Linux Manual for Beginners.
 

Hello, everyone. I'm really exited to start using Linux. Problem is that I don't really know what I should do if I want to do this and that, so I'm hoping for a manual. Here's what I would like it to be:-

1. Step-by-step on how to install mychoiceoflinux system.
2. Step-by-step on how to get the drivers and HOW to install it.
3. Step-by-step on HOW to install applications.
- browser (on Windows I use Mozilla)
- office suit (on Windows I use Libre and Microsoft)
- audio n video player (on Windows I use VLC n GOM)
- download manager (on Windows I use IDM)
- image download manager (on Windows I use Downloader Pro from BreezeSystem)
- image viewer n editor (on Windows I use Fastone)

That will be all for now. Tq

--------edit-------------------------

- converter (on Windows I use FormatFactory)

I forgot, please post the manual in PDF if possible and upload it on Mediafire. Thanks again.

First decide which distro you want to use, and go from there.
For a beginner, ubuntu and mint are a good choice.
Almost every distro has a live CD, or you can use a virtual machine to run linux in windows.
Once decided on the distro, you can install it to your HD as a dual boot with windows.

Kind regards

Good way to start is trying some live CDs, with that you don't have to install the system to try it out, Debian, Ubuntu, Slitaz, Tinycore, Archbang, and many others have that option, you can boot from the CD or flash drive.
About the software You will easily find software in the distribution repositories, normally all distros bring suite with all we need for video, sound, text, download. There is VLC for Linux.
About installation every distro can be a little different from the other but basically it is all the same thing.
Linux need at least 2 partitions, 1 main or root partition which is named: /
and swap partition that is the virtual memory. In time you will see some more advanced installations can have several partitions.
The best way to learn Linux is using it every day.

Regards

Thanks, do you have any suggestions on what distro to start with? I like using both the mouse and command lines (still not good at it though). I don't really mind the graphic, as long as it's usable. I tried Fedora once but didn't have any luck figuring out how to get what I want. Stumble across Slitz (I was attracted to the run through USB, through RAM or something) but I didn't get enough time to practice.

Thanks for your reply. A quick question, is repositories the same as applications? I mean is it what the call it in Linux.

As said in the previous post:
Kind regards

These can help choose a distro:

• http://www.linux-chooser.com/
• http://desktoplinuxathome.com/distro.html
• http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

I would not recommend ubuntu. The desktop on the latest version is unpopular. ubuntu have chosen to implement very recent versions of software and have committed to a six month release cycle. Both those choices tend to result in a less stable system. OK, of course, if "bleeding edge" is important to you and stability is not a priority.

Thanks for the info. I will try and research them. Thanks.

Most of the Linux Live CDs (or DVDs) will have an icon for something like 'Installer' or 'Install to Hard Disk'. Click it, and follow the instructions, Job Done. (Not quite, if you have strange partitioning requirements, but that will only happen if you are trying to 'multiboot' (have several OSs available from the boot menu), and you haven't said anything about that.)

Basically, at this stage, forget it. Either drivers will automatically install, or you are in for a slightly more problematic install. If you can choose a distro where everything 'just works', do so. If there are problems with, eg, a flashy video card, or something, you might have to start a thread for that specific problem.

and

A repository ("repo") is a store of programs, or applications. Every distro will come with its own 'default' set of repositories set up by default. for everything that I can think of, there are likely to extra repos that include more obscure and legally limited (eg, limited by the applicable laws for a particular reason, or not available under the full 'Free and Open Source' licenses) programs. Eventually, you will probably have to add one or more of these supplementary repos, but

• The procedure is different for every distro - a search on " 'distro_name' supplementary repostories " will probably find you the wiki page, or similar, from your selected distro
• You may well not need to do this in the initial stages, depending on your distro of choice

Using firefox? That will be available, by default, from nearly every distro, so nothing to do there. Using libreOffice? either LibreOffice or openOffice will be available by default on every distro, except those intended for old machines.
Never needed a separate download manager on Linux. wget is the command line way, but I use opera as a browser, and its download manager works fine for me.
Image viewing and editing? the gimp is the 'photoshop equivalent' (nearly), but there are others too, such as Krita. There is quite a choice, varying from the 'heavyweight' to the 'kid's intro to' programs. I suspect that you don't really want anything as heavyweight as the Gimp, but I'm not quite sure what you do want. This website might be useful.

Here's a hint - you can open the package manager (or 'app installer' or your distro's equivalent, which might have some name like 'app store') and search. If you search on 'image' or even 'editor' and a program takes your fancy, just click on it, and the Gods of networking permitting, you'll just have it and be able to try it out. If you like it use it, if you don't try again (maybe looking to see whether there are extra repos with, eg, image editing programs, that you should try). That easy.

People have been negative about Ubuntu (...and I understand that, but...). bear in mind that due to the odd way that Ubuntu does its naming that they are being negative about Ubuntu with its default interface. So, they aren't being specifically negative about kubuntu (Ubuntu with a kde interface) or Xubuntu (Ubuntu with an XFCE interface). Note also that if you have, say, kubuntu and you would like to try Xubuntu, it would be back to the app installer, select XFCE and let it do its magic. No need to download an new OS, if you just wanted a new GUI. (And, by the way, I'd probably prefer Mint or Mepis to Ubuntu, but I just needed to make the point about the word Ubuntu being used to describe more than one thing, potentially.)

Slitaz? Specifically aimed at older/slower computers, so you might, by default, get more compact office programs and browsers than the 'full fat' Libre/Open Office. If that's what you want, fine, but if you do want the full fat versions, ensure that what you want is available. (Maybe, configure the 'extra' repositories again to make the heavier weight programs available.)

Lots of free HOW TO BOOKS out there...

Member response
 

Hi,

Look at: Get Your ISO, LiveCD & Pocket OS;

The LiveCD List is a Good List. LiveCD is a good way to test drive distribution(s).

Also look at Linux Books & Online Magazines for some good free references.

Just a few more links to aid you to gaining some understanding;



1 Linux Documentation Project

2 Rute Tutorial & Exposition

3 Linux Command Guide 

4 Bash Beginners Guide

5 Bash Reference Manual

6 Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide

7 Linux Newbie Admin Guide

8 LinuxSelfHelp

9 Utimate Linux Newbie Guide
10 Linux Home Networking
11 Virtualization- Top 10

The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!