Seasons greetings, Markus, everyone at LinuxQuestions,

I decided to have a go at installing this today, backed everything up but got bogged down with the install.

I downloaded the ISO to the hard drive but clearly nothing comes of doing just that. I read a few (mostly unhelpful) articles and eventually came across one (http://www.ehow.com/how_5760028_inst...ash-drive.html) which recommended I install Pendrivelinux.com's Universal USB Installer first so I could run off the USB as I have no CD drive. I downloaded but there was no execute command while it was in the Downloads folder so I copied it to the USB - but it still won't execute. I guessed it must be a permission thing but access for user is Read and Write and it is allowed to run as a program. I would like to get on with this but I'm stuck at first base .

Any help appreciated.

Well, they write you need a Windowscomputer. If you downloaded a Windowsexecutable, you should only need to doubleclick on the file. Maybe you'll have to extract it at first.

Markus

I'm sorry, you've completely lost me!

mh, I'm not sure what you're doing. The Universal-USB-installer is a program for Windows, you install it on a Windowscomputer. Then you use this program in order to transform your downloaded iso-file (for Mint I guess) into a bootable USB-image. You'll need an empty USB-storage-device. The program (Universal-USB-installer) has to be installed on the windowscomputer, not on the USB-drive.

Markus

Empowerment is king.

What all you n00bs (and I say that with no dis-respect intended, but with admiration and the best intentions) are going through is akin to attempting to ride a bicycle before ever riding a tricycle or a bike with training wheels - it can be done, but baptism by fire hurts and you will usually skin your knees a few times before you get the hang of it.

In the interest of putting the horse *before* the cart, brucehinrichs touched on something you all, IMO, should take more than just a casual gander at - The Rute Book.

It is the basis and main text of many UNIX administration and intro classes, including those I teach, and a requisite companion text for any programming classes too.

Being amazed that UNIX is totally kewl is one thing, and I'm impressed and elated that you have taken this step away from the so-called darkside presided over by the Borg; but like I said, empowerment is king, and if we're to bring you out of the darkness into the light, I urge you to take 30 minutes every day or so and work your way through this book.

Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition

It can't be stressed enough to go through this work beginning with the first page, and like I said, take it in small chunks that will stick to your ribs.

Now for a couple of shortcuts...

With most Linux distributions, you can get to a terminal instantly by entering:

...where "x" typically is equal to 1 through 6.

To get back into X (Your GUI), simply do:

The most important thing to note here is that each distribution has completely different tools in the GUI to manage your machine, while almost all (ubuntu sudo Linux excluded) Unix flavors, including Solaris and the BSD's - not just Linux - adhere to the same underlying principles described in the Rute Book.

Barf out a copy on your printer and take that to bed with you. Or better yet, purchase a copy from the author. It will become dog-eared and decrepid from the years of use and all of the scribbling in the margins.

It will become one of your best friends, while the principles you learn from it will serve you well with any flavor of UNIX for years to come, and I'm always available for consults too if someone desires more intensive hand-holding with their hands-on education.

One more thing...

Before you even start with page one of the Rute Book, read this:

READ THIS FIRST! It will put your mind in the right place to begin!

I hope that helps

Kindest regards,

.

Well, I thought it was a simple case of downoading Mint, clicking on the download and responding to a series of dialogues which would walk me through the install, like in Windows, but got side-lined when it didn't happen that way. So, retracing and taking one step at a time, I've downloaded Mint - could you guide me where to go next?

tallship - if you mean no disrespect then why the condescension and calling people like me nOObs? I don't want to learn how to program in UNIX, I simply wish to follow the advice given and replace one poor version of Linux with a better one. It's that or Windows, which is not my preference but could probably be installed with little hassle. I'm just not familiar with Linux. Hope that helps.

Well, you can download the file Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.7.4.exe from the site you've posted the link (I did that). This program has to be installed on the Windowscomputer.

Afterwards you start the program, connect an empty USB-storage-device (pendrive) to the computer and select the isofile for Mint which you've downloaded already (if I didn't misunderstand you).

The program will create a bootable USB-device and you can afterwards connect the USB-device to the Linpuscomputer, and when you start it, the Mint-installer will boot.

It maybe, that you have to configure the BIOS of the Linpuscomputer in order to boot from USB and maybe you'll have to configure for the correct bootorder (USB before HD).

If you can't seem to download the exe-file, send me a PN with your mailadress, it is about 900kb and I'll send it to you as a Mailattachment.

Markus

There was no condescension. You have recently enjoined yourself to a a long enduring computing culture, and identifying yourself as a n00b will go a long way toward getting answers in the appropriate context that is commensurate w/your experience.

For example, after 35 years of using UNIX, I recently identified myself on a list as an OpenStack n00b. That little tidbit permitted me the luxury of receiving responses in accordance w/the level of my experience in that area.


Of course not. And there's no need for you to need to do so either.


Fantastic! Then all you have to do then is simply follow the advice provided above.

It was accurate, and it was complete. You should have no problems installing the new flash player if you simply follow the steps provided above

Windows works. You can try that too.

Hurrah !

I'll simply say - I've got there (eventually)! I can now boot Mint from the USB stick. Thanks for that.

Not so immediately accessible but more Windows-like accessing apps from a left corner menu. However, located my internet hub to surf and attempted to fire up Firefox - nothing. Looked at the permissions and changed the program to be executable. Still nothing. Checked in the Programs Manager to confirm it was installed - it was.

What am I missing here?

Hello stormdog,

I've not understood: did you install Mint on the harddrive of the computer? then it should work. Or did you manage to install Mint on the USB-device?

Markus

@dianaM, as the OP, and since the issue has been resolved, please consider taking the time to mark this thread as solved so that others may benefit from your experience too

In the meantime the thread has wound its way off-topic to installing various Linux distros, rather than the original matter of updating your flash player.

FYI, marking a topic as solved doesn't mean the thread is closed, it just indicates that the problem has been solved which shows up prominently when someone does a search.

A few other people were also able to benefit from this thread and get their flash players updated as well, BTW

Kindest regards,

.

Hi,

Thanks for the swift reply.

I simply booted from the USB at login (F12). I wanted to see how Mint worked and see that I was happy before installing it. If I have to install before anything works then I guess I'll just have to do that. Presumably, uninstall is simple?

Accepting tallship's comment about going off-topic (it's just the way things have gone, I too was looking for a solution to update Flash), can this thread be split off away for those looking for help on installation?

@ stormdog
Are you booting to the usb or are you seeing grub.
I have been following this thread for quite some time & I like Markush am confused as t o how you're going about this.
After downloading you need to either burn to cd or use the bootable usb option, which would include pendrive. If you only clicked on the file from within windows environment you're trying wubi installation, which works for some & is only a file within windows environment.
Pendrive is used to install OS to usb or create bootable iso on usb,it will also download the iso & put it where & how you want it.
You can't just copy to usb you should use pendrive.

What do you see upon boot?

Hi stormdog. Not to worry

Some forums get all snickety and flame members for *hijacking* threads. I suppose that's all fine and dandy, but here at LQ, as in real life, things often meander along and evolve towards constructive ends - and it's generally acceptable.

Like you said, this started off with you searching for a solution to your flash problem too, and the topic simply spun along as part of a threaded solution you needed help with.

So, you could, or not But it might be easier to follow at this point by simply continuing, as many threads do.

Like I mentioned above, just because a thread is marked as SOLVED, doesn't mean it has ended.

Oh, and congrats on liftoff! It's good to know you're in a place now where you can really begin to harness the force

Kindest regards,

.

Eddy, sorry, the thread appears confusing. I'll attempt to bring it into focus.

Advised to replace Linpus on a low-spec Acer Aspire One netbook because Flash no longer works within Firefox and I can't update it. Recommended Mint LXDE. Those are the basics.

In respect to the quotes you copied, I had originally downloaded the Mint ISO and the USB Installer onto the netbook. That didn't work. I couldn't get the USB installer to execute due to my utter and almost complete lack of knowledge of Linux. I didn't realise I had to download these onto a Windows PC and create a bootable USB there. I've now done that. I've plugged the USB into the netbook and booted Mint from the USB. I have not installed Mint onto the netbook. I wanted to see how it looked/worked before committing to hard drive.

So, Mint runs on the netbook from the USB - no problem - view files, see applications, etc - except FF doesn't execute. I haven't tried any of the other applications but it did find the internet hub.

That's where I am now. I presume I have to install Mint onto the hard drive to use the applications but I'll await your advice.