Hello all,
I am new to Fedora/Linux. I came here from the frustration that can only come from 15 years of Windows use. Android opened my eyes to the possibilities of a better computer experience, and I decided to take the plunge.
After researching available versions, I tried the live version of Ubuntu and installed it shortly after. The installation failed no matter which mirror/site I downloaded from or which method (usb, cd-rom) I tried. After 4 days of trying to install Ubuntu, I went to Fedora and I'm glad I did.
After reading many how-to-install guides and videos, I had no problems going from the live version of F17 to the installed desktop version. I installed the updates after familiarizing myself with the Yellowdog Update Manager. There were a few minor bugs overall in the system (font file True not found, etc), but nothing that kept me from logging on. I went on trying to listen to my huge library of mp3's with the appropriate software, and subsequently had to learn about repos and which ones I would need. After adding RPMfusion to my software sources, I installed what I thought was appropriate to get me going. After trying different music players and a variety of plug-ins, libraries, etc to go with them, I was successful in listening to my music. But I couldn't listen via bluetooth. From there was a flurry of software installations from the Fedora 17 and RPM repos until I made my desktop un-bootable. It was only 1 1/2 days in, and I had not made any backups yet.
Install #2 had a similar fate after some networking problems and confusion with chown/chmod. I ended up taking ownership away from root on the entire system, and as you probably know that can make things a little hairy. Not knowing enough to fix the problem and having learned better techniques on the partition layout, I wiped and installed a 3rd time.
This is where I am now. I have taken it upon myself to read every man page I can find, look up all info on any option I may eventually do, but for the most part I have suppressed any urge to install or change anything given my prior mishaps. My bluetooth will connect, but the sound still plays from the computer. I can't use Firefox because my screen will lock up and do something that looks like static in color with most of the content still being recognizable. After trying 7 different browsers, I settled with Chromium (even though I still can't watch Youtube videos). And even a simple task like adding my library of icons to my system themes turns into a dead end because my concern of returning the correct permissions to the file after adding them.
I really like Fedora, and I really don't want another cent of mine going to Microsoft, but I don't know if I'm on the right build. Should I have went with 16? Or should I go with another form of Linux? I like the Terminal because I am used to using Command Prompt regularly, but the nuances with the terminology have kept me at a crawl. When do you use a single -, and when is it appropriate to use --? Why can you type -h sometimes, and sometimes it requires --help? That is only the tip of the confusing verbosity in what I've encountered, and finding resources outside of man pages has been few and far between.
I may have rambled a bit too much, and it may be confusing determining exactly what it is I am asking. Honestly, I don't even know what to ask anymore. I have soaked up as much info as I can find, and when I need specific help it usually comes from older/different builds and doesn't translate to what I am needing. I suppose what I could use is some good reading suggestions for terminal and maybe a couple tips on repos, installing, and bug fixes.
Thanks in advance for any tips to point me in the right direction.
tl;dr suggested reading for terminal, n00b tips
I am new to Fedora/Linux. I came here from the frustration that can only come from 15 years of Windows use. Android opened my eyes to the possibilities of a better computer experience, and I decided to take the plunge.
After researching available versions, I tried the live version of Ubuntu and installed it shortly after. The installation failed no matter which mirror/site I downloaded from or which method (usb, cd-rom) I tried. After 4 days of trying to install Ubuntu, I went to Fedora and I'm glad I did.
After reading many how-to-install guides and videos, I had no problems going from the live version of F17 to the installed desktop version. I installed the updates after familiarizing myself with the Yellowdog Update Manager. There were a few minor bugs overall in the system (font file True not found, etc), but nothing that kept me from logging on. I went on trying to listen to my huge library of mp3's with the appropriate software, and subsequently had to learn about repos and which ones I would need. After adding RPMfusion to my software sources, I installed what I thought was appropriate to get me going. After trying different music players and a variety of plug-ins, libraries, etc to go with them, I was successful in listening to my music. But I couldn't listen via bluetooth. From there was a flurry of software installations from the Fedora 17 and RPM repos until I made my desktop un-bootable. It was only 1 1/2 days in, and I had not made any backups yet.
Install #2 had a similar fate after some networking problems and confusion with chown/chmod. I ended up taking ownership away from root on the entire system, and as you probably know that can make things a little hairy. Not knowing enough to fix the problem and having learned better techniques on the partition layout, I wiped and installed a 3rd time.
This is where I am now. I have taken it upon myself to read every man page I can find, look up all info on any option I may eventually do, but for the most part I have suppressed any urge to install or change anything given my prior mishaps. My bluetooth will connect, but the sound still plays from the computer. I can't use Firefox because my screen will lock up and do something that looks like static in color with most of the content still being recognizable. After trying 7 different browsers, I settled with Chromium (even though I still can't watch Youtube videos). And even a simple task like adding my library of icons to my system themes turns into a dead end because my concern of returning the correct permissions to the file after adding them.
I really like Fedora, and I really don't want another cent of mine going to Microsoft, but I don't know if I'm on the right build. Should I have went with 16? Or should I go with another form of Linux? I like the Terminal because I am used to using Command Prompt regularly, but the nuances with the terminology have kept me at a crawl. When do you use a single -, and when is it appropriate to use --? Why can you type -h sometimes, and sometimes it requires --help? That is only the tip of the confusing verbosity in what I've encountered, and finding resources outside of man pages has been few and far between.
I may have rambled a bit too much, and it may be confusing determining exactly what it is I am asking. Honestly, I don't even know what to ask anymore. I have soaked up as much info as I can find, and when I need specific help it usually comes from older/different builds and doesn't translate to what I am needing. I suppose what I could use is some good reading suggestions for terminal and maybe a couple tips on repos, installing, and bug fixes.
Thanks in advance for any tips to point me in the right direction.
tl;dr suggested reading for terminal, n00b tips