How I stopped using Windows and switched to Linux... (PART 1)

[Gabe]

One of our computers had a virus and I was unable to remove the spyware browser hijacking malware on it. (I tried for 8 hours different program and nothing worked)

I got fed up with all this crap and decided that it was time for a change and install Linux.
I installed Fedora Core 3 package distribution of Linux. This distribution is free, free like in free beer. (DEFINITION OF [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_beer]FREE BEER[/ame] , I AM NOT A DRUNK, someone thought that this might be misleading)

I downloaded three [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_image]ISO[/ame] images of CDs from redhat. http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pu...re/3/i386/iso/

There are 4 [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_image]ISO[/ame] images available.
It took around 14 hours to download 3 cds with our other computer. I did not want to install most of the server options for the OS hence me only downloading 3 CDS.

After downloading the [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_image]ISO[/ame]'s, I went ahead an used Nero to burn them. I strongly recommend burning at slower speed to ensure that no errors are on the CDs once the image is burned. (I first burned the images at 48X and it resulted in wasting 3 cds)

After burning the CDs at 16X, I went ahead with the installation.
1. I inserted the CD 1. (This is a self booting CD, meaning once you boot the computer it will allow you to load the setup for Linux)

2. The installation was pretty straightforward. I chose to change the whole partition of the drive and get rid of windows altogether. I chose the default options for installation.

3. Once I rebooted. I notice some display problems. This was caused by the onboard grafic accelerator card made by intel. It is 810 onboard card. I searched on http://www.google.com/linux and low and behold someone had the same problem then me and explained a work around to fix the problem. (which I did and everything is working great)

4. Linux is managed differently than Windows. When you setup linux you need to chose a root password. This is a password for when you login with root. (root is very powerful kind of like God) So be very careful when you login as root as the settings you change will be applied to all the users on the computer.

5. After rebooting you will be prompt to create a user account. This will be your main user account.

6. Once logged in as my user account I noticed that some updates were available from the update system. I clicked on it to download and all the files downloaded just like in Windows update and they all installed.
(to download and install the files the system will prompt you for your root password since these files will affect the system)

7. Rebooted the computer and I have been on without any problems since then. I even have a bunch of applications that you don't have with windows. It is pretty cool.
I will post some screen shots in this thread.

-more to come...

[Gabe]

Screen Shot 1

On this screen shot you can change the background of different folders. It's pretty straightforward.

Ohhh.... Camouflage!
hehehe...

[Gabe]

Screen Shot 2
It's very simple to change the background of a folder. Click and drag!

[Gabe]

Changing Background image.
Also simple.
In the backgound I have MSN chat and IM running on the same program.

[Gabe]

A new screen shot

[Gabe]

Another one.
When you hover over an icon it gives you a preview of the file. This is pretty neat.

Also at the cottom the Squares in the middle is a binary clock.

[Gabe]

yet another screen shot this one has amarok a media player that is very slick.
(easy to use and very pratical)

[Gabe]

this one displays information about my system:
Temp, time, what distro I am running, OS etc.

The program is called gtkrellm.