[SATLUG] Newbe help Wanted for Help

[Vern Davis]

On 2/7/07, Herb <herbc at txcyber.com> wrote:
> Hello all, I joined this list when I was waiting for a FC-6 disto. Got
> it and I am thrilled. I tried 3 times in the past 10 yrs to learn how to
> use Linux in the casual manner I have become accustomed to going from
> DOS 6.2 to Win 3.1.... I am still using Win-ME as I learn to use
> Fedora-Linux. I bought a new 82Gig HD used my older P-III 1.1mz, 256mem
> for the box. I have already noodled around in the Gnone GUI.
>
> I now have the network Hub running between the Lin-box and Win-box. I
> have some sort of problem with the brand new Lucent 56K dialup PCI
> modem. I am reading about the Win-Lin-modem issue so I will learn about
> that. I have what i think is a non-Win-modem,-3-com/US Robo Modem, so I
> may try it after i understand the issue. I went to the archives and am
> reading back mail. it is helpful and I am glad to be here.
>
> The bothersome and only other issue that I am aware of is when I try to
> run help from where I am it reports error: ... "launching the default
> command application associated with this location".  So I need to know
> how to fix this in order to use Help specific to a problem I hope.
>
> I am ok with command line but do not yet understand the structure used
> in the Linux string. I do build my own boxes but do not consider myself
> a tech, nor am i a programmer, I am a retired artist. I intend to desigh
> art objects for the Virtual world (2L) and hope to use Gimp and Open
> Office to replace Corel Office and PhotoShop.  I have already set up a
> user account and transferred all my working document /graphic files over
> to the Lin-box. I know how to open other terminal windows to switch to
> root and back to user so I really on the way to 'happy camper'. In spite
> of the baying of the blood hounds I believe I have made my escape from
> Vista.
>
> Thanks Herb
>

Hey Herb - welcome to the ranks of Linux Newbies!

I'm probably not going to be much help with may be your biggest config
problem - which I think may be your winmodem. The only modems I've
ever had any luck with on Linux were isa-slot modems, and that was
long ago. I know there has been some sort of progress made with
winmodems as pertains to Linux since then, but I have no smarts on
that.

But I think some of the problem you are having which is causing the
"launching the default command application associated with this
location" error is that many of the "fancier" applications, such as
Mozilla/Firefox/Open Office/etc/yada/yada are linked to help files on
the internet. So in effect, if you have no internet connection, you
have no help file.

Much help for the more "mundane" applications in Linux are still
available from the command line in the manual pages ("man xyz"), and
there may also be some system documentation on your machine, depending
on what packages you installed. You might try putting
file:///usr/share/doc/HTML/index.html into your browser and see if the
Fedora documentation is there.

Another thing to try from the command line is "locate xyz" to point
you towards the right file to peruse. There's a good chance it will be
in that /usr/share/doc/ directory.

I'm no artist, but I routinely use OO, The Gimp and GQView for simple
text and graphics work, and IM(not so)HO they work as well as MS
Office and Photo Shop, except for the fact that they use less system
resources and run faster under Linux. Your mileage will vary.

Good luck, and post often on here with results/rants/teeth gnashing.

-- 
vern.davis at gmail.com