Re: [SLE] Sometimes Linux makes me crazy.

From: Kevin Donnelly (kevin_at_dotmon.com)
Date: 02/28/05

  • Next message: Carl E. Hartung: "Re: [SLE] Two Problems: Part 1: Apache2" 
    To: suse-linux-e@suse.com
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 20:52:01 +0000

    On Monday 28 Feb 2005 19:02, AndyYankovich wrote:
    > Well guys, Linux is a wonderful piece of work **if you are a software
    > engineer**.

    Sorry, this is demonstrably not true - I have several people using Linux for
    day-to-day things who just want a computer; they are not software engineers.
    If you have just recently started using Linux, it can seem like a bit of a
    change, but my number one rule for new users is DON'T GET ADVENTUROUS. That
    is, just use what is installed by default for 3 months until you know your
    way around. Don't start upgrading your kernel, or even upgrading any
    packages until you know you need them, and feel confident enough to
    experiment. Even at that point, stick to installing rpms at first, rather
    than compiling from source. SUSE is a good choice here, because if you get
    the Pro version, you will have virtually all the software you need.

    > But for one who is not an engineer of any kind, one who used Windows
    > only when Win95 came out because it was easier than DOS, etc., and one
    > who like many, many *new computer users* had no one sitting next to them
    > (like at work) to teach the little things of how to do anything, I feel
    > Linux won't get to be mainstream until Linux becomes standardized and
    > much more user friendly with live tech support.

    Linux IS standardised - but its standard differs slightly from the one you're
    used to in Windows. If that is a real problem, you need to stick to Windows.

    > I used Mandrake 10.1 first, gave up on that, then bought and installed
    > SuSE 9.2. I had no trouble installing it and in understanding how to use
    > the basic functions. But other *little* things have me stumped - like
    > how to install a software (firefox) upgrade when it isn't in RPM format.
    > And a lot of functions in the same "class" of differentness (a word?)
    > where I have trouble finding documentation explaining how to do it.

    Why do you need the upgrade? If it's just for boasting rights, there's no
    point. If it's for security or other reasons (eg a webapp will only work
    with the latest version), then it repays a bit of time invested in reading,
    asking questions on lists like this, etc.

    A Firefox rpm (v1.0-6.1) is available at
    http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/suse/apt/SuSE/9.2-i386/RPMS.update/. If you are
    using a Firefox package from the Mozilla site, the following instructions are
    one way of getting it running.

    1 Download installer pack from www.mozilla.org, untar, and change to the
    resulting firefox-installer dir.
    2 Open a terminal, type: sux [Return], and give your root password when
    asked. (Graphical superuser access is necessary because the installer uses a
    graphical install.) Type: mkdir /usr/local/firefox, to create a directory to
    install it into.
    3 Type: ./firefox-installer (that's dot-slash)
    4 The installer will open. Choose Forward -> Accept -> Change
    destination directory (to /usr/local/firefox), and delete the
    "firefox-installer" left in the location field. Click OK.
    5 Choose Forward -> Install
    6 At the question about being the default browser, untick the checkbox
    and click No.
    7 Close the graphical installer and press Return at the terminal to get
    the command prompt back.
    8 Type: ln -s /usr/local/firefox/firefox /usr/local/bin/firefox, to link
    the executable to a directory that is already in your path (or you could
    adjust the path if you wanted).
    9 Press Alt+F2, and type: firefox [Return] to start Firefox as your
    user. It will ask again about being the default browser (the first time was
    for the root user, now it is for your user). Again, untick the checkbox and
    click No (unless you want to make it the default browser, of course - I
    prefer to keep Konqueror as the default because it is better integrated with
    the KDE desktop). Close Firefox again.
    10 In the terminal, still as sux, type: cp /usr/lib/browser-plugins/*
    /usr/local/firefox/plugins, to copy the existing plugins to a location where
    Firefox can use them (you could also create symbolic links, but this is
    quickest for you). Close the terminal.
    11 Right-click the desktop, and select Create New -> File -> Link to
    Application. Click on the icon to change it, select Other Icons, and
    navigate to /usr/local/firefox/icons. Select the largest Firefox icon. Fill
    in Firefox in text box, and then click the Execute tab and fill in firefox as
    the Command. Click OK, and you should now have an icon on the desktop -
    click it to open Firefox and start browsing.

    > How on earth can a person like me begin to truly "understand" how Linux
    > works if I cannot *talk* to someone who will lead me to even *ask* the
    > *right* questions? I will pay for the help. But where do I get the help?

    You have to read your way into it slowly, and ask relevant questions on places
    like this list. Don't forget how much time you have already invested in
    learning about *Windows* quirks and idiosyncracies (and IMHO Windows is not
    as "intuitive" as people say - all they mean is that they got used to the
    ways in which it does things).

    > PS: Another thing. I just tried to print out this email before I sent it
    > to be sure it said what I wanted to say. Can't figure out how to print
    > it before I send it. I saved it as a draft but still can't print it out.
    > I am using Evolution in SuSE Pro 9.2.

    Have you set up your printer? This is necessary even in Windows! YaST ->
    Hardware -> Printer. If you have, did you print out a test *** during the
    setup? Was that OK? When you use (eg in KMail) File -> Print, does the
    printer you set up earlier appear in the list? If not, do you have a HP
    all-in-one printer? In that case, if you rebooted after setting up the
    printer, the ptal service which these printers need is not started by default
    (this is in my view a bug in YaST). Go to YaST -> System -> Runlevel Editor
    and check that there is a Yes against both cups (the print service) and ptal
    (the HP service) - if not, select each and click Enable, and then Finish.

    If none of this helps, you need to be more specific about your problem. 

    -- 
Pob hwyl / Best wishes
Kevin Donnelly
www.kyfieithu.co.uk - Meddalwedd Rhydd yn Gymraeg
www.cymrux.org.uk - Linux Cymraeg ar un CD!
-- 
Check the headers for your unsubscription address
For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com
Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com
Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
  • Next message: Carl E. Hartung: "Re: [SLE] Two Problems: Part 1: Apache2"
    • Quantcast