[...]... on this book’s contents Appendix A delivers groups of Linux commands, complete with syntax and explanations, arranged according to their function Appendix B lists details about what’s on the Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition, DVD As I note in this appendix, the materials on the DVD include the Fedora Core 3 distribution 5 6 Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition Icons Used in This Book Within each chapter, I... Gathering Information about Your Machine .33 Finally, Finally, Before You Get Started 37 x Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition Chapter 3: Installing Fedora Core 39 Things to Consider Before You Begin Installation .39 Making a Boot Floppy (if Needed) 41 The Installation Process 43 Your First Boot 60 Chapter 4: Installing Other Linux Distributions... to tackling terminology and the Linux collection of tools, utilities, and widgets Although Linux isn’t terribly hard to figure out, it does pack a boatload of details, parameters, and administrivia (administrative trivia, in Unixspeak) You need to wrestle those 2 Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition details into shape while you install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot a Linux- based computer Some sample... install an application on your machine, you can install, configure, and manage a basic Linux system If you have an active 3 4 Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition imagination and the ability to solve rudimentary problems, that’s even better — you have already mastered the key ingredients necessary to making Linux work for you The rest is mere details and a bit of patience I can help you with the details,... 389 Aren’t Sure a Machine Actually Works? .390 Exploring Tons of Linux Tools 391 Part VI: Appendixes 393 Appendix A: Common Linux Commands 395 Linux Commands by Function 395 Archiving and compressing .396 Built-in bash commands 396 xv xvi Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition Getting Help 397 Files and file system 398... standard Linux tools, the point-and-click GUI, accounts, and printers, as well as get a quick tour of your distributionrelated Linux tools Chapter 1 Getting Acquainted with Linux In This Chapter ᮣ Describing Linux ᮣ Telling Linux apart from the rest of the operating system pack ᮣ Depending on GNU and the GPL ᮣ Marveling at the Linux Company (or lack thereof) ᮣ Checking out popular Linux distributions Ford,... the following: ߜ Understanding where Linux comes from and what it can do for you ߜ Installing the Linux operating system ߜ Working with a Linux system to manage files and add software ߜ Setting up Internet access and surfing the Web ߜ Customizing your Linux system ߜ Managing Linux system security and resources Although it may seem, at first glance, that working with Linux requires years of hands-on experience,... bits of wisdom can be severe This icon signals technical details that are informative and interesting but not critical to understanding and using Linux Skip these paragraphs if you want (but please come back and read them later) Where to Go from Here This is where you pick a direction and hit the road! Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition, is much like 1001 Nights because it almost doesn’t matter where you... his part includes an introduction to the development and capabilities of the Linux operating system I also cover the terms and tools that make Linux what it is, along with detailed step-by-step instructions about what it takes to prepare your computer for Linux and to install Linux on your very own PC For those interested in Linux distributions other than Fedora Core 3, which is included with this book,... you into the rapidly growing ranks of Linux users and enthusiasts busily rewriting the rules for the operating system marketplace If you’ve contemplated switching to Linux but find the prospect too forbidding, you can relax If you can boil water or set your alarm clock, you, too, can become a Linux user (No kidding!) When this book appeared in its first edition, Linux was an emerging phenomenon that . Dee-Ann LeBlanc Linux ® FOR DUMmIES ‰ 6TH EDITION 01_579371 ffirs.qxd 12/27/04 7:54 PM Page i 01_579371 ffirs.qxd 12/27/04 7:54 PM Page iv by Dee-Ann LeBlanc Linux ® FOR DUMmIES ‰ 6TH EDITION 01_579371. Modifying Graphics 355 Watchin’ Movies 356 Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition xiv 02_579371 ftoc.qxd 12/27/04 7:55 PM Page xiv Chapter 19: Windows-Only Media Formats and Programs . . . . . . . .359 Commercial. DVD-ROM 407 Booting from a Linux floppy disk 408 What You Find in Fedora Core 3 408 If You’ve Got Problems (Of the DVD-ROM Kind) 409 Index 411 Linux For Dummies, 6th Edition xvi 02_579371 ftoc.qxd