What do you think are the common mistakes new Linux users make?

Discussion
41

Resilio still stores all my stuff in ~/ResilioSync/[share-name] (this is by choice - it will let you put it anywhere you have permissions to write to)…

On systems with BIG storage - like my desktop machine and my thinkpad (both have 1TB NVME SSD) I chose to keep deleted items for 30 days - on systems with less elbow room - I DON’T save deleted files…

Note - this is not a backup solution - but it comes close! IF I accidentally delete a file, I’ve got 30 days to grab it back (or even restore some “intermediary” version of that file from the last 30 days - i.e. it can do version control sorta / kinda).

So - all my documents, my work documents, my images go in a folder :

~/ResilioSync/bigshit

All my music (it’s actually a subset of the 1 TB of music on my NAS) goes in

~/ResilioSync/Music

All my scripts go in (and some other stuff like .config files, ansible playbooks) :

~/ResilioSync/scripto

And I have an encrypted share for my password databases…

It’s nearly the same as Dropbox, but better… and nearly free - they way I use it - I can do for free, but I bought a pro “5 user license” for it ~5 years ago (and nobody in my family took up the use of it anyway). It’s a bit (VERY) dodgy on my Android 10 system (Galaxy Note 9+) - but mostly works everywhere else - e.g. I keep that ~/ResilioSync/scripto shared onto all my smaller SBCs (ARM Single Board Computers) too…

42

Software installs and Updating

@clatterfordslim makes some very strong points in his post

The software in Linux really should installed from the software repos of the installed distro then you know that it’s maintained and updated safety.
Getting software from anywhere and everywhere is a big mistake.

Can introduce many strange behaviors that can’t be fixed by the distros maintainers.

The extras repos in most big distros are awesome not always 100% stable but there it’s still better safety than getting software from there as opposed to out in the WWW
also there will be other distro users that can be a help when it comes to selecting and/or reporting on problems with the software.

A very bad habit from their past getting apps from anywhere in the WWW

Sure you will always get someone that will say I do that with whatever software and they’ve never had a problem, that’s correct because people like that ARE the problem,

Just like the slow driver in the fast lane who says accidents no never had one but they seem to happen all around me other drivers are so careless not me though! Na ah never too fast !

when one malicious piece of software finally gets in onto your Linux distro anything could be possible,
these days anything is possible with the right hacking tools that are available
no use complaining afterwards stick to the rules ( their there for a good reason )
Stability and Security !
If a new Linux user doesn’t keep their distro up to date (done by the hard work of volunteers)
How can they expect to go online safely eg Spectre and Meltdown not long back
and at the moment_
At least 30 WordPress plugins are actively being exploited by a pair of similar trojans that put a backdoor on websites and redirect traffic to malware infected sites
From not updating.
That affects any online activity of Windows users (they really get the rough end of the pineapple)
affects Linux users so take care with WordPress websites hopefully they will remove their unused plugins and update the plugin they use.

keeping up to date in Linux is the users responsibility
NOT a big corporation who update the OS not for your safety but for their own safety.
That’s why Linux has more password prompts to shut the doors, deny access past certain points on the system.

New Linux users should not install ‘rolling releases’ unless they are willing to stand on their own and work hard at fixing rolling release when it bombs and it will not always though only just when it’s least expected to crash, fix it by reading the documents and reading on the distros forum’s updates activity threads and then read some more. it’s not difficult it’s just dedication and commitment to a project.

@shamu is 100% there IS more to linux than that bloated constipated Win$ wannabe ubuntu
Ubuntu is not Debian far from it !
Ubuntu is a derivative of Linux BUT Linux is not Ubuntu if you can’t understand, that is a pita.

43

Absolutely right.

To do anything beyond that one needs to be an experienced programmer, and be disciplined to scan imported material before use.

44

just read this elsewhere
I would recommend KDE because it is like Windows 7
0Oh
Does that mean I will behave towards M$ . . Mwah ha ha . . . :rofl:

45

File systems

Changing over to ext4 file system in Linux only takes 1 (one) extra HD somewhere to store the data while changing the other to ext4

Just that alone made a difference to the speed of read/write or at least seemed that way and compatibility with all things Linux was complete

Since I was Win$ free and not needing to go back.
Why not

46

I was running Manjaro Xfce edition, OBS 29 would not run after a massive system upgrade, so waited a couple of days, found a solution it was to remove NVIDIA drivers, then reinstall them again. For me that did not work, so thought screw it I’ll go to ArcoLinux and so glad I did, as everything just works. The weird thing is, is ArcoLinux is maintained by one bloke Erik Dubois, where as Manjaro has a dedicated team behind them. For anyone thinking of Arch I cannot recommend Manjaro no longer, as time and time again things keep breaking. ArcoLinux just works, reminds me of Peppermint OS 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, no matter what you asked it to do, it done it. Just kept saying yes I can do that no worries and ArcoLinux is the same. Plus you get the choice of learning to build your own ArcoLinux from scratch, with the brilliantly written ArcoLinux website and over five thousand video tutorials. If only other Linux developers would do the same?

47

Could be a too many cooks in the kitchen with Manjaro, I like and still do EndeavourOS.

48

The skill and dedication of the team is the most important thing in choosing a distro.
You an only judge it by living with the distro for a while…
Losing a key person can be fatal

49

As a newbie myself, I would say that the most common mistake is thinking that answers will be supplied using terminology that people coming from Windows will understand. “I had to learn the hard way so so should you” seems to be quite common. Foss is quite good, but “Ask Ubuntu” I don’t think I’ll bother with any more.

2 Likes
50

Like how elemenary got rid of the founder, and his successor is claiming to be a founder… I didn’t like where they were going anyway - so won’t bother looking at elementary again… shame…

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51

You can always browse our portal or ask a question for help! :smiley:

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52

Topic already TLDR; so forgive me please if this issue was mentioned:
Windows refugees often seem to be trained to ‘use the latest…’.

So they start with a non-LTS release, like Ubuntu 21.10. And they find themselves stuck in the mud, when it reaches end-of-life and out of support quite quickly.
Maybe we all should emphasize, that those are just testing releases, kind of beta.
So beginners, newbies should start with an LTS release, even if it doesn’t appear to be ‘the latest’.

6 Likes
53

It can be that way with some good threads anywhere online
although one option often overlooked
(do this myself all too often)
Is the Summarize This Topic little blue box near the start of threads
heh heh
A common mistake made in a common mistakes thread.

Some days I don’t have to look far to find funny things.

54

Just as bad the new Linux user thinks they can drive a rolling release.
and then complain that Linux is complete crap
These problems never happened in Win$
They don’t take the time and effort to learn Linux
Expect it should work like this
Linux has got it wrong

They forgot how
Win$ had to be learnt, making system errors is limited by root access from big Corp
and there is the problem for some of them,
there is no limit on what can be done here in Linux
In Linux there is no big Corp to stop anyone doing the ‘All The Dumb Things’

This is Linux take small steps learning the basics first then change the world.

1 Like
55

Not just for exWin$ users for Win$ users and Linux users

I find a good source of info at

https://alternativeto.net/software/compare-it/
edit
There would other similar sites if you want/need.

56

There are easy and difficult rolling releases.
Easy- Solus or Ubuntu Rhino or Manjaro
Medium - Void or Arch
Difficult - Gentoo

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57

No way Manjaro is in the easy if the New Linux user does not visit the Latest Update problems page on the forum,
or they have a hesitation or fear of the terminal also RTM does help with Manjaro.
Arch medium difficulty naa ah for the same reasons as Manjaro.
To an experienced Linux user yeah their not too bad althought they test.
To a new Linux user only if they want a crash course in Distro repair using the terminal,

2 Likes
58

OK, lets move it down the list to Medium.
I must admit I have only ever looked at a live dvd of Manjaro… never had an install
I dont think it would be as challenging as Void though. You really have to get into CLI to use Void.

59

If only there was some way of ? telling, showing new linux users that the terminal is not as it’s namesake it is quite friendly,
Doesn’t It’sFOSS have a or several threads about using the terminal ? for newbies just the basic stuff to get them (newbies) warmed up to the terminal.
Just don’t feel like looking for that right now too hot and humid with no breeze AKA a stinker.
A sauna without the expense.
I was using Manjaro for a many years even after the old forum got new owners,
Then EndeavourOS showed up and it’s a lot better distro does not have the crashes that Manjaro seems to have all too often and community is very friendly and welcoming to anyone using any distro from the Arch family and yes knowing the comandline is necessary.

Hmm might have to have an install on not this day to day Debian machine but a laptop
Bit of fun tinkering under the bonnet/hood depending where your reading this from.

Try it Neville say three or four months on a spare lappy then try EndeavourOS afterwards.

60

checksums

While on the subject of installing and trying distros
There’s a notice about new Slax iso x2 baked and ready to go
on the sites iso download page I could not find a MD5 checksum link I don’t like using a live session without verified checksum.
What to do
Go to Distrowatch and on the distros info page and if the iso is there,
there be a
‘Releases announcements with download links and checksums’
section
further down
Follow the links download the iso and MD5 checksum if there is other checksums all the better.