Welcome to Linux!

Imagine that you owned all the computer programs in the world - you could get any programs you wanted right away, without going to a store, give them to whoever you wanted to, and even change them and make your own versions.

For Linux users, that's the world we live in. There's a whole world of free software programs that any Linux user can use - or copy - or give away - or change - in any way they like. It's not only legal, it's encouraged! Join us, and together we can rule the galaxy.

If you'd like to find out more about Linux first, read "What is Linux? Why should I use it". Or, just use these instructions to try it out.

How

If you got a DVD at TechFest, it contains a ready-to-use copy of the Linux operating system - specifically, of Edubuntu 8.10, with several custom additions.

If you got a CD at TechFest, it contains a ready-to-use copy of Ubuntu 8.10. It doesn't contain the Edubuntu material, but once you have Ubuntu installed it's easy to add Edubuntu programs afterward.

If you don't have a disk, you can download Ubuntu for free from ubuntu.com. Burn that to a blank CD of your own, and then proceed by the

Get started

Put your CD or DVD in your computers' CD/DVD drive and start up your computer. If you get a plain black screen with white lettering, select the first option.

Now you're running Linux directly from the CD or DVD. It won't change anything about your computer - all your old stuff will still be there after you take the disk out. You can use it to try out some of the programs that are available. It will be slow and noisy, though, and the screen resolution probably won't be right - those problems will go away after you install.

Getting on the Internet

Wait, if you're not on the internet, how are you reading this? Oh, from another machine? Oh, OK.

At the upper-right corner of your screen, in the grey bar, there should be an icon showing your internet status. If you've got an ethernet cable plugged into the machine, it should look like two computer screens - you shouldn't need to do anything. If there is a little red X beside the screens, your connection is not working yet. Click on the icon to see a list of the ways you can connect. If you have a wireless card and you're in a place where there are wireless networks, they will be listed when you click the icon; click one of them. The icon will turn into a swirling arrow, then a set of bars like a cell phone shows.

If you don't have an ethernet cable plugged in, and there aren't any wireless networks where you are, you can't use the internet. Sorry, not even Linux can do everything.

Some installed applications to try

At the top-left corner of your screen are menus for Applications, Places, and System.

Applications > Office contains programs that do the same sort of things Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint do.
Applications > Internet > Pidgin can do AOL-type chat.
Applications > Internet > Firefox is for browsing the web.
Applications > Accessories > Terminal gets you a "command-prompt" window, which is how you kick it with the old-school geeks.
Applications > Games contains, well, games!

Installing Linux

If you like what you see, you can install Linux on your computer. There are really good reasons to do this:

• It will run faster and better
• You can put new programs on the computer
  
• You can use your CD/DVD drive for different things
  

There are a couple dangers, though!

• Installing Linux will erase everything on your machine! It's like starting over with a clean slate. Make sure you copy everything you want to keep onto something off the computer, like a USB drive.
• If you change your mind later on and want Windows back, you'll have to find your Windows installation disk and its registration code. Better find those first if you have any doubt.

If you decide to go ahead - and if you have permission from your parents or teacher or whoever owns the machine - then click on the "Install" icon at the upper-left corner of the machine and go through the installation procedure. Selecting all the default values is usually the right thing to do, although choosing to install it all in Swahili can be fun.

Alternatives to replacing Windows

You can put Linux and Windows on the same system in "dual-boot" mode. Every time you start your computer, it will ask you which you want to use - Linux or Windows. Some instructions for doing that are here.

You can install a free software program called VirtualBox on your computer. That runs a sort of imaginary computer in its own small window on your screen. Then, you can install Linux into that virtual machine. Or you can install Linux, then install VirtualBox on Linux (using Synaptic Package Manager), and install Windows in a virtual machine.

Finally, some of the free and open source software that's available for Linux is also available for Windows - Firefox, for example. It's not as easy to install under Windows - you'll have to look up each software package on the Internet, download its installation program, and run it. Open Source Windows is one good list of free and open source software for Windows.

Getting help

Sign up for the Dayton Linux Users' Group mailing list. You can ask us questions through email, and also find out when we're having a meeting or an InstallFest, if you'd like our help in person. When you write, tell us you found out about us at TechFest!

There is a ton of information about Ubuntu to read online here and here. Sometimes, though, just typing your problem into a search engine like Google is the fastest way.

You can download the Ubuntu Pocket Guide for free, or buy it for pretty cheap.

After installation

Normally, you change your screen resolution with System > Preferences > Screen Resolution. If it only lists very low resolutions being available - like 800 X 600 - you can go to System > Administration > Hardware Drivers and enable the NVIDIA graphics drivers.

If you got an Edubuntu DVD from us at TechFest, all the programs you saw there are already installed. If you got an Ubuntu CD, or burned your own Ubuntu CD, you'll need to install them yourself. It's easy. Go to Applications > Add/Remove and check the boxes beside everything under Educations. Then click "Apply Changes".

Getting more software

You can pack more free software onto your hard drive until it screams, "Stop! No more!" It's really easy.

First, make sure you're on the Internet.

From the main menu, choose Applications > Add/Remove, click on the software you want to install, then press the "Apply Changes" button at the lower-right hand corner of the window.

You want more? OK, go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager. There's even more in here.

Here in Synaptic Package Manager, you'll probably want to get "ubuntu-restricted-extras" (use the Search button to find it). That will let you play things like Flash movies and MP3 recordings. (If you got our Edubuntu DVD, it's already installed.)