Robert, Yasha makes a good point. Linux does have a learning curve. If you are new to Linux, start with Ubuntu. It has very good user support ( http://askubuntu.com) and the Ubuntu install process is reliable.
John Hebert On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 11:25 AM, Yasha Karant <ykar...@csusb.edu> wrote: > On 04/18/2013 01:04 PM, Robert Benjamin wrote: > >> Hello to all. I am new to Linux and have had a problem getting >> replies recently to a thread I posted. Let me say now that I am really >> not sure if this is where I should be asking for help, but I have no >> other ideas on what to do. I am not trying to cause trouble nor violate >> any rules. I'm simply a newbie that would love to have more help and >> direction to get Scientific Linux v 6.4 installed and working. >> The thread is posted on the Scientific Linux Forum under "New Linux >> users questions." My name for the user is benjie1 I first posted on >> April 8, and the title of the thread is "Can't login to gnome or kde in >> SL 64." After the first post on the 8th, I received replies very >> promptly until April 11. That was the last reply. I have posted several >> times asking for help on the same problem and giving more output and >> answering questions that were asked of me. Never did I double post, nor >> use foul language, nor violate any of the rules, as far as I know. >> At this point, I am hoping that someone can guide me as to what I >> should do so I can use SL 64. I have seen it on a friends PC and it >> looks great. The basic problem I have is that after a successful >> install, there is no GUI where I can log in, and no keyboard or mouse. >> All I can do is use Ctl+Alt+F2 and get a command line and login as root. >> The posts in the thread will show what I have done and then I can try >> again if I receive some guidance. I realize that all these gurus are >> volunteers and I respect that. What surprises me is why the sudden >> stoppage of all replies. What did I do? >> If this email has violated any rules or caused any problems I >> sincerely apologize. As I said, I have no way to know what to do in >> order to get SL 6.4 working. This is all I hope to accomplish eventually. >> Thanks very much to all those who may be able to help. I will do my >> best to follow suggestions that are made and hope to get this working. >> Thanks in advance for everything. >> >> Bob Benjamin >> benj...@cox.net >> > > As far as I can tell, the only Linux that installs in most cases as simply > as Mac OS X does upon an Apple proprietary machine (e.g., a machine with > the Apple logo marketed by Apple) is Ubuntu that is designed, more or less > for end users, as with Mac OS X and MS Windows. The various EL > distributions (including SL 6) require more knowledge, understanding, and > skills than a fully end-user installable end-user environment. If the > stock, default, EL install using the GUI from EL (anaconda et al.), > provides what an end-user needs, then the install to a running, usable > system is straightforward. > > Beyond that, I recommend a book by Nemeth et al.: > > UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook (4th Edition) > ISBN-10: 0131480057, ISBN-13: 978-0131480056 > > Without endorsing Amazon, some details about this book are available at: > > http://www.amazon.com/Linux-**System-Administration-** > Handbook-Edition/dp/0131480057<http://www.amazon.com/Linux-System-Administration-Handbook-Edition/dp/0131480057> > > Note that this book has a 2010 publication date and is more or less > current through 2009; thus, not all of the latest details are covered -- > but for a sound, general introduction (but not casual reading), the book is > decent. Others may recommend additional or different books. Note also > that a proper understanding (rather than rote technical application) of > much of the material requires a background in computer science or the > equivalent -- a statement that is true about the underpinnings of any > operating environment, including MS Windows. > > Yasha Karant >
