Again, You are all VERY helpful. I am going to do a backup, and re-install of some linux (since it's gotten kinda old). I am not sure yet if I will just re-install a Debian (which I like pretty well) or go with your suggestion of Mint. (Other suggestions?) (since I do not really have the time to become a real Linux guru--like most you guys are). I will decide, and let you know which way I went.
It is really reassuring to have such support from all you guys!! Ardvark71, you asked about my printer--it's an HP Officejet Pro 8600. (nice printer.. print/fax/scan/copy--color...) Any suggestions as to which distro to install are appreciated... The one thing I was most interested in is keeping out viruses, cookies, etc like you get so much of with Wind-blows. In other words, a fairly secure/stable system. Also SandsofArrakis, you mentioned rythmbox.. funny you would mention that, I listen to a lot of my favorite mp3's on rythmbox, and it is pretty cool.
I want to get a new install before I get to far into upgrades (like the adobe flash). and learning the maintenance system.
I will look over all your suggested references/docs/replies, and get back as soon as I can. I hope I get time to work on this PC soon, but I am not sure how long it may take me. .. So little to do, and so much time... wait, reverse that.. lol.

Thanks again, and God bless, and Long Live Linux !!
David K

I have to confess I don't entirely understand the phenomenon of folks who are new to Linux disparage and belittle themselves when they come to a forum seeking help. It's almost as if to find help and acceptance, they have to do this so that in order that those more experienced might grudgingly take pity on them and offer to help or that they really are what they call themselves. I understand the spiritual angle of this, or rather the source (Satan.) [/I]

it has nothing to do with pity. its because certain members of the forum are short with people who havent a clue whats going on. starting linux from scratch is pretty intimidating and some of the experts forget this. in amongst the incredibly friendly and helpful experts there are 'prefect like' characters who sneer down on the newcomers as if an education in linux gives them some weird bragging rights.

starting linux from scratch is like standing in a packed welfare center in bankok trying to find out how you can get disability pension for your step grandmother who has dimentia and you dont know how to talk thai or chinese. and then the people on the help desk are sneering at you like you are a moron. Im only a few months into it so i know first hand why the apologies fly. my last prefect experience was to be called a 'help vampire' by one of the brain team because i just didnt have a clue what was being suggested. so i might change my username to dracula.

seriously, its pretty terrifying hitting the bible of commands and jargon for the first time. red hat, bleeding edge, linux , gnu linux, debian gnu linux? pwd, ls, chmod, distros, these are common phrases and astonishingly, I actually know what they are now. but my first experience of the wonderful world of linux was so bad that i wanted to quit.

i hope this helps to answer your question. Im happy to help because you this is something I am an expert in. not having a damn clue what all you guys are talking about!!!!! ha ha

That's pretty descriptive.

Seriously, you've illustrated my point perfectly and I'm sorry you were treated like that.

Regards...

Hi David...

Yes, your printer is supported in Linux using the HPLIP program, using one of the distributions the page mentions, including Debian and Mint. You can use xsane or a program like that for using your scanner, I'm guessing that would be supported, too.

Using Debian or Mint would be fine. You can also try different versions of the Ubuntu family, such as Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, etc. These are all under the Debian framework.

God bless...

Try running:
That will give more details-

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Thankx Ztcoracat -- you are right!
"cat / etc/os-release" gives...
PRETTY NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 7 (wheezy)"
NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
Version="7 (wheezy)"
ID=debian
ANSI_COLOR="1;31"
HOME_URL='http://www.debian.org/support/"
BUG_REPORT URL="http://bugs.debian.org/"


LOTS more info. I'm guessing the debian.org/support is where I go to get "support" (go figure).

If you all don't mind me continuing this thread,.. Let me go out on a limb here...
What I'm looking for in an OS is a distribution which is both easy to learn/use, (since linux is new to me),
but still "Program development friendly" (I know polar opposites, right?) --since I need to make a slight change to both the low level operating system itself, that is, add a little hardware & hardware interface routines to a 'standard' PC.

And since Linux and Linux distributions are all the same to me (other than what little I've learned so far) I'm open to going with whatever distribution would fit my particular needs.

Trust me, from my perspective the above requirements do actually make sense.
So, given these requirements of an OS, what (if any) distributions would be the best to download ? (I should probably look thru those screensaver distribution overviews also)
I was hoping some distro I'm unaware of would seem appropriate to one or more of you Linux Gurus.
Any ideas/suggestions?
God bless, David K

Well what you are running now (Debian 'Wheezy') has only just (by a couple of days) been superceded by Debian 8 'Jessie', and will continue to be supported for another year (and then get "LTS" support for another couple of years.

So no need to rush out and install something new if it is currently working for you.

Look in the file /etc/apt/sources.list and make sure all the repo lines reference "wheezy" (NOT "stable"!).

Open a terminal, use 'su' to become root and do:
Then all your installed software will be up to date with all the recent security & bug fixes.
Because it is Debian, this process does not give you any new versions of software, so that your existing workflows remain unchanged.

After making sure you are up to date, you could also upgrade to the new Debian "stable" release - Jessie - without having to reinstall.
Debian upgrades are very reliable - instructions are here: https://www.debian.org/releases/stab...release-notes/

edit: to make sure you have the latest (last) Adobe flash plugin (again, in a root terminal) do:

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