linux retarded newbie

[StoopidGuin]

here's the list of my problems i have with mandrake 8.1

1)fonts that i have listed in my font window, 95% are not installed. why?

2)came with 3 cd's, only two were prompted for install, not all that uncommon, but on the thrid cd there were about 550 RPMS (?) i think that's what they are called. do i have to manually open and install them?

3)not all the programs and tools are function. on the taskbar on the bottom sometimes when i open up a file the name will appear on it with a hour glass, which will just sit there twiddling its thumb at me and then disappear.

4)on shutdown or reboot, it hangs when it comes to "stop portmapping services" nothing happens just sits there for hours.

if you can help me please do. also, is there somewhere to download "skins" for the linux gui? diff icons and that stuff...

oh yeah, and where are some good places to get tutorials on how to use the command line? are books good, online info better? i need some help learning, please help.

Phil

[X_console]

1. Did you install these yourself or did they come preinstalled?

2. I'm assuming those are additional programs. Type man rpm for instructions on how to install them. They're optional stuff most likely.

3. No idea. I don't use Mandrake so I don't know what comes on the taskbar.

4. What happens when you look at your log files? Are you getting any errors? Do you have a reason to run portmapping anyway? If not, don't even start it up.

5. For tutorials: http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf/intel
If you want a good book, I recommend Running Linux 3rd Edition, also get a book that deals strictly with Mandrake.

6. For themes and window managers, http://classic.themes.org

[danrees]

2. These are either additional software as X_console said, or they could well be source RPMs. You can tell if they are source because they usually end .src.rpm.

If you want to see what the RPMs contain, just mount the cd and load up rpmdrake.

3. It could well be that the software isn't installed, but there is a menu entry nevertheless. Try right clicking on a menu item and going to properties - this will show you what the command it is meant to execute is. Then open a console window and see what happens when you try to execute this command.

5. Mandrake should come with a huge stinking pile of GTK+ themes for GNOME in particular. If you're using KDE, I don't think it comes with many at all.

And MandrakeUser.org (http://www.mandrakeuser.org) is your friend if you are a... well, Mandrake User.

[StoopidGuin]

thanks for the fast reply...

1)i assume that they are pre-installed, they were listed when i ran it for the first time...although they weren't really there.

2)do i have to install one file at a time? or will there be instructions on a "mass" install?

3)the program icon comes up and just kinda sits there and runs like it's looking for the desired path and it can't be found (see the windows in my speak?)

4)log files? turn off? that's foreign to me...how do i do any of these things?

5)thank, i was looking around linuxnewbie.org, wasn't sure if there were other ones out there.

6) thanks.

i appreciate your input.

Phil

[sasKuatch]

for a newbie, the easiest way to configure linux is to just install it a whole bunch of times until you get everything right. if you don't know how to change something, just reinstall it, there's probably an option for it in the installer.

that's pretty much how i got my system up and running perfectly (3d card, sound, modem, network, etc), i'm pretty retarded myself when it comes to configureing stuff, but i just configure it right on install and then forget about it

[Nalle]

3. The reason might also be that you are running something that you do not have the permissions needed to run, but the app is set to report that to the console. When starting an app in X and from a shortcut, you won't have a console to report to.

Now, luckily, you can start any app from an xterm (when not su-ed to another user), so you just start the app from xterm, so you can see the error messages.

At least this will tell you if this is the case. You might also have problems with dependencies - that will also be told, when running it from xterm.


</nalle>

[ 01 November 2001: Message edited by: Nalle ]

[Hena]

2. If you are using KDE, you should have program called KPackage Manager (without K in name perhaps). With this you can mark all the RPMs you want to install and then install all after you've taken your pick. If you don't see the cd-roms RPMs in new tab in Packege Manager, you need to configure it. This can be done in Settings->Location of unistalled packeges->Location RPM... From there add the directory of your cd-rom (/mnt/cdrom in RH) and include enable the SubDirs.

[SPB]

sasKuatch is right. The best way to learn is to reinstall a bunch of time, even do the expert install and try to get familliar with the different packages that can be installed. Its best to keep thing as simple as possible at first. Like you don't need all the server packages and different window managers gnome and kde are all you'll want at least at first. You don't need the scientific tools etc. etc..
As for some of the programs listed in the "start" menue its surely because your user account doesn't have permission to run it which can be taken care of with USER DRAKE mostly (found in CONFIGURATION/OTHER for me).
Don't get dissatisfied if you have to reinstall like 6 time before you get the hang of things. I had to do it and so did mostly everyone else when they started out. Good luck :D