so... where to start

[4_legged_duck]

I won't lie, or even try. I'm 100% new to linux... However I'm very willing to learn. I just don't know where to start. Suggestions for my thirst for knowledge?

[jglen490]

The very first thing is to define what you want to do with Linux.

Do you want to just play with it for a while?
Do you want to use Linux as a standalone desktop replacement?
Do you want to learn about various servers?
Do you want to dual-boot with Windoze?

And further.

What kind of apps do you want to use?
What interests you with regard to computing?
What hardware do you have/are you considering?

And more further stuff :) .

Are you willing to obtain some books?
Are you willing to study and learn first?
Are you wanting to jump in headfirst?

There are lots of questions that you can answer first, then you will discover the questions that we can help you with :D !!

[Icarus]

Best place to start would be the manuals for whatever distribution you are running (or wish to learn)
There are many many many books you can purchase that will explain the basics in a readable method.
Reading the site's posting guidelines (http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91076) there are good links at the bottom of where to find online documentation.

The best way to learn is pick a distro and install it...then break it! :)
And fix it (try to resist a reload) and break it again!

[4_legged_duck]

Originally posted by mahdi
The best way to learn is pick a distro and install it...then break it! :)
And fix it (try to resist a reload) and break it again!

I don't know about that. I don't hardley know anything about linux. It took me two days alone just to install an msn messenger client (I'm so ashamed), and don't think I'd be recovering from breaking the system. Besides, I don't think I even know how to break it.

any ways, for the curious...
P III 650
128 sdram
really really really REALLY crappy system board (pc-chips 741 lmrt)
video 117 32 meg pci (blade t64 chipset)
16 x dvd
20 gig <windows xp
12 gig <linux mandrake 9.0
efficient networks bussiness class router 5800 (I think)
1 efficient windows user that doesn't know squat bout linux :)

[dkeav]

you might try one of the more lenient distros made for windows converts, most have very simple installs and are very user freindly to the newbie might i suggest having a look at lycoris
if my 87 year old grandmother can run lycoris i think you will be just fine

[Russ356]

In reply to Dkeav's message, I would just say that Mandrake, which is what he currently is using, is a very good distro for beginners.

[Icarus]

Originally posted by 4_legged_duck
I don't know about that. I don't hardley know anything about linux. It took me two days alone just to install an msn messenger client (I'm so ashamed), and don't think I'd be recovering from breaking the system. Besides, I don't think I even know how to break it.

1 efficient windows user that doesn't know squat bout linux :) I've been there ;)
My first thing with Linux was to setup a Counter-Strike server and all I had was a strong knowledge of Windows and some basic HP-UX. HOWTOs are very helpful :)

Took me about 2 days to get it up and running (following the instructions word for word) and it turned out good! Then I started messing with stuff like Samba and turned it into a router/firewall.

It took you two days to install messenger? That's pretty good for someone that doesn't know much :D
Keep on working with it on little things or whatever you feel like doing and you'll learn as you go! That's what I did

[dkeav]

thats what we all did, no one is born with this stuff, we all learn from scratch somewhere along the line, its best to dig in its the only way


"i see, i forget
i hear, and remember
i do, and i understand"

[4_legged_duck]

Originally posted by mahdi
It took you two days to install messenger? That's pretty good for someone that doesn't know much :D

You think that's good, you can only imagine how I felt when I get my dsl running under linux. I did it all by myself (mommy wow) I feel like a grown up now.

oh yeah, and hooray for tutorials. I'm gonna keep finding them and using them till I can do something that I don't know nothing about and it will impress all you advanced users...

and does it strike anyone else as odd that in a total of 20 apartments, 8 of those use mac, and only one other then myself uses a pc.

[dkeav]

college huh

[stumbles]

Originally posted by 4_legged_duck
I won't lie, or even try. I'm 100% new to linux... However I'm very willing to learn. I just don't know where to start. Suggestions for my thirst for knowledge?

For now you could try knoppix. Its a bootable cd that has a complete functional linux. The whole thing runs from the cdrom drive. No installation required.

www.knoppix.com

[4_legged_duck]

Originally posted by dkeav
college huh

nay, I figured I'm not going to hit college yet till I'm in the service... I'm enlisting in the navy and figured I'd let them pay for it. For now i'm just going to work and wait till I'm deployed to basic.

by the way, nice sig


and as for stumbles... I already installed mandrake and I'm using it right now. (insert shameless giddy emoticon here)

oops, use to say suing... hmm, I'm not that mad at it.

[Okie]

if you never used Linux before then i suggest you get yourself a copy of Mandrake-9 and put disk #1 in your CDrom drive and reboot your computer, and follow the onscreen instructions VERY carefully, good luck, you have a long road ahwad of you if you are determined to get away from M$FT Windoze...

[Zoist]

If I was you just getting into Linux, I'd buy, burn or get someone to lend you a copy of Linux. I'd recommend Lycoris, Red Hat or Mandrake. Check things out with it. See for yourself what everyone is raving about. Search forums, read docs, ask questions. But remember, DON'T GIVE UP! Things will only get easier. It's like learning a new language etc...

Best of luck!

[Zoist]

Oh, and remember. You don't have to use Linux as a permanent desktop if you don't want it. Many people simply use Linux for serving their networks etc. Start it out like a hobby. Something on the side to tinker with. Play with it and after a while you will make a decision whether you want it as a desktop machine or not. Dual booting is a good thing if you only have one PC.

Cheers.

[AnGeL*EyEs]

Me is new to Linux to, so far i have managed to install it! but it all looks a little overwhelming so i started off by reading their help and it's great...

[4_legged_duck]

Originally posted by AnGeL*EyEs
Me is new to Linux to, so far i have managed to install it! but it all looks a little overwhelming so i started off by reading their help and it's great...

Well that's cool, I'm having fun myself... the new is interesting... or should I say gnu?

[plattypus1]

Just a comment... I'm new myself, but I'm really picking it up fast. I started by simply sticking RH8 on my system and trying to make it do what I wanted. Now, after 2 months of working with it, I'm about to set up an FTP/web server out of my house using an old, useless box and the aforementioned RH8. It's not really as hard as most ppl make it out to be.

[4_legged_duck]

Originally posted by plattypus1
Just a comment... I'm new myself, but I'm really picking it up fast. I started by simply sticking RH8 on my system and trying to make it do what I wanted. Now, after 2 months of working with it, I'm about to set up an FTP/web server out of my house using an old, useless box and the aforementioned RH8. It's not really as hard as most ppl make it out to be.

two months hunh... I've been using linux for about four days. golly I'm new.