I am an Idiot! Death of a OpenSUSE noob

English Install/Boot/Login
#41

nope - no windows partitions!
-I would need them if I was running something that doesn’t run on Linux, such as games or the likes… right?
…and I’m not in a network as such. Email and sneaker-net work fine with us here.

I’m using GNOME - but isn’t that just the user interface… how stuff is displayed on my desktop?
Sorry if it sounds like a stupid question but as we all know:
“There are no stupid questions, only stupid people!” lol!

Never login as root

I switch the PC on and come straight into this account…
when I go into YAST or something it asks for my password…

is that OK?

In short: you NEED only a couple of repos:
OSS -> the version’s repo
Non-OSS -> some non open source packages
Packman -> install all codecs, multimedia files from here. NOT FROM VIDEOLAN. You are definitely in a mixture of packages from both.
Update -> security patches etc.

hang on… didn’t I (we) just do that?
or do I need to tweek that some more?
in YAST → Sortware Management → Filter: Repositories → Packman Repository Right!?

Now enter the software installer, select the repo view, tick the Packman repo, right click in the right window pane and pick ‘All packages’ -> ‘Update unconditionally’.

Done!

thats some 220 MB that its installing now…

Where was that “Update → security patches etc.”
I had it going before I re-installed OpenSUSE yesterday…
Thats that thingy with the bright orange star that keeps popping up and asking for my password - Right!?

is my youtube going to be running smoothly now too or is that a different story?

#42

You can just use Yast - Online Update for regular updates. Once a week should be fine.

Unconditional updates as you did in Packman is to force back packages to the Packman version from versions you shouldn’t have installed in the first place from VLC.
You may well have orphaned packages lurking in there too, but I hesitate to mention that, as it may only serve to confuse you.

#43

orphaned packages are not the problem…
I feel like I’m one, some of the time, to lol!

Stuff seems to be up and running for the time being, and I won’t have time to be tweeking the next couple of weeks - back into my shift work… sigh

There are still like a billion things I’m not sure of…
My browser windows (I’m still not sure if I’m allowed to say that using LINUX!?) aren’t building up as fast as I’d like… I have the feeling it was going faster a while back…

I still have no Idea what IPv6 is or does (quote: if you don’t know what IPv6 is - you don’t need it)
Same goes for the “Beagle” !? -cute icon, but what does it do…
I recon I’ll look for that at some later stage…

Youtube is still stuttering along… perhaps I need some more ram… but it was enough under Windows!? (sorry if I’m not allowed to say that here…) did you have a look at my Show Box is that enough on the hardware side???

tell me, am I just a particularly stupid noob or does everybody have the same startup problems using LINUX that I’m having?

Much as I’m enjoying fiddling around with all this new stuff,I know that there are allot of users out there that would be willing to give it a try, but will bail out at the first hindrances, instead of spending 5 or 6 hours in the forums finding a solution…

Thanks again
yours
T5K

#44

As do most who are new and learning!

There are still like a billion things I’m not sure of…
My browser windows (I’m still not sure if I’m allowed to say that using LINUX!?) aren’t building up as fast as I’d like… I have the feeling it was going faster a while back…

browser is the correct term in all operating systems
windows is the correct term for the visible work area of apps in all GUI (Graphical User Interface) although many use xWindows under Unicees and Window under Microsoft systems and window under Apple/Mac systems.

I still have no Idea what IPv6 is or does (quote: if you don’t know what IPv6 is - you don’t need it)
Same goes for the “Beagle” !? -cute icon, but what does it do…
I recon I’ll look for that at some later stage…

IPv6 is to do with DNS look-up on network/Internet connection protocols. IPv6 is supposed to be faster than IPv4 but gives many systems trouble so I usually suggest to keep it off.
Beagle is an indexing service that uses alot of system resource causing a slow system if running all the time.

Youtube is still stuttering along… perhaps I need some more ram… but it was enough under Windows!? (sorry if I’m not allowed to say that here…)

Typically, Linux works faster than windows and in alot less memory. Slow streaming of video and sound is more a matter of video and sound being processed to screen and audio slower than intended. Have you heard of bottlenecks? Anyway, on the DVD or YouTube there is a big video/sound file trying to get to your machine. If Internet connection to slow, YouTube has to wait to send info and your video/sound software has to wait for the next burst of info. If streamer too slow (likely due to config problem or conflict) again you can experience jerky playback.

tell me, am I just a particularly stupid noob or does everybody have the same startup problems using LINUX that I’m having?

You are not particularly stupid. You were wise enough to ask questions, and try to search for answers. Many who come from Microsoft and Mac environments just don’t realize how much is done behind the scenes. In addition, Manufacturers supply drivers for these other systems but for Linux they are just starting to pay attention. As such, Linux users must pay closer attention to exact hardware info especially during initial set-up. To avoid those who would try and discourage you for trying by suggesting you go back to a system with training wheels I would suggest you include the hardware description of your system you are experiencing trouble with as different hardware has different issues. As with any system, try to take things one step at a time (baby steps to use some psychology).

Much as I’m enjoying fiddling around with all this new stuff,I know that there are allot of users out there that would be willing to give it a try, but will bail out at the first hindrances, instead of spending 5 or 6 hours in the forums finding a solution…

My experience, is that people are more inclined to try when someone is willing to give help and smooth out some of the rough edges. Good luckrotfl!

#45

Maybe some of your questions will be in here:
HowTo Compilation - openSUSE Forums

#46

I was also having a problem with stuttering flash vids. I removed pulse. Once I did, it worked fine. I left 3 pulse packages installed.

libmpg123-0-pulse
libpulse0

libpulse0-32bit

#47

Also, as a note, a repository is a web site containing packages in which to download. In Windows you may have gone to downloads.com or something, the problem with Windows is that other than updates, there was no concept of repositories per se. In Linux, and in openSUSE in particular, We may have a couple, but here a a main one Index of /repositories Obviously, that is not the “Updates” repository.

As others have pointed out, you need to be careful about adding repositories, because you can end up in a software conflict, like what you experienced earlier in this thread. Unless you understand the packages and conflicts and obsoletes, then keeping it basic is recommended.

As to whether Linux is for you… You didn’t learn Windows in a day. You need to allow yourself time to adjust. Yes, there are a lot of concepts you need to adjust to. One being, you don’t need to format and reinstall. That’s the Windows way.

IPv6 has to do with the new IP addressing scheme. The problem is, is that while IPv6 is backwards compatible, IPv4 is not forwards compatible (go figure). Most of the net has not converted over to IPv6 so subsequently when browsing with IPv6 enabled, it tends to be painfully slow.

I was writing a book on package management, in particular, smart package manager. It covers a lot of the stuff that you have been asking about. PM me with a way for me to send you a copy if you want one.