Playing with Linux for the first time

[octoolguy]

I'm not sure of what you mean when you say select boot devices, not regular bios. I don't seem to have that choice at boot up. My computer goes to a screen that asks me whether I want to boot up with windows xp or ubuntu. The ubuntu is left over from when I installed an old version of ubuntu. I don't know how to get rid of it. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is after doing everything you suggested, it still won't boot from the usb drive. I really appreciate all the help I'm getting here. Thanks to all.

Ray

 

[ControlD]

Right when your computer powers on and you see the screen that says something like "Press F2 for BIOS" there is generally another prompt to bring up a boot menu. For example, on my PC it says 'Press F12 for Boot Menu". You have to look quickly because it won't be there for long. Hit the key and you will be presented with a menu listing all of the available boot devices. Drill down to your USB stick and select it to boot.

I suppose some very cheap or very old motherboards may not have this option, but it has been awhile since I have seen a system that doesn't have a boot menu option.

 

[octoolguy]

Well, I guess I either have a very old or very cheap or both motherboard. It is about 8 years old. All I see for choices are tab for start up choice and Del for bios. I know I have what you are talking about on all my laptops but not on my old desktop. I'm trying something else now and I will report back as soon as I see if it will work. Thanks,

Ray

 

[Eureka]

Well, I guess I either have a very old or very cheap or both motherboard. It is about 8 years old. All I see for choices are tab for start up choice and Del for bios. I know I have what you are talking about on all my laptops but not on my old desktop. I'm trying something else now and I will report back as soon as I see if it will work. Thanks,

Ray

Hit TAB for start-up choice (should be same thing as boot devices). In there you should see options to boot from hard drive, cd-drive, and now your USB-drive.

 

[octoolguy]

Hit TAB for start-up choice (should be same thing as boot devices). In there you should see options to boot from hard drive, cd-drive, and now your USB-drive.

Hitting the tab key just brings up a black screen with choices as to how I want to start the machine. Like last known good, safe mode etc.

R

 

[Eureka]

Hitting the tab key just brings up a black screen with choices as to how I want to start the machine. Like last known good, safe mode etc.

R

Your last option would be to check in the BIOS to set start-up order.

If you can't switch boot order in the BIOS, at that point, disconnect your hard drive and cd-drive, and start with just the USB drive. Reconnect the hard drive and hope Mint picks it up. I take no responsibility if this causes any issues.. it may just be easier to use another DVD...

 

[zardthebuilder]

I will be building a computer for my cousin, who does not game, so I may put Linux on there for him. I just don't want him to have an OS with any major glitches or security issues.

you should understand what applications your cousin uses. thanks to the help of this community, i switched my kitchen computer over to Kubuntu back in December. my wife is the primary user, and she only uses firefox, pidgin, and open office. in hindsight, i should have stuck with LibreOffice. otherwise, so far so good.

 

[octoolguy]

Your last option would be to check in the BIOS to set start-up order.

If you can't switch boot order in the BIOS, at that point, disconnect your hard drive and cd-drive, and start with just the USB drive. Reconnect the hard drive and hope Mint picks it up. I take no responsibility if this causes any issues.. it may just be easier to use another DVD...

Ok, I downloaded the Linus Mint Cinnamon 14 file from an American mirror site. I saved it in downloads and once it was done loading, I double clicked on the file and that opened up my DVD burning software. I burned the image to a DVD and rebooted my computer. It opened the DVD file and started loading Mint. After about 10 minutes or more I am at a totally white screen with my mouse pointer in the middle of the screen but not active. There is nothing happening that I can tell. It seems to be just stuck. Now what?

Ray

 

[Shephard]

Playing with Ubuntu right now.

I like the dash. The OS seems similar to Mac OSX which I distaste, but much cleaner. I like the layout, everything seems easy to navigate.

One thing I don't like is that to close in some programs, ie Firefox, you have to hover over it to see the X. I also don't like how the close button is on the left hand side since I am not use to that. Maybe you can change that...?

I was able to copy a video file over after installing guest additions. Music does not work however. I tried to single files or a whole folder and it says 'No such file or directory.'

 

[Jodell88]

Yes, you can change the side the controls show up. You should install Ubuntu tweak.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Most versions of Linux are glitchy.

Linux is a decentralized, tweaker's OS. It's powerful in terms of flexibilty but that very same flexibility keeps it from being truly quality-controlled.

Mint is probably the most Windows-like Linux distro you'll find. If it works for you, keep it and keeping working with it.

hes got it exactly right. most llinux distros are half-baked and buggy. they will freeze on you eventually. mint 32 bit is the best and most polished, so ive youre already using that, then youve seen the best llinux has to offer. all the garbage distros have held linux back. it would be nice if some of these crap distros would get together to make something solid.

 

[Shephard]

Tried out Debian the other day. Definitely the worst out of the 3 and by a long shot. It also took FOREVER to install. Like 20+ minutes plus all the steps asking you for stuff.

I don't like the ui, awful color scheme, don't like the icons, don't like the buttons, don't like how the programs end up on the task bar, don't like the workspaces.

There is no button to minimize and the only option is to right click > minimize is just a poor choice.

For some reason I cannot add anything to the desktop. Not sure if that's a virtualbox bug or the OS is just like that.

-

What are some other distro suggestions? I have not tried the ones based off Ubuntu yet, like Xubuntu. Only because I assume they are not that much different, maybe hog less resources and are more simplistic.

Right now I like both Mint Cinnamon and Ubuntu 12 LTS. I don't like how the Ubuntu icons are on the left opposed to the right, but someone said I could download a tweak and fix that.

 

[Jodell88]

Complaining about a theme in Linux is like complaining that you don't like the wallpaper. 😉

 

[TSDible]

Complaining about a theme in Linux is like complaining that you don't like the wallpaper. 😉

Exactly.

Debian isn't exactly a beginners system. It is intended to be a base for you to build your own preferences on.

I've been using linux exclusively at home for a while now... and I still haven't taken the plunge to try and use pure Debian as my main OS.

I normally stick to *buntu and Mint varieties.

 

[Shephard]

Yes I understand that but that is what I base my opinion's of the distros on. User friendliness, ease of use, and good layout.

I don't know how to use the terminal so I cannot just change things I don't like.

My use for Linux would only be on a secondary non gaming computer or use as a media center.

I am also trying out distros to see if I could recommend one to my family members. Just about my whole family uses Mac OSX.

Also even though I have sold all my ancient computers, it would be nice to find a distro that runs better than say, XP, to make an old machine feel new.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Yes I understand that but that is what I base my opinion's of the distros on. User friendliness, ease of use, and good layout.

I don't know how to use the terminal so I cannot just change things I don't like.

My use for Linux would only be on a secondary non gaming computer or use as a media center.

I am also trying out distros to see if I could recommend one to my family members. Just about my whole family uses Mac OSX.

Also even though I have sold all my ancient computers, it would be nice to find a distro that runs better than say, XP, to make an old machine feel new.

I don't think they were taking issue with your criteria as much as your choice of distro. Debian just isn't a good choice for what you were describing.

In terms of ease of use, you really can't do better than Mint and Ubuntu. If you have a computer that's really strapped for power, though, look at Puppy. It'll make even a 10-year-old computer feel very fast.

Edit: Try Xubuntu as well. It has a lighter/simpler desktop. It is to Mint what Mint is to Ubuntu, in terms of being more "conventional" and lighter weight.

 

[Shephard]

Ok going to give Xubuntu a try today and let you guys know.

 

[Jodell88]

Mageia or Mandriva, but I don't trust Mandriva really.

 

[Shephard]

Playing with Xubuntu right now. I like it better than Debian, but still not as much as Mint or Ubuntu LTS.

It reminds of one of the earlier versions of Mac OSX. I don't like the icons or that I cannot remove the home from my desktop. I like a clean desktop and it doesn't let me remove them.

The search has a nice layout. The notifications are nice touch as well.

I can see this being a good OS for an ancient system. I don't think I would put on a family members computer though.

 

[lxskllr]

Xfce...

Doesn't look any Apple product I've ever seen.

 

[Shephard]

Xubuntu looks like early an OSX release.

You know how to customize everything though, I do not. Is that Xubuntu or just XFCE gui. See I don't know all of the guis yet I have only tried the recommended ones.

Also is that Rainmeter? I didn't think they made that for Linux.

 

[lxskllr]

Also is that Rainmeter? I didn't think they made that for Linux.

That's conky. Not really a beginner's a tool, but you can download configs other people have made fairly easily. VinDSL is the conky master around here.

Edit:
I didn't fully answer your question. That's Xfce on Debian, but it's exactly the same as Xubuntu. It's customized from stock, but all of the customizations are trivial to implement. I change the panels so I have one on top with information and launchers, and I have a hidden one on the bottom that's used as a taskbar. I have custom gtk themes that were downloaded, and a couple custom icon themes that were downloaded also. The analog clock is cairo clock with a downloaded theme I edited in inkscape, and conky.

Conky is the hardest to deal with, and I have a fair amount of time in it, even with my simple config, but it's enjoyable to do. Unless you get a config from someone though, it isn't an install and enjoy process.

 

[Jodell88]

Playing with Xubuntu right now. I like it better than Debian, but still not as much as Mint or Ubuntu LTS.

It reminds of one of the earlier versions of Mac OSX. I don't like the icons or that I cannot remove the home from my desktop. I like a clean desktop and it doesn't let me remove them.

The search has a nice layout. The notifications are nice touch as well.

I can see this being a good OS for an ancient system. I don't think I would put on a family members computer though.

The icons can be removed from the desktop via the settings menu I believe.

 

[lxskllr]

The icons can be removed from the desktop via the settings menu I believe.

Yup, and that points to the way to approach the desktop you want to use. Try some to find out which you /almost/ like, and then see what it takes to make it perfect for your use. Some only require minor tweaks, and others require major reworking.

Almost nothing is etched in stone regarding GNU/Linux. It's only a question of how much effort it'll take to get what you want. The trick is finding the closest starting point to get to where you want to be.

 

[TSDible]

This thread prompted me to install the latest Ubuntu 13.04 and take it for a spin.

I have to say that I'm not completely hating Unity the way I did initially. Stock Ubuntu plus the restricted extras gives you a very refined product out of the gate.