupid windoze style GUI. I get frustrated with the GUI and go to the terminal to get the job done.
I love the black screen. Feel the Power.

Whoa, got carried away.
garion