Help,
I can't seem to do anything right, all I do is reinstall over and over again.
Xwindows hates my mouse or video, depends. and I'm lost in the BASH
Shell I've looked at alot of web sites but I'm still lost, the more I think I
learn the more lost I become. Alot of the posts I've looked at refer to
editing the xf86config file to solve mouse problems. But I can't get the
vi to show me anything but ~ all down the left side of the screen.
What am I doing wrong?!
PLEASE HELP,
PRETTY PLEASE

I want to learn Linux
but I'm too Stupid or something.

Probably editing the file where it doesn't live ....

Try a
locate XF86Config

If that comes back with one hit in etc
do this
vi `locate XF86Config`


Cheers,
Tink

What that is vi is opening a new file,not the file you want to edit,you are not alone,I use vim, I can do vi ~/.fluxbox/init and it will open a new file but when I use vim ~/.fluxbox/init it will open the file I want to edit.Hang in there,there is a reason for it but I don't have a clue,but someone will help you out.

Everyone goes through a learning curve with Linux. I found vi difficult to use also. So, I had a good look at my desktop to see what else I had to edit files with. What you have will depend on your distro, and what you have installed.

For me, I looked for something like I had used before. Kedit was it for me. You likely have it if you installed KDE as your desktop. You may also have Emacs. So what are the tricks? Emacs is a little more difficult to learn, but works well.

One thing to understand, xf86config is owned by root. So to edit it and save the changes you must be logged as root, or have root privileges by logging in as su. The trick is easy enough, open a konsole, su, and enter the root password when prompted. Now if it is Kedit you are going to use, enter kedit at the command prompt. It should have a # at the prompt. Once in kedit, open xf86config, edit it and save it.

I'm guessing you have other threads open with some things to change in xf86config. So good luck, and don't give up. Post back if you still can't figure out how to modify the file.

Okay, before I tell you anything, read this of fail on what I am telling you to do.

First, Linux is not like DOS or Windows. If you try to do anything in command-line, you must remember, Linux/UNIX is case sensitive. For example, if I type VI and not vi, Linux will not know what the hell I'm talking about. No exceptions... With this said, read on...

To access the XF86Config file, type:
Beyond this, I'll simply wait for a reply for your next request for help.

Wow!!
I thought I wasn't going to get any help.
I will try every one of all your suggestions until I fail or something works.
I am in the middle of reinstalling on the same machine.
I'll Post back no matter what.

I've got to agreed with camorri. vi is hard for a newbie, try pico.
e.g.in a terminal, something looking like dos)
pico **file** (pico acts more like edit in dos.)
few thing about pico.:
alt+x ----> exit and will ask you for save (rememeber that if you try to save something if a dir where you dont have permission it wont do it. Also remeber that root can do anything, even f@$$$ up you all computer.....)
ctrl+end/or/home wont do a thing(He does not know it)

you may be able to run as root : xf86config (works with slackware but read the rest of the post first)
couple of question.:
1)
What is your mouse (USB, SERIAL, 2Button or 3, what brand... etc, the more u know the better it is.. )
2)
What is your video card(The more you know... .. .. ..)
Try superprobe, (Works with SOME distribution but not ALL, if it does, it will tell you what viedo card you got if you dont know choose generic vga, you'll deal with the rest (resolution, color later)

Don't give up. I had win 98SE and blindly killes it for Slackware 9.1 4 month ago, i came accros a lot of problem at the begining but now i do what i want with my computer and i have'nt restarted it for 2 months( Unless i wanted to... )
P.S.: I'd hate to loose a linux user for WIN$H!T...

Hello,
I'm almost done installing do I need to run xf86config before starting Xwindows?

Me Again,
I'm all done installing and have a prompt.
Now what?
I guess I'm kinda stupid could somebady walk me through what I need to do next?

So you haven't started x then? Well, try typing startx hit enter and see what happens. If that doesn't work then you need to post up the errors you are seeing. Then someone can help you (Im not much of an expert at troubleshooting those kinds of errors.)

Good luck

try typing: startx

If this is all too difficult and you seem lost, why don't you d/l KNOPPIX, burn it(make sure you do it as an ISO, and NOTHING else), then run KNOPPIX for a while and learn what Linux is and how it works. By the way, you never mention what distribution you arer trying. Mandrake is great for newbies. As the majority of people, it simply sounds like you are trying to run before you can crawl. Forget about editing the xfree86 file using vi for a while, learn what Linux is first, better yet, read a Linux book or two.
Good luck

Wolfy; do not be so HARD on your self. no u r not what u think. that is self defeating. as everybody stated so far linux is complex but not impossible.
just slow down take it easy read till u get headaches, eye bloodshot,then
continue to learn by doing bit by bit as u read. done that been there H.A.I
(here am I). still learning .but helping any body even though still newbie.

Fresh install hit startx it started with fuzzy's then maybe switched resolutions.
Started but now it's in 640x480. I can't see all the windows, and Mouse is stuck in the middle
of the screen and won't move.

What the heck did I do wrong?

I understand D/I "download and Install" I don't understand KNOPPIX,
is Mandrake a different distro of linux?
If so is it easy to get i.e. "FREE"

I'm running Debian Woody-i386 flavor bf24.
Does that help?