Linux Noob in Problems!

[Mate88]

Hey Mates,

Im new on this forum and I would like to start my first post to tell you guys that yesterday I installed Linux for the first time! (Mandrake 9.1) because im tired of MS and I wanted to try something new. And I must say that I got amazed by it! Love in first site! I decided to try it out after doing this crazy test called: Which OS are you? LoL and I was of course Linux so I just jumped to this conclusion. And you can find this test (which I must say is hilarious, poor guy/girl that gets ME, LoL!):
Which OS are You?

Im liking this forum a lot and Im sure I will enjoy it even more after sometime, hopefully I will get some friends and just enjoy my interests and your.

Well back to the problem. The setup was okay, pretty easy and nice and no complications (although I needed to install it 3 times since the first two I rushed! LoL) and after I just waited and finally it was finished. After spending some time with it I felt that impotence and Im sure every windows user gets that in the beginning with Linux since its different. And my problem is I could handle the onfigurations and surfing on the web, basic stuff, but I just couldnt install programs! I got so mad and frustrated! I thought it will be like Windows you click on the setup icon and voila you are ready to install. These are the programs that I JUST WANT THEM IN LINUX:

-Gaim (IM)
-Nvidia Graphic driver
-eDonkey (btw, whats the best P2P program for Linux?)

Please I need some help! I couldnt even do it after reading the READ ME documents and the installation documents! I just saw like type this and after this and its so confusion! I need help, I love Linux but I just cant have it if I cant install these programs! Thanks for the attention

[Mate88]

Anyone?

[pbharris]

Hello - welcome to techimo ,
Gaim - i would be surprised if it is not installed by default, if it is not check the disks that came with mandrake and install using what ever GUI tool mandrake uses.

NVidia graphics - easy! first download the driver here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d...1.0-4496.html, place it in an point you can find it easy - like /tmp/ . don't have xwindows running when you do this, it can be done by logging in a root and the type init 3 in a terminal. then exit if you are not dropped to a command prompt, cd to where you put the driver, e.g. cd /tmp and then type sh NVidia-driver-blah and it should tell you how it is going. then edit /etc/X11/XF86Config and change nv to nvidia under the driver section, make sure you ahve glx getting loaded, and the dri is not loaded. best advice on thei ofcourse it to READ the README.

eDonkey - ????

[cunokyle]

Gaim should be installed by default...just type gaim in the run command and see if it opens.

My favorite P2P program is GTK-Gnutella.

After taking that test, looks like my next computer is going to be a Mac! I am an OS X!

[Mate88]

Pbharris,

Isnt it an easier way to do it? Mate, that is some hard stuff! Didnt quite get anything! Same things are said in the READ ME documents but I just dont get it. XWindows? Whats that? Root, terminal...? I think that maybe I just cant deal Linux as I thought I could. But I really want to, at least have these programs installed. And never heard of eDonkey? enter this site edonkey2000.com its famous and it works with Linux. Never tried it though in Linux since I cant install it! lol

[Mate88]

Originally posted by cunokyle
Gaim should be installed by default...just type gaim in the run command and see if it opens.

My favorite P2P program is GTK-Gnutella.

After taking that test, looks like my next computer is going to be a Mac! I am an OS X!

I know what you mean, lol
And I agree 100%

[Taz]

Linux, any flavour, has a learning curve that is near vertical. Just take your time and don't get frustrated. Linux takes away the spoon that Windows feeds you with. The little lightbulb will light above your head, it just takes a bit of time, after all, you are learning a new language. I've never seen anyone learn a foreign language in a few days or even a few weeks. Just plug away and it will make sense eventually.
A good idea is to have a dual boot system if you have the room, for those days when Linux bites back. Just reboot in Windows and relax. Boot back into Linux when you are chilled and grab those reins again.

[originel]

ok first of all.

root: the highest level user for linux, like administrator in windows but with more power (you can change anything...including deleting even the most important system files)

xwindows: this is the subsystem that drives the graphics. think of linux as DOS and xwindows as win 98. win98 runs on top of DOS and in linux xwindows runs on top of Linux (and then kde/gnome runs on top of xwindows).

terminal: same thing as the command prompt in windows. basically a command line window in a graphical environment.

i've never tried edonkey, i've heard it's good but i use gtk gnutella or limewire (depending on what i have already downloaded )

most programs will install in one of two ways: one is a pre-packeged format, for example rpm. it actually does work a lot like in windows...you double click it and when given the option click install. i'm not sure if drake supports rpm's tho cause i've had very little interaction with it.

the other way is using what we call tarballs. this is a .tar.gz or .tgz. essentially it's a zipped file. so the first thing you need to do is extract it (you should be able to double click on it and an extraction program should open). then you go into the new directory and you will almost always type three things at a terminal:

./configure
make
make install

essentially the program comes in source code and the first command configures it for your system, the next compiles the program, and the third distributes it around the system. after that it's installed.

EDIT: a great resource for linux newbies is www.justlinux.com and www.linuxquestions.org

[Mate88]

Thanks for all the responses!
I love the Linux community1 So helpful...
Yes, I dont want MS to feed me anymore! Im sick of it! I want Linux, but as Taz said it will take time, but again its an experience, and I like them.
Originel, rpm is what I want in my days of a noob then! but does mandrake support it? If it doesnt, which one does? It should do because most say its for Linux noobs so it should have it...
Im sure I will get it someday Which zip program do I use, I tried with the one that comes with drake, gnuzip or something like that. But I failed as always! lol

Im very convinced and I want to learn it since I dont like MS.
Thanks again mate, and keep sending for me to have a life easier

[Taz]

Mandrake does rpms. Just read the manual as they say LOL.
Have fun and, once again, don't get dispirited when you hit a wall. You WILL get over it.