Handbook for newbies

[nu2fbsd]

I am very impressed with FBSD. I have used the handbook to do many things. But I do notice that some sections are not newbie oriented. I mean, there seems to be steps that are missing in it, sort of taken for granted that the person using the handbook already knows what is to be done. Then one has to keep searching. If a simple howto install FBSD with every step could be done, with 'special notes' 'important' sections(of points where there would likely be issues, like in the present handbook version).

I installed FBSD, then Xorg-minimal and got stuck. I had to re-install with the full Xorg. There was no pointer in the handbook about this for a newbie. As it is installing, there are instructions of configurations, but then where is that to be found, afterwards? A newbie does not know.

For those who would like using different desktop environments, or wm's - detailed and no missing steps, instructions would be helpful and make installation and use speedy.

[vermaden]

Xorg-minimal? What do You mean?

I recall that Handbook says about x11: pkg_add -r xorg (which is full xorg).

[fbsd1]

I think what you are looking for is the Installer Guide.

Check out www.a1poweruser.com

[fender0107401]

Learning is a painful process.

For newcomers, errors is a good practice.

If doc-project write everything as easy as possible, then another one will argue that is too simple.

[SirDice]

detailed and no missing steps, instructions would be helpful
In other words, you want to be spoon fed.

[Beastie]

If doc-project write everything as easy as possible, then another one will argue that is too simple.
Or still not simple enough ;)

[avilla@]

http://wiki.FreeBSD.org has some useful information on different tasks like, for example, installing KDE (since you were referring to window managers/desktop environments)

[oliverh]

I am very impressed with FBSD. I have used the handbook to do many things. But I do notice that some sections are not newbie oriented. I mean, there seems to be steps that are missing in it, sort of taken for granted that the person using the handbook already knows what is to be done. Then one has to keep searching. If a simple howto install FBSD with every step could be done, with 'special notes' 'important' sections(of points where there would likely be issues, like in the present handbook version).

I installed FBSD, then Xorg-minimal and got stuck. I had to re-install with the full Xorg. There was no pointer in the handbook about this for a newbie. As it is installing, there are instructions of configurations, but then where is that to be found, afterwards? A newbie does not know.

For those who would like using different desktop environments, or wm's - detailed and no missing steps, instructions would be helpful and make installation and use speedy.


Absolute FreeBSD: http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-FreeBSD-Complete-Guide-2nd/dp/1593271514/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268512588&sr=8-2

UNIX Power Tools: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Tools-Third-Shelley-Powers/dp/0596003307/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268512614&sr=8-1

UNIX in a Nutshell: http://www.amazon.com/Unix-Nutshell-Fourth-Arnold-Robbins/dp/0596100299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268512638&sr=8-1

The Best of FreeBSD Basics: http://www.amazon.com/Best-FreeBSD-Basics-Dru-Lavigne/dp/0979034221/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268512665&sr=8-5

UNIX for the beginning Mage: http://unixmages.com/ (PDF)

[ckester]

PC-BSD (http://www.pcbsd.org/) is probably the best answer to this.

It's more "newbie-friendly" but is still FreeBSD under the hood.

[cpcnw]

http://www.lemis.com/grog/Documentation/CFBSD/

Also good source of info :)

[oYo]

Learning is a painful process.

For newcomers, errors is a good practice.

If doc-project write everything as easy as possible, then another one will argue that is too simple. > i agree with that answer,all docs and answers for newbie are available on www , and you are always welcome when you need help , and newbies will learn by doing mistakes ... using psbsd is not like using freebsd and learning it ! use vbox if you don't want to mess your pc.

[rhyous]

I think that documentation is definitely an area that every piece of software could improve on.

I have some user-friendly posts. I always try to be "newbie friendly" here:

FreeBSD Friday (http://rhyous.com/freebsd-friday/)

I think what you are looking for is the Installer Guide.

Check out www.a1poweruser.com

Thanks for this link, FBSD1. That is a great link, I will probably link to it. What great work.

[Jago]

In other words, you want to be spoon fed.
Perhaps he does, perhaps he doesn't, it is irrelevant. What's the problem with having exact, step-by-step instructions?

[graudeejs]

Perhaps he does, perhaps he doesn't, it is irrelevant. What's the problem with having exact, step-by-step instructions?

bloat, lots of lots of bloat.
Users have to learn how to improvise, think with own head, etc.

If you want to know more, there are many online tutorials, books etc... man pages for gods sake

Handbook is very good, it tell just enough to accomplish the task, no more, no less.
It is easy to read, and short enough so you don't knock out reading it, because it's boring

[nu2fbsd]

For somebody who has used Windows and does not know anything about Unix, yet has the courage to give it a try, should have a guide to be able to get his system up and running. I have found http://www.a1poweruser.com to be very newbie friendly. I have also found help at http://rhyous.com because of which I was able to install and configure stuff and get my system up and running. I still have to install flash and java, for which I did not find guidance at the sites mentioned above. I wish that also could be added. I did do a search on the forum and found one tutorial in the HowTo section. I have learned something about unix in the process and would like to continue. Thanks to all those who have helped me reach my goal.

[tangram]

For somebody who has used Windows and does not know anything about Unix, yet has the courage to give it a try, should have a guide to be able to get his system up and running. I have found http://www.a1poweruser.com to be very newbie friendly. I have also found help at http://rhyous.com because of which I was able to install and configure stuff and get my system up and running. I still have to install flash and java, for which I did not find guidance at the sites mentioned above. I wish that also could be added. I did do a search on the forum and found one tutorial in the HowTo section. I have learned something about unix in the process and would like to continue. Thanks to all those who have helped me reach my goal.

And what about reading the fine manual? http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/desktop-browsers.html

Your time would be better spent reading FreeBSD's handbook than using Google.

[nu2fbsd]

And what about reading the fine manual? http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/desktop-browsers.html

Your time would be better spent reading FreeBSD's handbook than using Google.

I did read that and found some information that is different. For instance, the browser_plugin directory in the flash section does not exist on my system, so I get an error following that instruction. $HOME/.mozilla/plugins entry also gives me no such file or directory. I have not installed firefox.

[gore]

Installing and Dual Booting:

http://www.antionline.com/showthread.php?t=262097

Installing just FreeBSD, step by step, spoon and all:

http://www.antionline.com/showthread.php?t=256949



pkg_add -r kde
pkg_add -r gnome

Adding new Managers ^

As for configuring X, in the last 10 years of using Linux and BSD, I've done it maybe 4 times. After a fresh install, I normally don't configure it because you don't have to unless you're trying to run it with 3D and all, and since most of my hardware sucks, I don't need to because I have those crappy integrated on board POS cards.

I can run KDE, Gnome, Enlightenment, Window Maker, and others, without configuring it much at all. Using startx to get it loaded won't work like this though, so generally, I do this:

pkg_add -r kdm gdm


After it's done, I type either kdm or gmd, and it loads that, and I pick which Window Manager I want to use, and it works.

The other stuff posted should help you with actually configuring X if you want 3D and so on, but if you don't have a good Nvidia or ATI card then you probably won't be using any 3D anyway, and I think Nvidia actually has a Help section for using their Driver. Nvidia seems to be the only Video Card maker that actually realizes something other than Windows exists in the World, and makes a REAL Driver for FreeBSD and Linux too. So, buying Nvidia can help, as they make their own drivers for other OSs. and they have a great help section.

On SUSE Linux it's a little different, and they even have a full section just for that to help you through the process. The only tricky part was picking the right version. If you can call that tricky anyway. For on Board Video Cards, I simply don't bother. I hate those things. A lot. But FreeBSD and Linux both, will use them, and display your Window Manager, without being configured.