Welcome, and feel free to introduce yourself

[isadora]

Pinkfloydfan, a very warm welcome to the Mageia forum and community!!!!

Who could not be a fan?
Anyway, whenever you find the time, have a read at:
https://www.mageia.org/en/contribute/

And maybe we see you around, being part of the making of...

Have magical times around.

[TartanGargoyle]

Message from Canada

All within a few weeks..

It all started with a blue screen of death on a refurbished Lenovo laptop. I had no recovery CD because it was refurbished. I did have an old update version of he OS I had. I borowed a full version of an OS and tried that. The OS asked for assisted recovery console which was not going to work with this incident. I recorded the messages I was shown on the blue screen and researched them. The three main files are corrupted. One that loads the OS. One that indexes the drive and a third. Start up of lastest version or loading last configuration, or other wouldn't work. I didn't believe the drive itself was damaged. I did know my files should still be intact.

I purchased an external hard drive enclosure and removed the hard drive from the laptop. I attached it with the enclosure on an imac and transferred all the files to the desktop for safe storage. I tried several things to make it work. Then I remembered something.

Mandriva 2008 which I had tried in the past was sitting in a jewel case in the corner of the room. I had a second 2.5 inch laptop drive from Toshiba 30 Gig and purchased a second enclosure for it. I installed Mandriva and booted it via USB. I quickly discovered that there were no updates and that a 2011 version was available. So I burned an ISO image using k3B software. I Instaled that. After three days, I read about Mageia 3. So I did the same thing. I discovered there were some programs I liked including k3b that were not on this release. It went from there.

I've been using Mageia 3 for a few days. I am receiving messages that version 4 is now out, So I downloaded the current ISO version to be installed sometime within a week from now. This is what I like about Linux and this distributon I'm working with:

During installation, I configured my wireless connection to access the internet without having to install any drivers for devices ahead of time. I don't need an ethernet cable either. Within minutes of opening Dolphin I was able to access the imac desktop via smb without ANY configuration of any kind and have the capability of copying files from that computer to this laptop. Mageia 3 immediately installed all updates to the OS without me having to touch a browser. My wife is using Chromeboks through her employer. I installed Chromium browser and hangout app to deal with that. I installed another browser called Opera because I like having multiple things going all the time. Another program I searched for was Pitivi video. Again, flawless install. What I like about Mageia control center is that it will tell the user if Mageia project supports a program or if it is not recommended in case the program may do something to the stability of the system. I then read about xdosemu. I installed that. Now brings memories of monochrome screens on 286 & 386 machines. Running MS Dos 3.11 or 6.22. This was my first experiences with commands in a shell. Then I read about Wine. I installed that. I have a Family Tree Maker program from 2006 that is not supported by the other OS after XP. Now I can run the program. I installed that. it worked. So does the program. I looked at Libre Office and looked at what files you can save documents in. I remember Open Office, so this was a reminder update of what can be done. With Dolphin I can access the hard drive in the laptop that has the corrupted OS. I can see the directories, folders, and files.

After reading this, a question must be answered. Am I impressed? Yes. Will I continue to use Mageia? Yes. Dual boot? Yes. I think it may turn out to be my primary OS until I find spare change for the purchased one. And that will be the secondary on a dual boot system just because of the programs I need to run.

The only thing that Linux in general won't do, is run a regular purchased or rented movie on DVD.

I am a user of computers. I have a College diploma in archives and another in help desk. I can configure networks, install hardware and OS. I am not a computer engineer, nor programmer. I do like this OS. I've seen others on youtube. Ive seen what others say about other distrubutions, but my experiences tell me to stick with this one. I want to learn more about command lines as time goes on to make it easier for installs and updates.

[isadora]

TartanGargoyle, first a very warm welcome to the Mageia-forum and community!!!
Second, your story is the first i am reading in this still early hours in the (Dutch) morning, and it gives me the right vibes, to make this day a great one.
Great to read your way of experience, gliding into our latest and brand-new release.
I hope you will enjoy for a long time!!!!

[filip]

Welcome TartanGargoyle. Nice to read your story.

The only thing that Linux in general won't do, is run a regular purchased or rented movie on DVD.

Not out of the box. This thread might help you. Or search for libdvdcss2 or lib64dvdcss2. I don't know if it's legal in Canada tough.

[TartanGargoyle]

I heard about the two, and not sure about legalities in Canada but plan to look into it.

[orotom]

Hi everybody,

I have been a computer user for the last 25 years or so - dependent on MS for a long time until they tried to murder me with Windows 8. That was the final straw...
So, like many others, I migrated to Linux - what a wonderful world I discovered. I had no previous experience with Linux , it was a jump into cold water. Naturally, my next step was to become a distrohopper like everybody else entering Linux territory. I moved from distro to distro, learning Linux and the differences between them. I became a Linux freak in no time, committed to being a Linux missionary to MS pagans. I have approximately 50 DVD discs with many distros in my juvel box.
In the end, I settled, at least for now with Mageia, Chakra and Bodhi. My flavor - Mageia being # 1. Each of them is different and I like them all. By no means would I consider myself a computer geek, but at the same time I have complete mobility with Linux. Sometimes I produce a bucket of sweat when I'm trying to solve temporary difficulties but I guess that's normal. I'm too old to grasp all the secrets of Linux, but I'm doing my best to solve some problems at the very least.
I hope that Linux will become a more dominant OS for regular folks. In the meantime, I'm preaching LInux to anyone who is unlucky to find themselves in my way - ask my family members...

Best wishes to you all ,Tom

[isadora]

And it's wonderful to have you aroundorotom!!!

Welcome to the Mageia community, and.......whenever the time may be there, don't hesitate, to consider support for our magical distribution.

[ed]

I am of the older generation and have been using Linux for many years. In 2008, 9 and 10, Mandriva was my workhorse, and I used it for 80% of my work. When Mandriva went downhill I tried many alternates including Mageia 1, 2 and 3, however, it was not up to my expectations. For the last couple of years Kubuntu has been my workhorse, and I am still using Linux for 80 - 90% of my work. (I am a member of the local Linux users group where we try all the new versions and many good programs, and I also help a lot of seniors when they have problems with their computers, usually the Windows operating system.)
When Mageia 4 came out I was in hopes that I could switch to it for my work. They have obviously put a lot of work into having very modern technology running the system, and have added or upgraded a lot of programs. Unfortunately, it still has too many things that bother me. I will list them below to record my feelings and to find what others think.

MAGEIA 4
Disappointments
1. Separate User and Root passwords. Some competitors use one password and request it for special requirements.
2. Have to click on user name before typing password. (a nuisance)
3. Can't open Firefox in second window without clicking “Start new instance” first. (BIG nuisance)
4. Can't open Dolphin in second window without clicking “Start new instance” first. (BIG nuisance)
5. A lot of good programs have to be installed after installation. (Flashplayer, VLC, Clementine, etc)
6. Have to add Tainted releases after installation (may be a legal requirement, but will be missed by all but advanced Linux users.)
7. Printers do not install automatically when plugged in.
8. My Epson Stylus CX7800 printer did not install properly. Second try worked, but left first try as default.
9. Takes ages to shut down. (Longest of any Linux I have tried)

[isadora]

Very warm welcome to the Mageia-forum and community Ed.

Also good reading your experiences, and especially reading about the culprits you encountered.
Advisable would be, opening seperate topics for your issues.

Have magical times around!

[filip]

MAGEIA 4
Disappointments
1. Separate User and Root passwords. Some competitors use one password and request it for special requirements.
2. Have to click on user name before typing password. (a nuisance)
3. Can't open Firefox in second window without clicking “Start new instance” first. (BIG nuisance)
4. Can't open Dolphin in second window without clicking “Start new instance” first. (BIG nuisance)
5. A lot of good programs have to be installed after installation. (Flashplayer, VLC, Clementine, etc)
6. Have to add Tainted releases after installation (may be a legal requirement, but will be missed by all but advanced Linux users.)
7. Printers do not install automatically when plugged in.
8. My Epson Stylus CX7800 printer did not install properly. Second try worked, but left first try as default.
9. Takes ages to shut down. (Longest of any Linux I have tried)

Hi ed and welcome.

This thread is actually a self introduction thread but anyway here are my experiences:
1. You can already do that but personally I consider that very unsafe.
2. You can configure that in KDE settings (login screen section, last tab: focus on password field). Note that I translated that from my language so some words can be a bit different. I agree it would be convenient if that would be default. I don't know if it is already.
3. It opens here directly in Firefox.
4. It opens here directly in Dolphin.
5. and 6. MageiaWelcome is intended to improve that. To me it doesn't look advanced but the opposite. Very user friendly especially to the newcomers.
7. I agree it could be improved.
8. Cannot comment as HP works here as it should.
9. My experience is the opposite. A bit subjective as I didn't time it but at least 2nd place on speed power off list.

So please open a separate thread as isadora suggested.

[doktor5000]

7. Printers do not install automatically when plugged in.

But they should, if the installation does not start that's abug and should be reported, after searching if it hasn't been reported yet already: https://wiki.mageia.org/en/How_to_report_a_bug_properly

8. My Epson Stylus CX7800 printer did not install properly. Second try worked, but left first try as default.

Well, if we don't know why it didn't work the first time, then we cannot even try to fix that issue.

[jiml8]

1. Separate User and Root passwords. Some competitors use one password and request it for special requirements.

I personally will not use any distro that does not do this. In fact, one of my very first complaints about Ubuntu was the "sudo su -" mechanism which is, IMO, not the way to do it.

2. Have to click on user name before typing password. (a nuisance)

Configurable

3. Can't open Firefox in second window without clicking “Start new instance” first. (BIG nuisance)

I suppose that is configurable, but I open firefox in a new window any time I want to just by clicking on its icon, so I guess I'm not even sure what the problem is here.

4. Can't open Dolphin in second window without clicking “Start new instance” first. (BIG nuisance)

Same comment as firefox; I have no idea what you have done.

5. A lot of good programs have to be installed after installation. (Flashplayer, VLC, Clementine, etc)

And this is different from ANY other operating system - including Windows - how, exactly?

6. Have to add Tainted releases after installation (may be a legal requirement, but will be missed by all but advanced Linux users.)

And this is true of all Linux distros.

7. Printers do not install automatically when plugged in.

No comment about that; my printer was found and installed when I went from Mandriva 2010 to Mageia 2 as a clean install...

8. My Epson Stylus CX7800 printer did not install properly. Second try worked, but left first try as default.

No comment at all; I've never tried that printer and have no idea what the problem might have been.

9. Takes ages to shut down. (Longest of any Linux I have tried)

I seldom shutdown, and when I do the amount of time it takes varies considerably, depending on how much was running when I commanded the shutdown. I guess I don't consider my system to be out of line in its shutdown time, though I do have some embedded systems that shut down a lot faster.

[JJF]

After 3 years with Mint I decided to return to (Mandriva) Mageia looking for successful experience.
I am relatively new to Linux and probably will visit the forum frequently
I remember the ease of installation and friendly overall features of Mageia predecessor willing to enjoy it as well.
JJF

[isadora]

Very welcome to the Mageia-forum and community JJF!!!!!

Returning from earlier experiences with Mandriva, will probably make you feel at home.

Have magical times around!!!!

[Augier]

Hi there !

I'm here to feed that pretty long thread. So, let me introduce myself.

I'm Augier, 23 yo male computer science student. I switched ti Mageia fex months ago, after having been trying to switch to Ubuntu for 2 years.
I presently live in Paris (I'm french, so feel free to insult me if i'm making language mistakes) and I'm establishing a webradio with a fex friends and I hope the computers to run Mageia !

See you !

[isadora]

The thread can not get long enough, and you are helping pretty well, tahnks for that.

A very warm welcome Augier, and enjoy our community and forum.!!!!

[waleed]

Greeting from Sudan
Hi
My names is Waleed and i am from Sudan, my personal laptop clean since 2011 i started with Ubuntu then Fedora and at the last i stuck with my lovely Mageia about three months ago
I am really glad to be here with the warm, kind and helpful Mageia family.
I am really impressed by Mageia the stable strong easy to use distro and Mageia's community who make a big effort to produce this piece of art.

[isadora]

A very warm welcome to the Mageia-forum and community waleed!!!!!

Our community is spreading in all directions on this planet, and now also to Sudan.
Hope you have a great and magical time around, enjoy!!!!!!

[nayabbashasayed]

Hello friends.. I am basha. How r u?

[isadora]

Very welcome to the Mageia forum and community nayabbashasayed!!!!

[castell73]

Hi all!

I'm from spain, catalan language user, and just arrived to this awesome distro.

I don't have very much experience in linux, I expect to learn a lot with you guys, have fun and help the mageia community.

Very glad to be here!

Castell73

[isadora]

Enthusiasm, that's the spirit!!!
Great to have you here castell73.
Enjoy Mageia and the community who makes it.

[bhupendra]

My name is Bhupendra Bhatt. I have been using Linux for 10 years. I once tried out Mandrake. I have now managed to install Mageia 4 on a partition, the others being Xubuntu 13.10 and Fedora 20. I quite like Mageia. I have different flavours of Linux installed to learn about different package managements in various distros. I also liked Arch Linux and Manjaro. My web url is www.bhupendra.me.uk.

[isadora]

And a very warm welcome to you too bhupendra!!!!

Enjoy, being part of our magical community!!!

[anduilas]

Hello,
i just wanted to introduce myself a little bit.
Some of you may remember me as Andrake from MandrivaUser.de though i never got the chance to really get involved due to personal problems.

My name is Harry and im from Vienna, Austria. I'm 37 Years old now.

First contact with linux would be around 20 years in the past.

Sadly i have to admit i never got past the "trial" with linux.
As unlikely as it seams each time i started my linux trials real life began to interfere with it due to harddisk crash, illness, new work...

Now i'll try a new run to get away from Bill Gates Microsoft
Hold your thumbs, please.