Need some help (gen questions)

[hnugz]

Let me start by saying a bit about my experience with linux, questions are at the bottom.  I have dabbed into linux off and on throughout the last 3-4 years or so.  Unfortunately I have been less than successful.  I have tried multiple distros, and multiple versions.  Among these have been Red Hat (ver?), Mandrake 9.0, Knoppix 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9, and Kubuntu 5.04.  All I can say is, it's no wonder more people aren't using this.  I consider myself to be pretty good at computers, but I have had nothing but problems getting any linux install whether on my laptop or my desktops to get anywhere as useful as Windows.

I have looked through tons of documentation online trying to find a good starting place, somewhere that can kind of guide me through how everyting works.  After all these years, i still don't fully understand the install process of programs.  I have liked knoppix because it seems to auto install just about everything i have with the exception of the wireless card.

I constantly run into problems trying to install programs myself, or compile them i suppose.  Even when following the directions exactly as they are, for instance ndiswrapper, I STILL run into problems.  I tried using ndiswrapper on knoppix which all it required of me was to load the inf file and I still couldn't get it to work.  This is beyond frustrating for me.

So I guess here are my questions:

1.  What are some good beginner links that explain all the details about how to get a good linux box up and running?  Because of knoppix I tend to use debian.  I want to know all kinds of basic things like how to install programs, where the files go when they are installed, what the commands do, etc...

2.  As a beginner, is knoppix the best way to go?  Is there some other distro out there that would be better?  I thought kubuntu would be a good starting place because it would give me a chance to completely customize it but I had too many problems trying to install ndiswrapper so I could get my internet to work.

I have lots of respect for the people who can work through linux they way I can through windows.  I just graduated from college with a cs degree geared toward network security, and I know linux is something I should know in and out.  Unfortunately there were no linux dedicated classes.

[piratePenguin]

1. What are some good beginner links that explain all the details about how to get a good linux box up and running? Because of knoppix I tend to use debian. I want to know all kinds of basic things like how to install programs, where the files go when they are installed, what the commands do, etc...

For (k)ubuntu, www.ubuntuguide.org I guess.

2. As a beginner, is knoppix the best way to go? Is there some other distro out there that would be better? I thought kubuntu would be a good starting place because it would give me a chance to completely customize it but I had too many problems trying to install ndiswrapper so I could get my internet to work.

(k)ubuntu seems to be the distro for new users these days. But if you prefer Knoppix, you should stay with that. Exactly what is wrong with ndiswrapper on ubuntu? This might help.

[worker201]

Reading, reading, and more reading.
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/categories.html
http://www.slackbook.org/html/index.html
http://www.slackware.com/config/
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/
http://unix.t-a-y-l-o-r.com/

Here's the thing about computers, that you probably should have learned in school - you are not the first person to have problem X.  Problem X has plagued other people since the pre-alpha version, and it has been addressed or solved by hundreds of other people.  You are not alone, and your problem is not unique.  Learning how to Google is just as important as learning how to grep.  The community is here for you.  But you have to admit that you need their help, and ask for it.

I am sadly disappointed to hear that one can graduate with a CS degree and not know Linux/Unix.  I mean, that is just bullshit.  Very sad and scary.

[hnugz]

wow pirate thats a good link, exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

thanks worker201 for your links also.  in school we used unix, so i know a bunch of the commands mostly just to get my work done, however we never really went in depth with any of it.  thats what i am trying to do on my own.

thanks again guys.