Issues w/ navigation
 

I've just got,accidentally,a new Acer laptop without realising it has Linpus Lite Moblin using Shiretoko.Surfing is fine but I have NO IDEA where I am with downloading.Like most I come from years of suffering Windows so am glad to be away from it.However,I downloaded things but after saving there is no "run" so after clicking "open" or "open containing folder" I'm faced with amenu showing open,add or extract.
So FIRST OF ALL need to be able to navigate these forums to understand the basics

Thanks

Welcome to LQ. Please start your own thread. Don't hijack someone else's.

First of all, do not hijack existing threads with your unrelated questions.

Anyway, do you mean where the file goes if you downloaded it using your browser? It probably goes in ~/Downloads ("~" is Linux-speak for your home folder).

If you want to learn the more advanced aspects of Linux, such as the command line, see the tutorials in my sig.

Also, I heard many people complain that Linpus isn't very good compared to other Linux distributions. If you decide you want to try another distro, you can always download it and burn it to a CD, then install it. Most distros don't cost anything, and almost all are open-source.

If this is Newbies what on earth am I?
 

I am so innocent a newbie I cannot even understand half this forum.Like many I just want to install programs.After downloading with windows I clicked on run.On Linpus Lite I open or save and then??? I read and followed this-http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=28 but there is no desktop to click on,just panel,mouse,ab user and a few others.So where is it if I want to change my desktop preferences?

I know Linux is daunting at first. It's a large learning curve when first switching from Windows. We've all been there, don't worry, hang in there!

As for how to install software it depends on what you downloaded. What did you download/attempting to install?

Also what kind of Windows user were you? Would you consider yourself a basic, intermediate, or advanced user? Do you have any Windows command prompt experience? I'm just trying to get a feel for your technical level before I start translating stuff into terms you can understand.

I'm not familiar with Linpus Lite, but there are many different "Desktop Environments" for Linux operating systems. These will all behave differently. Windows programs that end in .exe or .msi will not execute natively in Linux. They are "Windows" executables, and therefore will only run in "Windows". They won't run in Linux, MAC OSX, Unix, BSD, or anything else.

Doing some research on Linpus Lite I see it's intended for multi-touch screens and netbooks. Most Linux distributions have some sort of "Package Manager" that will allow you to install all sorts of additional software from servers maintained by the distribution vendor and their trusted partners. I'll do some research on Linpus and post back later what I find out, I might even install it on a Virtual Machine and goof around with it.

Joe Jordan,

It's just the way I.T is, so don't be disappointed. Noone knows everything. Everyone doesn't understand half the stuff here.

I don't have any experience with limpus but what I do know (if your hardware can meet the requirements) you should go with a normal Linux distro with all the features like ubuntu, kubuntu(more windows like). Light distros cut corners here and there to make them run with a minimal requirement. If you what windows apps to run then you need to install either a windows capatabilty layer such as wine or a windows emulater. There is also virture machines you can use and run windows inside Linux (will reduce performance). But the best thing to do to understand what you are dealing with and read your distros documentation from top to bottom it will help you out lots and take some notes on some things.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...1/#post3326009 may be a good start point. It seems that you aren't the first person to be confused by your OS! http://www.linpus.com/support.html has a search box that you can plug in your questions to. http://www.linpus.com/doc/Linpus_Lit...tart_Guide.pdf is the quick start guide for v1.3 and that should hold good for v1.4 too.

If all else fails, just hang on: we have members here who use Linpus Lite and they should have some useful advice for you.

Maybe the OP or a mod can put something relevant in the subject ... might elicit a useful response, sooner.

Thanks to all for the first replies.Sag47.I'd say I am intermediate but nearer to basic.I have an Acer laptop not netbook so was surprised to see Linpus as I understood that was for netbooks or mobiles
What I first found was on downloading all the usual protections-avira,zone alarm,process explorer,real player etc,as I did from filehippo,I found that after opening I had no idea what to do as "run" does not exist,probably "obviously" as it's not windows.So I deleted all.Then I found,from googling-don't need antivirus or firewall or defragmenter etc-seems my laptop is a large version of a phone so that is pleasing
Basically,I am fine for using the web,which is all I need really,but as I occasionally download something or need ro read a "word" document I need to download and install.So after downloading and clicking on "downloads" do I open or open containing folder?Open got me nowhere except creating another folder,while clicking on open containing folder produced a panel with open,add,extract etc-so no idea which to choose.can someone write or send a link, if it is not in those above, spelling out "first do this,then do that ...etc"?
The other question relates to my original-to change from simple to advanced:["I read and followed this-http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=28 but there is no desktop to click on,just panel,mouse,ab user and a few others.So where is it if I want to change my desktop preferences?"
I knows it looks a lot but really it is 2 questions.
Thanks again

Xavierp-thanks.I had already tried the linpus help so am waiting.Being Taiwanese their English might be a bit ropey if other manuals are anything to go by.Meanwhile I shall look at the other links.

I took the liberty to merge your own thread w/ the initial thread-jack
post and its responses.


Cheers,
Tink

Linux installs software very differently from Windows, there is nothing remotely in common.

In Windows, there is an executable that, when run, installs the files in their appropriate places.

In Linux, there are packages. They are archives containing the files that make up a program plus some metadata. They are installed using a package manager program. Note that Windows programs come with all the stuff it depends on built-in, because there is no way of knowing what else is installed. In Linux, the package's metadata says what other packages need to be installed, and it will either warn you or automatically download the required dependencies.

Also, you don't surf the web to find software in Linux -- instead you just type in the name and it downloads it for you from the distribution's repository. If that fails, then you look online.

Linpus Lite is based on Fedora 8.

You need to enable their "advanced" mode to access the graphical package manager for installing new programs.

Here's some help.
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/2008/07...pus-mode-hack/
http://www.linuxhaxor.net/?p=924

There's a lot of good information buried on the macles blog as well.
http://macles.blogspot.com/

My impression is that linpus wasn't that great to begin with and it's now based on a very very out of date version of Fedora, so getting newer software releases can be a pain in the you know what. I highly recommend taking the time to install a different linux version. One of the best netbook linux distributions out there is Jolicloud. It's heads and tails above linpus.

http://help.jolicloud.com/entries/230978