Official

User Guide
Linux Mint
Main Edition
Page 1 of 50
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION TO LINUX MINT ........................................................................................ 4
HISTORY......................................................................................................................................... 4
PURPOSE......................................................................................................................................... 4
VERSION NUMBERS AND CODENAMES ..........................................................................................5
EDITIONS........................................................................................................................................ 6
WHERE TO FIND HELP...................................................................................................................6
INSTALLATION OF LINUX MINT .......................................................................................... 7
DOWNLOAD THE ISO.....................................................................................................................7
VIA TORRENT.................................................................................................................................. 7
Install a Torrent client..................................................................................................................... 8
Download te Torrent file...............................................................................................................8
VIA A DO!N"OAD #IRROR..............................................................................................................8
READ THE RELEASE NOTES..........................................................................................................8
CHECK THE MD5........................................................................................................................... 9
BURN THE ISO TO DVD..............................................................................................................1
BOOT THE LIVEDVD...................................................................................................................11
INSTALL LINUX MINT ON YOUR HARD DRIVE...........................................................................1!
THE BOOT SE"UENCE..................................................................................................................19
INTRODUCTION TO THE LINUX MINT DESKTOP ......................................................... !1
THE #NOME DESKTOP................................................................................................................!1
DESKTOP SETTIN#S..................................................................................................................... !1
$ETTIN$ TO %NO! T&E #EN'......................................................................................................()
Te *Places+ ,en-........................................................................................................................ ()
Te *./ste,+ ,en-...................................................................................................................... (5
Te *A00lications+ ,en-.............................................................................................................(1
Te *.earc+ field........................................................................................................................)1
DE2INE 3O'R 2AVORITE APP"I4ATION.........................................................................................)(
#A%E 3O'R O!N .&ORT4'T.......................................................................................................)(
"A'N4& APP"I4ATION. A'TO#ATI4A""3 !&EN 3O' "O$ IN.......................................................)(
4&AN$E T&E APPEARAN4E O2 T&E #EN'....................................................................................)(
A4TIVATE T&E RE4ENT P"'$5IN...................................................................................................))
RE.TORE T&E DE2A'"T .ETTIN$..................................................................................................)6
REP"A4E T&E #EN' !IT& T&E DE2A'"T $NO#E #EN'...............................................................)6
SOFTWARE MANA#EMENT ................................................................................................. $5
PACKA#E MANA#EMENT IN LINUX MINT..................................................................................$5
T&E .O2T!ARE #ANA$ER...........................................................................................................60
T&E #EN'.................................................................................................................................... 60
.3NAPTI4 7 APT.......................................................................................................................... 60
Page ( of 50
REMOVE APPLICATIONS..............................................................................................................41
2RO# T&E #EN'..........................................................................................................................61
'.IN$ APT................................................................................................................................... 6(
.3NAPTI4...................................................................................................................................... 6(
UPDATE YOUR SYSTEM AND YOUR APPLICATIONS.....................................................................4!
'.IN$ T&E 'PDATE #ANA$ER.....................................................................................................6)
TIPS AND TRICKS .................................................................................................................... 47
COPY AND PASTE WITH THE MOUSE...........................................................................................47
TAKES NOTES WITH TOMBOY.....................................................................................................48
ARCHIVE EMAILS AND WEBSITES AS PDF..................................................................................49
CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 5
Page ) of 50
I%&'()*+&,(% &( L,%*- M,%&
"in-8 #int is a co,0-ter o0erating s/ste, designed to wor9 on ,ost ,odern s/ste,s:
incl-ding t/0ical 88; and 8;6 P4s.
"in-8 #int can <e to-gt of as filling te sa,e role as #icrosoft=s !indows: A00le=s
#ac O.: and te free >.D O.. "in-8 #int is also designed to wor9 in con?-nction wit
oter o0erating s/ste,s @incl-ding tose listed a<oAeB: and can a-to,aticall/ set -0 a
*d-al <oot+ or *,-lti5<oot+ enAiron,ent @were te -ser is 0ro,0ted as to wic
o0erating s/ste, to start at eac <oot5-0B d-ring its installation.
"in-8 #int is a great o0erating s/ste, for indiAid-als and for co,0anies.
H,.&('/
"in-8 #int is a Aer/ ,odern o0erating s/ste,C Its deAelo0,ent started in (00;. It is:
oweAer: <-ilt -0on Aer/ ,at-re and 0roAen software la/ers: incl-ding te "in-8 9ernel:
te $N' tools and te $no,e des9to0. It also relies on te '<-nt- and De<ian 0ro?ects
and -ses teir s/ste,s as a <ase.
Te "in-8 #int 0ro?ect foc-ses on ,a9ing te des9to0 ,ore -sa<le and ,ore efficient
for eAer/da/ tas9s 0erfor,ed </ reg-lar -sers. 'nderneat te des9to0 te o0erating
s/ste, also 0roAides a -ge collection of aAaila<le software and a Aer/ well integrated
set of serAices.
"in-8 #int saw a ra0id rise in 0o0-larit/ and ,ore and ,ore 0eo0le -se it eAer/ da/.
P*'0(.1
Te 0-r0ose of "in-8 #int is to 0roAide a des9to0 o0erating s/ste, tat o,e -sers and
co,0anies can -se at no cost and wic is as efficient: eas/ to -se: and elegant as
0ossi<le.
One of te a,<itions of te "in-8 #int 0ro?ect is to <eco,e te <est o0erating s/ste,
aAaila<le </ ,a9ing it eas/ for 0eo0le to get to -se adAanced tecnologies: rater tan </
si,0lif/ing te, @and tere</ red-cing teir ca0a<ilitiesB: or </ co0/ing te a00roaces
ta9en </ oter deAelo0ers.
Te goal is to deAelo0 o-r own idea of te ideal des9to0. !e tin9 tat it is <est to ,a9e
te ,ost o-t of te ,odern tecnologies tat e8ist -nder "in-8 and ,a9e it eas/ for
eAer/<od/ to -se its ,ost adAanced feat-res.

Page 6 of 50
V1'.,(% %*231'. 4%) +()1%421.
Version n-,<ers and codena,es follow a -niD-e logic in "in-8 #intE
5 4odena,es 0roAide a wa/ to refer to Aersions of "in-8 #int tat is ,ore fa,iliar
tan -sing a Aersion n-,<er.
5 .ince Aersion 5: "in-8 #int as followed a ; ,onts release c/cle and -ses a
si,0lified Aersion sce,e. Te Aersion n-,<er si,0l/ gets incre,ented eAer/ ;
,onts.
5 If reAisions are ,ade to a 0artic-lar release @a <it li9e .erAice Pac9s in !indowsB
its Aersion n-,<er gets a ,inor reAision incre,ent. 2or instance *)+ <eco,es
*).1+.
5 4odena,es in "in-8 #int are alwa/s fe,ale na,es ending wit *a+. Te/ follow
te al0a<etical order and te first letter of te codena,e corres0onds to te inde8
of te Aersion n-,<er in te al0a<et.
.o far "in-8 #int as -sed te following codena,esE
V1'.,(% C()1%421
1.0 Ada
(.0 >ar<ara
(.1 >ea
(.( >ianca
).0 4assandra
).1 4elena
6.0 Dar/na
5 El/ssa
; 2elicia
7 $loria
8 &elena
1 Isadora
10 F-lia
11 %at/a

Page 5 of 50

E),&,(%.
An Edition is a release of "in-8 #int wic is c-sto,iGed to address a certain set of
needs. Tis g-ide coAers te #ain Edition. &ere are so,e of te ,ost 0o0-lar editionsE
#ain Edition @-ses a $no,e des9to0B
%DE Edition @-ses a %DE des9to0B
H24E Edition @-ses an H24E des9to0B
If /o- donIt 9now wic edition to -se: /o- so-ld coose te #ain Edition.
NoteE If /o- intend to redistri<-te or to ,a9e co,,ercial -se of "in-8 #int in te '.A
or in Fa0an and if /o-Ire not s-re a<o-t 0atent legislation /o- so-ld -se te *4D No
4odecs+ installation i,ages.
W51'1 &( 6,%) 5170
Te "in-8 #int co,,-nit/ is Aer/ el0f-l and Aer/ actiAe. If /o- aAe D-estions or a
0ro<le, related to "in-8 #int: /o- so-ld <e a<le to get el0 fro, oter -sers online.
2irst: ,a9e s-re to register wit te *"in-8 #int 2or-,s+. Tis is te Aer/ first 0lace
were /o- can find el0E tt0EJJwww.lin-8,int.co,Jfor-,.
If /o- want to cat wit oter -sers /o- can connect to te IR4 cat roo,. 'nder "in-8
#int si,0l/ la-nc *H4at+ fro, te ,en-. If /o-Ire -sing anoter o0erating s/ste, or
anoter IR4 client ,a9e s-re to connect to te *irc.s0otcat.org+ serAer and to ?oin te
cannels *Klin-8,int5el0+ and *Klin-8,int5cat+.
"in-8 #int -ses '<-nt- re0ositories @,ore on wat tis ,eans laterB and is f-ll/
co,0ati<le wit it so ,ost of te reso-rces: articles: t-torials: and software ,ade for
'<-nt- also wor9 for "in-8 #int. If /o- canIt find el0 on a s0ecific s-<?ect: ,a9e s-re
to searc on te sa,e s-<?ect for '<-nt-.
Note: Ubuntu is another operating system based on GNU/Linux.
Note: A repository is an online service by which software is stored and made available for the operating
system to install and update from. ost operating systems based on GNU/Linux use repositories and
connect to them via !""# or $"# to install and upgrade their software.
Page ; of 50
I%.&4774&,(% (6 L,%*- M,%&
3o- can download te "in-8 #int o0erating s/ste, for free. It co,es as an I.O file
wic /o- need to <-rn to a <lan9 DVD. Te liAeDVD is ten <oota<le and 0roAides a
f-ll/5f-nctional o0erating s/ste, wic /o- can tr/ wito-t affecting /o-r P4. In
la/,an=s ter,s: wen /o- 0-t "in-8 #int on a DVD and 0lace it into /o-r co,0-ter: /o-
can tr/ it o-t wile leaAing /o-r c-rrent s/ste, intact.
Note: %t is also possible to write the %&' image to a U&( stic) or other memory device and boot from that*
or to boot from the %&' image on the hard drive* but these options are somewhat more advanced and the
method presented here is recommended. $or help with alternative methods of installing and running Linux
int* please visit the forums.
If /o- li9e wat /o- see wen r-nning te liAeDVD /o- can decide to install te s/ste,
to /o-r ard driAe. All te necessar/ tools @0artitioning and installation toolsB are 0resent
on te DVD.
D(8%7(4) &51 ISO
NoteE If /o- don=t aAe a <road<and connection: or if /o-r Internet access is too slow /o-
can order te DVD fro, tis we< siteE tt0EJJwww.osdisc.co,
Oterwise: /o- can Aisit te "in-8 #int download 0age ereE
tt0EJJwww.lin-8,int.co,Jdownload.00
Ten coose te edition /o-=re interested in.
2ro, tis 0age: /o- so-ld <e a<le to findE
an #D5 signat-re
a torrent lin9
a list of download ,irrors
Te file /o- need to download is an I.O file. Tere are two wa/s to download tis file:
</ torrent @a Peer to Peer 0rotocolB or Aia a download ,irror @&TTP or 2TP 0rotocolB.
Once /o-r download is finised: /o- can ens-re /o-r I.O file isnIt corr-0ted </
cec9ing its signat-re wit te #D5.
V,4 T(''1%&
Torrent is a Peer to Peer @P(PB 0rotocol. >asicall/: instead of downloading fro, a central
location: a torrent lets /o- download te I.O file in 0arts fro, different 0eo0le across te
Internet.
Page 7 of 50
Te ,ore 0eo0le wo download te I.O file: te faster te download s0eed gets. Tis is
te 0referred and reco,,ended wa/ to download "in-8 #int.
I%.&477 4 T(''1%& +7,1%&
3o- need a 0iece of software called a *torrent client+ in order to download files Aia
torrent.
If /o- r-n "in-8: /o- can install *Trans,ission+. If /o- r-n "in-8 #int: Trans,ission is
alread/ installed.
If /o- r-n !indows: /o- can -se V-Ge @ tt0EJJaG-re-s.so-rceforge.netJ B.
D(8%7(4) &51 T(''1%& 6,71
Te ne8t ste0 is to follow te torrent lin9 fro, te "in-8 #int we<site and to download
te .torrent file. Tis file is Aer/ s,all. After it downloads: /o- so-ld o0en it wit /o-r
torrent client.
Te torrent client will 0ro<a<l/ as9 /o- were /o- want to saAe te I.O. .elect a
destination and ten wait for te download to co,0lete.
2or ,ore infor,ation a<o-t te torrent 0rotocol: AisitE
tt0EJJen.wi9i0edia.orgJwi9iJ>itTorrent
V,4 4 )(8%7(4) 2,''('
If /o- canIt: or do not coose to -se te torrent 0rotocol: ten loo9 at te list of download
,irrors and 0ic9 one of te,. Te/Ill 0roAide a lin9 to te I.O file itself wic /o- can
?-st clic9 to start te download.
NoteE Re,e,<er tat <andwidt is li,ited to-g and te ,ore 0eo0le download fro, a
,irror: te slower te download s0eed gets for eAer/<od/ wo is downloading fro, tat
,irror. 2-rter,ore: if for so,e reason te download so-ld <e interr-0ted: it ,a/ <e
corr-0ted and te download ,a/ aAe to <e restarted. 2or tese reasons it ,igt <e
wortwile -sing a download ,anager: li9e for "in-8: or for !indows: if ta9ing tis
ro-te.
R14) &51 R1714.1 N(&1.
3o-r download is 0ro<a<l/ going to last at least an o-r: so now wo-ld <e te 0erfect
ti,e for /o- to get fa,iliar wit te new feat-res co,ing wit te release /o-Ire
c-rrentl/ downloading.
Te release notes are feat-red on te "in-8 #int we< 0age and answer te following
D-estionsE
!at are te new feat-res deliAered in tis releaseL
Page 8 of 50
!at are te 9nown 0ro<le,s of tis releaseL
&ow do I -0grade fro, te 0reAio-s releaseL
Te/ also contain screensots of te latest release. Of co-rse: /o- co-ld find o-t a<o-t
,ost feat-res igligted in te release notes </ si,0l/ -sing te o0erating s/ste,: <-t
/o- ,igt ,iss a few tings: so it is ,ost relia<le to read te release notes.
Te release notes for "in-8 #int 11 %at/a are aAaila<le ereE
tt0EJJwww.lin-8,int.co,JrelM 9at/a .00
C51+9 &51 MD5
3o-IAe read te release notes: /o- ?-st canIt wait to 0la/ wit te new feat-res or tr/
"in-8 #int: and /o-r download ?-st finised s-ccessf-ll/. 3o-Ire read/ to <-rn a DVD
and to <oot on itN <-t e/O !ait for a secondO
If tat DVD is fa-lt/ /o- will e80erience weird <-gs and will aAe a lot of tro-<le
finding el0. Te two ,ost co,,on reasons for a DVD to <e fa-lt/ areE
An iss-e wit te download ca-sing 0ro<le,s in /o-r I.O file
An error d-ring te <-rn 0rocess tat alters te contents of /o-r <-rned liAeDVD
Te #D5 signat-re: wic is 0resent on te download 0age: 0roAides a D-ic9 wa/ for
/o- to ,a9e s-re tat /o-r I.O file is e8actl/ li9e it so-ld <e. .o: letIs cec9 te I.O
file /o- ?-st downloaded <efore we <-rn it and saAe o-rselAes fro, a lot of 0otential
0ro<le,s.
If /o- r-n an/ Aersion of "in-8 /o- 0ro<a<l/ alread/ aAe te ,d5s-, 0rogra,
installed. O0en a ter,inal and *cd+ to te director/ were /o-r I.O file is @for instance: if
*lin-8,int5gno,e5i)8;.iso+ is on te Des9to0B: o0en a ter,inal and t/0eE
cd ~/Desktop
md5sum linuxmint-gnome-i386.iso
Tis co,,and so-ld o-t0-t a series of n-,<ers and letters wic co,0rise te #D5
s-,: or signat-re: of /o-r I.O file. >/ design: an/ s,all cange to te I.O file will ca-se
tis signat-re to <e significantl/ different: allowing -s to Aerif/ tat te file is e8actl/ as
it so-ld <e.
4o,0are tat signat-re wit te one on te download 0age of te "in-8 #int we<site. If
te two signat-res are te sa,e: ten /o- 9now /o-r I.O file is e8actl/ te sa,e as te
original and /o- can now get read/ to <-rn it on DVD
If /o- a00en to r-n !indows: cances are /o- donIt aAe ,d5s-, installed. 3o- can
get it fro, ereE tt0EJJwww.etree.orgJ,d5co,.t,l
Page 1 of 50
Place te I.O file and te ,d5s-,.e8e in te sa,e 0lace @letIs sa/ in 4EPB and r-n
*c,d.e8e+. In te co,,and line enAiron,ent: t/0e te following co,,andsE
C:
cd \
md5sum linuxmint-gnome-i386.iso
Ten co,0are te signat-re to te one 0resent on te we<site.
B*'% &51 ISO &( DVD
Now tat /o- aAe cec9ed te I.O file wit #D5: /o- are read/ to <-rn it to a DVD.
Note: Linux int also provides images which fit on +,,( -.s. %f you can/t burn .0.s please use the -.
images instead.
$et a <lan9 DVD5R @a DVD5R! so-ld wor9 as well: <-t tis t/0e of ,edia is 9nown to
aAe co,0ati<ilit/ iss-esB and /o-r faAorite ,ar9er and la<el te DVD. Alto-g
la<eling /o-r DVDs so-nds triAial: /o- so-ld <e s-re to do so: as /o- can easil/ end -0
wit (0 -nla<eled and -nidentifia<le discs on /o-r des9. EB
Insert te <lan9 DVD5R in te driAe and get read/ to <-rn te I.O.
If /o-Ire r-nning "in-8 wit $no,e rigt5clic9 on te I.O file and select *!rite to
Disc+.
If /o-Ire r-nning "in-8 wit %DE: la-nc %)> and in te *Tools+ ,en- coose *!rite
I.O I,age+.
If /o-=re r-nning "in-8 and wo-ld li9e to -se te ter,inal: fro, te director/ /o- aAe
downloaded te i,age toE
cdrecord -v -dao dev=1,0,0 linuxmint-gnome-i386.iso
Re0lacing te n-,<ers after deAQ wit te a00ro0riate deAice n-,<er for /o-r disc driAe.
3o- can r-n
cdrecord -scanbus
to find tis o-t. 3o- ,a/ need to <e root to r-n tese co,,ands.
If /o-Ire r-nning !indows /o- can -se a 0rogra, li9e InfraRecorderE
tt0EJJinfrarecorder.so-rceforge.netJL0ageMidQ5
Note: a)e sure to burn the %&' image to dis)* and not to write the %&' file to the dis). A very common
mista)e* especially for people using Nero* is to actually burn the %&' file on the dis) as a data file. "he %&'
file is an image of a dis) so it needs to be burnt not as a file which will appear on the dis)* but as an %&'
image which will be decompressed and whose content will be burnt onto the disc. After burning the .0.
you shouldn/t see the %&' file within the disc* but rather folders li)e 1casper2 or 1isolinux2. ost burning
software has a special option for this.
Page 10 of 50
B((& &51 L,:1DVD
Place te DVD in te driAe and restart te co,0-ter. 3o- so-ld now see te following
screenE
Note: %f you don3t see this screen and your #- boots as usual it3s probably because your (%'& is not set to
boot on .0.. 4estart the computer and press $5* $6* .elete* or 7scape 8or whatever )ey lets you enter the
(%'& configuration9 and change your (%'& settings to tell your computer to boot from its .0. drive.
Page 11 of 50
I%.&477 L,%*- M,%& (% /(*' H4') D',:1
2ro, te first screen coose te defa-lt *.tart "in-8 #int+ o0tion and 0ress Enter.
After a little wile te liAe s/ste, so-ld <e read/ and /o- so-ld see te des9to0E
Page 1( of 50
At tis stage "in-8 #int is not installed on /o-r co,0-ter: itIs si,0l/ r-nning fro, te
DVD. Te s/ste, /o- aAe in front of /o- is: oweAer: al,ost e8actl/ te sa,e as te
one /o- will aAe on /o-r co,0-ter after te installation is finised.
&aAe f-n wit it and see if /o- li9e it. >ear in ,ind tat wen r-nning fro, te DVD:
"in-8 #int r-ns significantl/ slower tan it does wen it is installed on a ard driAe:
since it as to read data fro, te DVD driAe: wic is a slower ,edi-, tan te ard
driAe.
!en /o- are read/: do-<le5clic9 on te *Install "in-8 #int+ icon located on te
des9to0. Te Installer a00earsE
If /o- aAenIt read te release notes /et: and /o- aAe an Internet connection: ten tis
an ideal o00ort-nit/ to reAiew te,C si,0l/ clic9 on te -nderlined lin9. It is igl/
reco,,ended tat -sers read te release notes prior to installation in order to adAise
te,selAes of new feat-res: as well as an/ iss-es tat ,igt affect teir 0artic-lar
ardware config-ration.
.elect /o-r lang-age and 0ress te *2orward+ <-tton.
Page 1) of 50
In te ne8t screen: ,a9e s-re /o-=re connected to a 0ower so-rce @if /o-=re -sing a
la0to0B: te Internet and tat /o- aAe te reco,,ended a,o-nt of dis9 s0ace. Ten
0ress te *2orward+ <-tton.
In te ne8t screen /o- can assign /o-r entire ard driAe to "in-8 #int or install it
alongside oter o0erating s/ste,s. AlternatiAel/: /o- can also define and assign te
0artitions ,an-all/.
If /o- coose to -se te entire dis9: its content will <e erased and "in-8 #int will
<e installed as te onl/ o0erating s/ste, on /o-r co,0-ter.
If /o- coose to install it alongside oter o0erating s/ste,s: te installer will -se
te free s0ace aAaila<le on oter 0artitions to create a new one for "in-8 #int.
Page 16 of 50
3o- will <e as9ed ow ,-c s0ace /o- want to allocate to it. Te installer will
ten srin9 a 0artition and ta9e care of eAer/ting for /o-. Post5installation /o-r
co,0-ter will aAe a <oot screen fro, wic /o-=ll <e a<le to <oot all /o-r
o0erating s/ste,s.
If /o- coose to s0ecif/ 0artitions ,an-all/: a 0artition editor will a00ear: giAing
/o- f-ll control oAer te 0artitioning of /o-r ard driAe. Tis is reco,,ended
onl/ to adAanced -sers wo -nderstand ow 0artitioning wor9s -nder "in-8. Note
tat "in-8 #int reD-ires a 0artition of at least )$> and tat te reco,,ended
siGe for a swa0 0artition is 1.5 ti,es te a,o-nt of RA# aAaila<le on te
co,0-ter.
4oose te a00ro0riate o0tion and clic9 on te *2orward+ <-tton.
Te ne8t screen as9s /o- to confir,. !en read/ 0ress te *Install Now+ <-tton to start
te installation.
At tis stage: te installation is going on in te <ac9gro-nd and te installer as9s /o-
set-0 D-estionsE
Page 15 of 50
4oose /o-r location on te ,a0 </ clic9ing on te cit/ wic is te nearest to /o-. Te
0-r0ose of tis ste0 is to identif/ /o-r ti,e Gone. #a9e s-re te *4-rrent ti,e+ a00ears
correctl/ and clic9 te *2orward+ <-tton.
Note: &ometimes the installer doesn/t properly handle &ummer/:inter time ad;ustments* so even by
selecting the proper city you might see a difference of an hour or so with the correct time. &imply ignore
this at this stage and remember to ma)e sure that the time is correct after you reboot in your newly
installed Linux int des)top.
Page 1; of 50
.elect /o-r 9e/<oard la/o-t. If /o- are not s-re a<o-t e8actl/ wic la/o-t ,atces te
9e/<oard /o- aAe: clic9 on te te8t field at te <otto, of te screen and start t/0ing wit
/o-r 9e/<oard. #a9e s-re te 9e/s /o- 0ress ,atc te caracters tat a00ear in te te8t
field in order to ens-re /o- aAe selected te rigt 9e/<oard la/o-t. .o,e la/o-ts onl/
differ wit res0ect to accents: n-,<ers and 0-nct-ation signs: so ,a9e s-re to test tese
as well.
!en /o-Ire read/ clic9 te *2orward+ <-tton.
Enter /o-r real na,e and a -serna,e and 0assword. EAer/ ti,e /o-Ill -se "in-8 #int
/o-Ill -se /o-r acco-nt wit tis -serna,e and 0assword. Once "in-8 #int is installed
/o-Ill <e a<le to define oter acco-nts if oter 0eo0le are to -se tis co,0-ter.
Also giAe /o-r co,0-ter a na,e. Tis na,e will <e -sed </ /o-r co,0-ter on te
networ9 or in Aario-s 0laces of te s/ste,. If /o-IAe neAer reall/ to-gt a<o-t na,ing
/o-r co,0-ters: ten now is te ti,e. Peo0le co,,onl/ 0ic9 flower @dalia: rose: t-li0B
or 0lanet @,ars: ?-0iter: 0l-toB na,es for te co,0-ters on teir networ9. ItIs entirel/ -0
to /o- wat /o- want to -se: <-t ,a9e s-re to 0ic9 a na,e /o- li9e and tat /o- will
easil/ re,e,<er.
Note: -apital letters* spaces and special characters are not permitted in the username or in the name of
the computer.
If /o-=re te onl/ one -sing te co,0-ter and /o- want to </0ass te login screen: cec9
te o0tion *"og in a-to,aticall/+.
Page 17 of 50
!en /o-Ire read/ clic9 on te *2orward+ <-tton.
Te installer ,igt detect oter o0erating s/ste,s on /o-r co,0-ter and as9 /o- if /o-
want to ,igrate so,e 0ersonal infor,ation. T/0icall/ tis allows /o- to ,igrate
<oo9,ar9s: contacts: faAorites and oter sorts of 0ersonal infor,ation fro, oter
o0erating s/ste,s installed on /o-r ard dis9 driAe into te newl/ installed "in-8 #int.
!en /o-Ire read/ clic9 on te *2orward+ <-tton.
Page 18 of 50
Te installation so-ld ta9e <etween 10 and 15 ,in-tes.
Note: "he installer will download pac)ages from the %nternet to support the language you3ve selected. <our
computer needs to be connected to the %nternet for this to wor). 'therwise ;ust 1s)ip2 that step and you3ll
be able to add support for your language after the installation is finished and you3ve rebooted into your
new system.
Once te installation is done clic9 te *Restart Now+ <-tton and te liAeDVD
enAiron,ent will s-t down.
!en 0ro,0ted: re,oAe te DVD fro, te driAe and 0ress Enter.
3o-r P4 is now read/ to <oot "in-8 #int fro, te ard driAe.
T51 B((& .1;*1%+1
'0on re<oot: if /o- aAe ,ore tan one o0erating s/ste, installed: /o- so-ld see a
*<oot ,en-+.
Once "in-8 #int is finised loading /o- so-ld see a new screen inAiting /o- to enter
/o-r -serna,e and 0assword. Tis screen is te *$no,e "ogin #anager+ and is
co,,onl/ called *$D#+. Enter te 0assword /o- cose d-ring te installation.

Page 11 of 50
Note: (y default* your 1root2 password is the same as the password you chose during the installation. %f
you do not )now what this means* then don/t worry about it.
Page (0 of 50
I%&'()*+&,(% &( &51 L,%*- M,%& D1.9&(0
Tis section of te g-ide will foc-s on te tecnologies and te tools tat are s0ecific to
"in-8 #int and 0roAide infor,ation on so,e of te a00lications and tecnologies
incl-ded </ defa-lt in te #ain Edition.
T51 #%(21 D1.9&(0
Te *des9to0+ is te co,0onent of te o0erating s/ste, wic is res0onsi<le for te
ele,ents tat a00ear on te des9to0E Te Panel: te !all0a0er: te 4ontrol 4enter: te
,en-sNetc.
Te #ain Edition of "in-8 #int -ses te *$no,e+ des9to0 wic is <ot int-itiAe and
0owerf-l.
3o- can find te $no,e 'ser $-ide at tis addressE tt0EJJli<rar/.gno,e.orgJ-sersJ-ser5
g-ideJ(.)(J-ser5g-ide.t,l
D1.9&(0 S1&&,%<.
*Des9to0 .ettings+ is a tool deAelo0ed s0eciall/ for "in-8 #int wic allows /o- to
ra0idl/ config-re te as0ects of /o-r $no,e Des9to0 tat /o- will -se te ,ost.
Page (1 of 50
"a-nc it </ clic9ing on *#en-+ @in te <otto,5left corner of /o-r screenB: ten select
*Preferences+ and clic9 on *Des9to0 .ettings+.
Page (( of 50
Te #en-"in-8 #int co,es wit a -niD-e ,en-. Tis ,en- was initiall/ ins0ired </ te
*.la<+ ,en- deAelo0ed </ .'.E <-t differs fro, it in ,an/ wa/s.
"in-8 #int also co,es wit te defa-lt $no,e ,en- wic /o- can actiAate to re0lace
te "in-8 #int #en-: wic weIll learn ow to do later on. Te "in-8 #int #en- is:
oweAer: wort learning. Alto-g it is Aer/ different fro, wat /o- ,igt <e -sed to:
/o-Ill 0ro<a<l/ loAe it once /o-=Ae gotten -sed to it.
To o0en te ,en- clic9 on te *#en-+ <-tton at te <otto,5left corner of /o-r screen or
0ress 4TR"R.'PERM" @*.-0erM"+ is te left !indows 9e/ on /o-r 9e/<oardB.
#1&&,%< &( 9%(8 &51 21%*
T51 =P74+1.> 21%*
On te to0 left corner of te ,en- /o- can see a section called *Places+ wic 0roAides
fiAe <-ttons. Tese <-ttons giAe /o- D-ic9 access to te ,ost i,0ortant 0laces witin
/o-r $no,e Des9to0.
Page () of 50
Te *4o,0-ter+ Place sows /o- te storage Aol-,es 0resent in /o-r co,0-ter. If /o-r
0artitions are alread/ ,o-nted and *Des9to0 .ettings+ is set to sow *#o-nted
Vol-,es+ on te des9to0: ten /o- 0ro<a<l/ donIt need to access tis Place Aer/ often.
&oweAer: if /o- coose not to sow te ,o-nted Aol-,es on /o-r des9to0: or if /o-
need to ,o-nt a 0artition wic is not ,o-nted </ defa-lt: tis Place can 0roAe Aer/
-sef-l.
Page (6 of 50
In contrast: te *&o,e+ Place is one of te ,en- <-ttons /o-Ill 0ro<a<l/ -se te ,ost. If
/o-IAe -sed $no,e <efore: /o-Ire 0ro<a<l/ -sed to clic9ing on te *&o,e+ icon 0laced
on te des9to0. !en windows are o0ened and wen te des9to0 is not co,0letel/
Aisi<le: te ,en- can 0roAe -sef-l </ 0roAiding /o- wit a wa/ to D-ic9l/ access /o-r
*&o,e+.
3o-r *&o,e+ folder e8ists to giAe /o- a 0lace to 0-t all of /o-r 0ersonal data.
Te *Des9to0+ folder corres0onds to wat is sown on /o-r des9to0: so 0lacing a
file ere will also 0lace it on /o-r des9to0. Te sa,e effect can <e acieAed </
si,0l/ dragging te file onto te des9to0.
Te *Networ9+ Place si,0l/ sows /o- te oter co,0-ters: sared serAices:
do,ains: and wor9gro-0s 0resent on /o-r networ9.
Te *Tras+ Place is were files end -0 after /o- delete te,.
!en /o- rigt clic9 on a file /o- can eiter *#oAe to Tras+ or *Delete+. If /o- coose
to *Delete+: te file will <e 0er,anentl/ deleted and /o- nor,all/ wonIt <e a<le to
recoAer it. If /o- coose *#oAe to Tras+ it will <e ,oAed to te *Tras+ Place: wic is
accessi<le fro, te ,en-. 2ro, tere /o- will <e a<le to drag and dro0 it so,ewere
else if /o- want to restore it: 0er,anentl/ delete one or ,ore files: or select *E,0t/
Tras+ if /o- want to 0er,anentl/ delete all ite,s fro, te Tras.
T51 =S/.&12> 21%*
Tere is a section called *./ste,+ in te <otto, left corner of te ,en-. Tis section
0roAides si8 <-ttons wic let /o- D-ic9l/ access i,0ortant feat-res of te s/ste,.
Page (5 of 50
Te *.oftware #anager+ <-tton la-nces te "in-8 #int .oftware #anager. Tis
0rogra, is te reco,,ended wa/ to install software in "in-8 #int. !e will tal9 ,ore
a<o-t tis feat-re later onC for now: let=s e80lore te oter o0tions.
Page (; of 50
Te *Pac9age #anager+ <-tton la-nces an a00lication called *./na0tic+. Te 0-r0ose
of tis a00lication is to ,anage te 0ac9ages tat are installed on /o-r co,0-ter and te
0ac9ages tat are aAaila<le in te re0ositories. If tis doesnIt ,a9e ,-c sense to /o-
/et: donIt worr/: we will tal9 a<o-t 0ac9ages and ow te/ wor9 in greater detail later
on.
Te *4ontrol 4enter+ <-tton la-nces te $no,e 4ontrol 4enter. Tis a00lication lets
/o- config-re eAer/ as0ect of te $no,e Des9to0 and of te co,0-ter in general. !e
will go tro-g eac ite, witin tis 4ontrol 4enter at a later ti,e.
Page (7 of 50
Te *Ter,inal+ <-tton la-nces an a00lication called *Ter,inal+ wic lets /o- enter
co,,ands directl/ -sing te 9e/<oard. If /o-Ire -sed to #icrosoft !indows /o- ,a/
tin9 tat tis is old at: <eca-se in !indows te co,,and line asn=t 0rogressed ,-c
f-rter tan te *DO. 0ro,0t+ and is idden awa/ in an accessories ,en-. One of te
wa/s in wic "in-8 s/ste,s differ fro, !indows s/ste,s is tat te ter,inal is D-ite
i,0ortant in "in-8: as it is often -sed as a wa/ of getting ,ore direct control oAer one=s
co,0-ter. !eId 0ro<a<l/ agree tat te Ter,inal isnIt te ,ost Ais-all/ a00ealing
a00lication incl-ded in "in-8 #int: <-t it is wort 9nowing tat it is </ far te ,ost
0owerf-l: and once learned itIs act-all/ not Aer/ ard to -se.
In fact: it is wortwile -nderstanding tat every co,,and tat /o- e8ec-te -sing a
gra0ical des9to0 enAiron,ent goes tro-g te Ter,inal. !en /o- clic9 on an icon on
te ,en-: for e8a,0le: /o- are instr-cting $no,e to 0ass a te8t-al instr-ction to te
Ter,inal. As an instr-ctional e8ercise: if /o- o0en *#ain #en-+ fro, te *"oo9 and
2eel+ section of *4ontrol 4enter+ @see a<oAeB: and naAigate to an/ of te a00lication
,en-s: 0ic9 an a00lication: and clic9 on te 0ro0erties <-tton: /o- will see in te
*4o,,and+ field te te8t co,,and tat is 0assed to te s/ste, wen /o- clic9 on tat
a00lication=s entr/ in te ,en-. In oter words: /o- aAe alread/ <een -sing te Ter,inal
for so,e ti,e: 0era0s wito-t realiGing it. All tat was different was tat: instead of /o-
t/0ing o-t te co,,ands: /o-r des9to0 @$no,eB was doing it for /o- @wic is a good
ting <eca-se no<od/ wants to re,e,<er -ndreds of a00lication na,es all te ti,eB.
.ooner or later: to-g: /o- will 0ro<a<l/ aAe <e in a sit-ation wic ca-ses /o- to -se
te Ter,inal directl/: eiter to access co,,ands tat are not aAaila<le tro-g an/ $'I:
or to get a ?o< done ,ore efficientl/. 3es: /o- read tat rigtO It can <e ,ore efficient to
t/0e a single co,,and: for certain tas9s: tan to o0en -0 lots of windows to acieAe te
Page (8 of 50
sa,e ting. Te ,ore /o- -se it: te ,ore /o-Ill co,e to act-all/ li9e it. Re,e,<er
ow /o- didnIt li9e certain tings wen /o- were a 9id and ow /o- co-ldnIt do wito-t
te, nowL Ter,inal is one of tese tings. In a few wee9s: /o-Ill <e co,0letel/ addicted
to it. 3o-=ll <egin to feel in co,0lete control of /o-r co,0-ter. Tere will <e ti,es wen
/o- wonIt eAen aAe to -se te Ter,inal: <-t /o- will an/wa/: <eca-se for so,e tas9s
itIs faster: ,ore acc-rate: ,ore Aersatile and act-all/ si,0ler to -se tan eD-iAalent
gra0ical interfaces. And an/one watcing /o- will tin9 /o-=re a co,0lete 0ro.
Te *"ogo-t+ <-tton la-nces a dialog wic lets /o- logo-t or switc -sers.
Te *S-it+ <-tton la-nces a dialog <o8 wic lets /o- coose wat /o- want to doE
5 *.-s0end+ saAes /o-r session to RA# and /o-r co,0-ter goes to slee0 -ntil /o-
0ress a 9e/.
5 *&i<ernate+ saAes /o-r session to /o-r ard driAe and /o-r co,0-ter s-ts down.
5 *Restart+ restarts te co,0-ter.
5 *.-t Down+ t-rns te co,0-ter off.
Note: %t is also possible to loc) the screen by pressing -"4L=AL"=L.
T51 =A007,+4&,(%.> 21%*
Te "in-8 #int DVD is co,0ressed and act-all/ contains a<o-t )$> of data. Te
a00lications tat are incl-ded </ defa-lt wen /o- install "in-8 #int are said to <e 0art
of te *Defa-lt .oftware .election+.
.ince one of te 0-r0oses of "in-8 #int is to <e eas/ to -se and to wor9 o-t of te <o8: a
collection of software is incl-ded </ defa-lt in order to let /o- acieAe co,,onJ
i,0ortant tas9s.
Page (1 of 50
In te rigt5and section of te ,en-: /o- can see all installed a00lications. Te/ are
organiGed </ categories. Te first categor/ is called *All+ and: as /o- 0ro<a<l/ g-essed:
it sows /o- a list of all installed a00lications.
Te last two categories: *Preferences+ and *Ad,inistration+: sow /o- te tools and
a00lications 0roAided to config-re and ad,inistrate "in-8 #int. !eIll foc-s on tese
a00lications later on: as te/ are also 0resent in te *4ontrol 4enter+.
Te 5 categories in te center 0roAide ,ost of te a00lications /o-Ill -se on a dail/ <asis.
As /o- install new software: new categories ,igt a00ear.
In *Accessories+: /o- can find te following softwareE
N421 D1.+',0&,(%
4alc-lator A calc-lator
4aracter #a0 A tool to easil/ co0/ and 0aste s0ecial caracters
@accent-ation for instanceB
Dis9 'sage Anal/Ger A tool wic sows /o- wat ta9es s0ace on /o-r ard
driAe.
.earc for 2iles... A tool tat lets /o- searc for files on te co,0-ter
Ta9e .creensot A tool to ta9e screensots. 3o- can also la-nc tis wit
te *Print .crn+ 9e/ on /o-r 9e/<oard to ta9e screensots
of te des9to0: or wit *A"T+R+Print .crn+ to ta9e
screensots of te c-rrent window.
Ter,inal Te Ter,inal
Ti,e and Date To config-re te ti,e and date
gEdit A te8t editor called *gedit+
To,<o/ Notes An a00lication to ta9e notes
In *$ra0ics+ /o- can find te following softwareE
N421 D1.+',0&,(%
$I#P I,age Editor An a00lication tat lets /o- ,odif/: conAert or eAen create
0ict-res. Te <est "in-8 eD-iAalent to Potoso0.
"i<reOffice Draw Part of te "i<reOffice s-ite of a00lications.
.i,0le .can A tool to ca0t-re i,ages fro, a scanner
gT-,< An a00lication to ,anage /o-r 0otos
In *Internet+ /o- can find te following softwareE
N421 D1.+',0&,(%
2irefo8 A !e< <rowser
$iAer A D-ic9 file5saring -tilit/
T-nder<ird An E,ail a00lication
Pidgin An Internet #essenger @co,0ati<le wit AI#: >on?o-r:
Page )0 of 50
$ad-5$ad-: $oogle5Tal9: $ro-0!ise: I4S: IR4: #.N:
#/.0aceI#: SS: .I#P"E: .a,eti,e: H#PP: 3aoo and
Te0/rB
Trans,ission A Torrent client.
Hcat An IR4 cat 0rogra,. It is config-red </ defa-lt to
a-to,aticall/ connect /o- to te "in-8 #int cat roo,
@Aer/ -sef-l if /o- want to tal9 to oter "in-8 #int -sersB.
In *Office+ /o- can find te following softwareE
N421 D1.+',0&,(%
Dictionar/ A dictionar/ @reD-ires an Internet connectionB
"i<reOffice >ase A data<ase a00lication @alternatiAe to #icrosoft
AccessB.
"i<reOffice I,0ress A 0resentation a00lication to ,a9e slides @alternatiAe
to #icrosoft Power0oint and co,0ati<le wit PPTB
"i<reOffice 4alc A s0readseet a00lication @alternatiAe to #icrosoft
E8cel and co,0ati<le wit H".B
"i<reOffice !riter A word 0rocessor @alternatiAe to #icrosoft !ord and
co,0ati<le wit DO4.B
In *.o-nd 7 Video+ /o- can find te following softwareE
N421 D1.+',0&,(%
>rasero A 4DJDVD <-rning a00lication. >rasero can also
,a9e a-dio 4Ds fro, ,-lti,edia files.
#oAie Pla/er A ,-lti,edia a00lication wic is associated wit
,ost Aideo and a-dio files @alternatiAe to #icrosoft
#edia Pla/erB
>ansee A ,-sic a00lication to 0la/ online radio: strea,
,-sic fro, te Internet and online ,-sic serAices
and to listen to /o-r collection of ,-sic files
@alternatiAe to iT-nesB. >ansee also ,anages
0odcasts: 0orta<le 0la/ers and can ri0 4Ds.
.o-nd Recorder A so-nd recorder.
V"4 A Aideo 0la/er: notorio-s for <eing a<le to 0la/ ,ost
Aideo files aAaila<le on te !e<.
T51 =S14'+5> 6,17)
If /o- canIt re,e,<er ow to find a 0artic-lar a00lication witin te ,en- or if /o- want
to get D-ic9er access to it /o- can -se te searc feat-re. .i,0l/ clic9 on *#en-+ in te
<otto,5left corner of /o-r screen and start t/0ing te na,e or a descri0tion of te
a00lication /o-Ire loo9ing for.
Page )1 of 50
As /o-Ire t/0ing: onl/ te a00lications ,atcing /o-r searc will sta/ Aisi<le witin te
,en-.
If /o-r searc /ields no res-lts: te ,en- will 0roAide *s-ggestions+ related to te
9e/word /o- t/0ed. 2or instance: if /o- t/0e *o0era+ and if te O0era we< <rowser isn=t
installed on /o-r s/ste,: te ,en- will sow a <-tton to install it: or to searc te
software 0ortal or te re0ositories for it.
D16,%1 /(*' 64:(',&1 4007,+4&,(%.
3o-Ill -se so,e a00lications ,ore tan oters: so /o-Ill D-ic9l/ find tat /o- want fast
access to te a00lications tat /o-Ire -sing te ,ost.
Te ,en- lets /o- define *faAorite+ a00lications and 9ee0 te, on a s0ecial ,en- for
eas/ aAaila<ilit/.
Rigt clic9 on an a00lication of /o-r coice wit te ,en- and select *.ow in ,/
faAorites+. 3o- can also drag 7 dro0 an a00lication on te *2aAorites+ <-tton wic is
located on te to05rigt corner of te ,en-.
4lic9 on te *2aAorites+ <-tton in te to05rigt corner of te ,en- and /o- so-ld now
see /o-r faAorite a00lications @clic9 te <-tton again to switc <ac9 to te co,0lete
a00lication listB.
!en te faAorites section of te ,en- is actiAe: /o- can reorganiGe te a00lications.
Dragging and dro00ing allows /o- to cange teir order: wile te rigt clic9 ,en- lets
/o- insert s0aces and se0arators: as well as re,oAing ite,s @incl-ding s0aces and
se0aratorsB fro, te ,en-.
M491 /(*' (8% .5('&+*&.
If /o- donIt li9e te idea of aAing *2aAorite+ a00lications: /o- can si,0l/ -se /o-r
0anel or /o-r des9to0 to acieAe si,ilar res-lts: @na,el/: giAing /o-rself D-ic9 access to
/o-r a00licationsB. .i,0l/ drag 7 dro0 te a00lication of /o-r coice fro, te ,en- to
/o-r 0anel or to /o-r des9to0.
L4*%+5 4007,+4&,(%. 4*&(24&,+477/ 851% /(* 7(< ,%
3o- can rigt5clic9 on an/ a00lication in te ,en- and select *"a-nc wen I log in+.
Te a00lication will ten <e la-nced a-to,aticall/ eac ti,e after /o- log in. Tis can
<e disa<led </ following te sa,e 0roced-re again.
C54%<1 &51 40014'4%+1 (6 &51 21%*
3o- can c-sto,iGe te ,en- in ,an/ wa/s. Rigt clic9 on *#en-+ and select
*Preferences+.
Page )( of 50
Te config-ration tool for te ,en- a00ears. &ere: /o- can ,odif/ al,ost eAer/ as0ect
of te "in-8 #int ,en-. #ost of te settings ta9e effect i,,ediatel/: <-t so,e reD-ire
te ,en- to <e restarted @tis can <e acco,0lised </ rigt clic9ing te ,en- <-tton and
selecting *Reload Pl-gins+B.
A+&,:4&1 &51 R1+1%& 07*<?,%
Te ,en- co,es wit a 0l-gin wic is not actiAated </ defa-lt @,ostl/ <eca-se it ,a9es
te ,en- <iggerB. Tis 0l-gin sows te 10 ,ost recentl/ o0ened doc-,ents.
Page )) of 50
To actiAate tis 0l-g5in: o0en te ,en- 0references and select *.ow Recent
Doc-,ents+.
R1.&('1 &51 )164*7& .1&&,%<.
If /o- want to reAert to te defa-lt settings: rigt clic9 on te ,en- <-tton witin te
0anel: coose *Re,oAe fro, Panel+: ten o0en a ter,inal and t/0eE
mintmenu clean
Ten rigt clic9 on an e,0t/ 0art of te Panel and coose *Add to Panel+.
Ten select *,int#en-+ in te list.
R1074+1 &51 21%* 8,&5 &51 )164*7& #%(21 21%*
If /o- decide /o- donIt li9e te ,en- and tat no ,atter ow cool it is: /o- want to -se
te defa-lt $no,e ,en- instead: ten follow te ste0s <elow.
Rigt clic9 on te ,en- <-tton witin te 0anel and coose *Re,oAe fro, Panel+.
Ten rigt clic9 on an e,0t/ 0art of te Panel and coose *Add to Panel+.
Ten select *#ain #en-+ if /o- want a si,0le $no,e #en-: *#en- >ar+ if /o- want
te defa-lt $no,e #en- or *,int#en-+ if /o- cange /o-r ,ind and act-all/ want to
-se te "in-8 #int ,en-.
Page )6 of 50
S(6&84'1 M4%4<121%&
P4+94<1 M4%4<121%& ,% L,%*- M,%&
If /o- aAe installed "in-8 for te first ti,e: ten /o- ,a/ not <e fa,iliar wit te
conce0t of organiGing software into *0ac9ages+. 3o- will soon <eco,e fa,iliar wit
0ac9age ,anage,ent and a00reciate te adAantages it offers in ter,s of sec-rit/: control
and ease of -se.
!e aAe tried to ,a9e it so tat all or ,ost of /o-r ardware was detected and driAers
were installed a-to,aticall/ so tat /o-r co,0-ter wo-ld wor9 o-t of te <o8. !e aAe
also tried to ,a9e it so tat /o- co-ld do ,an/ of te tings /o- want to wito-t aAing
to loo9 aro-nd for tird 0art/ software on we<sites. 3o- ,a/ aAe noticed tat /o-r
"in-8 #int installation alread/ as a f-ll office s-ite: a 0rofessional5D-alit/ i,age5
editing sol-tion: an I# and an IR4 client: a dis9 <-rner: and seAeral ,edia 0la/ers @as
well as ,an/ oter <asic accessoriesB. Rela8: it=s o9a/O 3o- aAen=t stolen an/tingO Tis
is wat free software is all a<o-tO And te tr-l/ great ting a<o-t 0ac9age ,anage,ent in
"in-8 #int and generall/ is tat /o- so-ld neAer need to loo9 far and wide for e8tra
software: eAen wen te ti,e co,es tat /o- do want ,ore f-nctionalit/ fro, /o-r
"in-8 #int s/ste,.
Tis section is intended to e80lain ow tis wor9s and te adAantages tat it can <ring to
/o-. It=s a <it long: <-t o0ef-ll/ it will 0roAide /o- wit a good -nderstanding of te
0iloso0/ <eind 0ac9age ,anage,ent and w/ it is considered a $ood Ting @a 0rase
co,,onl/ ca0italiGed </ "in-8 -sers to ,ean tat so,eting is sD-arel/ in te categor/
of goodB. If /o-=re in a -rr/: /o- can s9i0 to te ne8t section wic will tell /o- ow to
act-all/ -se te 0ac9age s/ste,.
Te 0ro<le,s wit <rowsing software Aendors= we<sites and downloading and installing
te software te/ offer are ,an/E
It is diffic-lt or i,0ossi<le to find o-t if te software as <een tested to wor9 wit
/o-r o0erating s/ste,
It is diffic-lt or i,0ossi<le to 9now ow tis software will interact wit te oter
software installed on /o-r s/ste,
It is diffic-lt or i,0ossi<le to 9now if /o- can 0lace /o-r tr-st tat software
fro, an -n9nown deAelo0er software will not ca-se an/ ar,: willf-l or
negligent: to /o-r s/ste, 7ven if you )now about a specific piece of software and
its developer* you cannot be entirely sure that you are not downloading an
executable that has been swapped out by a malicious third party for some type of
malware.
Page )5 of 50
2-rter,ore: a 0ro<le, wit downloading and installing ,-lti0le different 0rogra,s:
fro, ,-lti0le different deAelo0ers: is tat tere is no ,anagerial infrastr-ct-re. >efore
/o- sa/ *<ig deal+: consider ow /o- are going to 9ee0 all tese different 0ieces of
software -0 to date. If /o- get tired of a 0rogra, and want to re,oAe it: ow do /o-
9now ow to acieAe tatL Te 0rogra, in D-estion ,igt not aAe co,e wit a re,oAal
o0tion: and eAen if it did: ,-c of te ti,e tis will fail to re,oAe te software cleanl/
and co,0letel/. In a Aer/ real sense: wen /o- ran tat installer 0rogra,: /o- gaAe -0
so,e of /o-r control of /o-r co,0-ter to a 0rogra, written entirel/ </ a co,0lete
stranger.
2inall/: software wic is distri<-ted in tis wa/ is often: </ Airt-e of necessit/: *static+.
Tis ,eans tat not onl/ do /o- need to download te 0rogra, itself: <-t also all of te
data li<raries tat are reD-ired for it to r-n. .ince a tird50art/ software deAelo0er cannot
9now wic data li<raries /o- ,a/ alread/ aAe aAaila<le on /o-r s/ste,: te onl/ wa/
tat te/ can g-arantee it will r-n on /o-r s/ste, is </ s-00l/ing all of te data li<raries
it needs along wit te 0rogra, itself. Tis ,eans <igger downloads: and it ,eans tat
wen te ti,e co,es to -0date a giAen li<rar/: it needs to <e done se0aratel/ for all tose
0rogra,s -sing it: instead of ?-st once. In s-,,ar/: te distri<-tion of static software
res-lts in te -nnecessar/ d-0lication of a lot of wor9.
Pac9age ,anage,ent in "in-8 #int: and $N'J"in-8 o0erating s/ste,s in general: as
<een esta<lised for so,e ti,e and is te 0referred ,etod for ,anaging software as it
aAoids all of tese iss-es. !e=Ae <een safel/ and a-to,aticall/ installing o-r software
since te earl/ 1110s.
.oftware is first written </ a deAelo0er: as /o- ,igt e80ect: and tis end of te
0rod-ction cain is 9nown as *-0strea,+. As a -ser of a "in-8 distri<-tion: /o- are
referred to as <eing at te f-rtest 0oint *downstrea,+ @-nless /o-=re an ad,in: in wic
case your -sers are te f-rtest 0oint downstrea,: <-t /o- 9new tat <eca-se /o-=re an
ad,inB. Once te deAelo0er is a00/ wit te 0rogra, or te -0date to te 0rogra, te/
aAe written: te/ will release te so-rce code for it. Te/ will also co,,-nicate in teir
doc-,entation wic data li<raries or oter 0rogra,s te/ too9 adAantage of wen te/
were writing te 0rogra,. Te/ aAe <een doing tis for so,e ti,e and tere are
standardiGed and Aenera<le wa/s for te, to do tis. Note tat: wit a few e8ce0tions
@-s-all/ eiter ardware ,an-fact-rers wo release driAers for "in-8: li9e nVidia or ATI:
or certain ,a?or co,0anies li9e Ado<e: wo we can tr-stB te/ release te act-al source
code for te 0rogra,: tat is: te list of instr-ctions in tat 0rogra, in a -,an reada<le
for,. Tis as a n-,<er of i,0lications: <-t ,ost i,0ortantl/ for tis disc-ssion it
,eans tat te/ are willing to aAe teir software 0eer reAiewed </ an/one and eAer/one
wit an Internet connection. It=s awf-ll/ diffic-lt to snea9 s0/ware into /o-r 0rogra,
wen /o-=re letting eAer/one see wat /o-=Ae writtenO
Te software now ,oAes down te strea, to 0ac9age ,aintainers: wo are eiter
Aol-nteers or 0aid e,0lo/ees wor9ing for a "in-8 distri<-tion. It is teir res0onsi<ilit/ to
co,0ile te so-rce code for te software: test it on te distri<-tion to ,a9e s-re tat it
wor9s: resolAe an/ 0ro<le,s tat te/ enco-nter and finall/ pac)age te co,0iled @i.e.:
Page ); of 50
,acine5reada<leB software in a conAenient for,at. Tis 0ac9age contains te e8ec-ta<le
0rogra,@sB: teir config-ration files: and te instr-ctions te 0ac9age ,anage,ent
software needs to s-ccessf-ll/ install it. Note tat it won=t ordinaril/ contain an/ static
li<raries: since it doesn=t need to U te li<raries are 0roAided </ oter 0ac9ages: and are
terefore 9nown as shared li<raries. 3o-r 0ac9age ,anage,ent software will 9now if
tat a 0artic-lar 0ac9age reD-ires anoter 0ac9age to <e installed first @li9e a sared
li<rar/B: <eca-se: as /o- will re,e,<er: te data li<raries and related 0ac9ages needed
for te software to wor9 were declared f-rter -0strea, and tat infor,ation is incl-ded
in te 0ac9age. Te instr-ctions are s-fficientl/ detailed tat eAen s0ecific Aersions of
oter 0ac9ages can <e reD-ested to ens-re intero0era<ilit/. Te finised 0ac9age is ten
-0loaded to a s0ecial file serAer: wic is called a software re0ositor/.
It is fro, tat single location tat /o- are a<le to download and install te software /o-
need. 3o- will 9now tat te location is bona fide: <eca-se it is signed wit a certificate
tat /o-r 0ac9age ,anager will cec9. 3o- will also 9now tat eac indiAid-al 0ac9age
tat /o- install is sec-re: <eca-se eac 0ac9age is itself signed </ a $P$ 9e/: wic /o-r
0ac9age ,anager will also cec9. 3o-r 0ac9age ,anager will eAen r-n an #D5 s-, on
eac 0ac9age to ,a9e s-re tat noting went wrong wen it was downloading: ?-st li9e
we did <efore wit te "iAeDVD iso. Notice ow it=s doing all of tis for /o-. 3o-=re ?-st
sitting <ac9: si00ing a ,artini: and catting in Klin-8,int on 8cat. Te 0ac9age ,anager
as downloaded te 0ac9ages /o- aAe selected: it will follow: to te letter @co,0-ters
are fastidio-s in following instr-ctionsB: te instr-ctions in te 0ac9age to 0erfectl/ install
/o-r software: and all of its de0endencies: in te rigt order. Tere is no s0ace for -,an
error U if te 0ac9age wor9ed on te ,aintainer=s co,0-ter: ten it o-gt to on /o-rs
<eca-se te 0ac9age ,anager will follow exactly te sa,e 0roced-re.
!en it co,es ti,e to cec9 for software -0dates: /o-r 0ac9age ,anager will
a-to,aticall/ co,0are te software Aersion tat /o- aAe against wat is aAaila<le in te
re0ositor/: and do all te necessar/ wor9 to 9ee0 /o-r s/ste, r-nning s,ootl/ and
sec-rel/. .o: if Aersion (.6 of >est.oft is -0loaded to te re0ositor/: and /o- aAe
Aersion (.): te 0ac9age ,anager will co,0are tose Aersion n-,<ers: and offer to install
te latest Aersion: ta9ing care: of co-rse: of all te de0endencies for te newer Aersion of
te software.
.o-nding good /etL It gets <etter.
&-,ans err were co,0-ters don=t and fro, ti,e to ti,e so,eting ,a/ go wrong in
tis 0rocess. Pera0s /o- will: </ accident: install ardware driAers for te wrong 0iece
of ardware and tis ,igt <rea9 so,eting. !e=Ae all done tat. Or 0era0s tere=s a
<-g or /o-r faAorite feat-re was re,oAed </ te 0rogra,=s deAelo0er for so,e reason.
Tese 0ro<le,s de,onstrate: 0arado8icall/: te strengt and sec-rit/ of 0ac9age
,anage,ent. >eca-se /o-r 0ac9age ,anager 9ee0s fastidio-s records of eAer/ting it
eAer does: it is a<le to reAerse installations: cleanl/ and co,0letel/. It will ,a9e s-re tat
re,oAing one 0ac9age doesn=t <rea9 an/ oters: and /o- can eAen tell it s0ecificall/ to do
tings li9e not a-to,aticall/ -0grade certain 0ac9ages: <eca-se /o- li9e te, te wa/
te/ are: or to reAert to an earlier Aersion. 2inall/: te wole 0rocess is very eaAil/ 0eer5
Page )7 of 50
reAiewed. >eca-se /o- are 0art of a large co,,-nit/ of "in-8 -sers: all -sing te sa,e
re0ositories to o<tain teir software: if an/ting goes wrong /o- can <e a<sol-tel/ s-re
tere will <e a <ig f-ss a<o-t it: and tat te 0ro<le, will <e resolAed D-ic9l/O In tis
wa/: software distri<-tion in $N'J"in-8 distri<-tions is Aer/ ,-c <ased on tr-st: fro,
te ,o,ent te original deAelo0er dis0la/s teir so-rce code for all to see: to te o0en
disc-ssion on te distri<-tion=s we<site. 3o- can <e confident in te software /o- o<tain:
not onl/ <eca-se of te sec-rit/ 0rotocols alread/ ,entioned: <-t <eca-se if an/ting
does go wrong everyone will <e tal9ing a<o-t itO
"et=s loo9 again at o-r list of 0ro<le,s and see wat we aAe solAedE
%t is difficult or impossible to find out if the software has been tested to wor) with
your operating system
3o- 9now tat te software aAaila<le to /o- tro-g te re0ositor/ as <een
toro-gl/ tested </ te 0ac9age ,aintainer and te testing tea, to wor9 wit
/o-r o0erating s/ste,. Te/ won=t want to get it wrong: ,ostl/ on 0rinci0le:
<-t also <eca-se if te/ do te/=ll soon <e getting lots of e,ails.
%t is difficult or impossible to )now how this software will interact with the other
software installed on your system
.i,ilarl/: 0ac9age ,aintainers tr/ teir -t,ost to ens-re tat 0ac9ages won=t
conflict wit oter 0ac9ages offered </ teir distri<-tion. Of co-rse: te/
,igt not aAe eAer/ last 0ac9age installed on teir testing ,acines @in fact:
-s-all/ 0ac9age ,aintainers <-ild teir 0ac9ages on clean installations to
ens-re tat te/ are standardB: <-t if a ,e,<er of te -ser co,,-nit/ finds
o-t tat tere is a 0ro<le,: te/ will no do-<t let te distri<-tion tea, 9now:
and te 0ro<le, will <e fi8ed: or at least wor9ed on. 'nless /o- are a <eta
tester: ten /o- are -nli9el/ to eAer see s-c a conflict: <eca-se tat=s wat
<eta testing is for.
%t is difficult or impossible to )now if you can place your trust in the developer
that their software will not cause any harm* willful or negligent* to your system
Pac9age ,aintainers are ardl/ li9el/ to 0ac9age software te/ 9now will
ar, 0eo0le=s co,0-ters @incl-ding teir ownBO Onl/ software wic is
9nown and tr-sted will eAer ,a9e it to te re0ositor/.
7ven if you )now about a specific piece of software and its developer* you cannot
be entirely sure that you are not downloading an executable that has been
swapped out by a malicious third party for some type of malware.
In addition to te -s-al sec-rit/ ,eas-res 0-t in 0lace </ te instit-tions wo
own te serAers @-s-all/ 0restigio-s acade,ic or researc instit-tions: or large
co,0aniesB: te re0ositor/ and 0ac9ages te,selAes are sec-red </
certificates and $P$ 9e/s. If so,eting=s gone wrong: /o-r 0ac9age ,anager
will tell /o- a<o-t it. Te 0resent a-tor: in ten /ears of -sing "in-8: as
neAer once 9nown an/ting to go wrong in tis res0ect.
%t is difficult to remove 8all traces of9 installed programs
>eca-se te 0ac9age ,anage,ent software 9ee0s a co,0lete record of all of
its actions: it is D-ite ca0a<le of reAersing an/ ste0s tat it too9 in te 0ast:
Page )8 of 50
wile ens-ring tat re,oAing one 0ac9age will not ca-se an/ oter 0ac9age to
fail.
&tatic pac)ages are big and clun)y
>eca-se /o-=re -sing 0ac9age ,anage,ent: /o- will onl/ eAer download
static li<raries wen tere is no sared alternatiAe. If /o- need new sared
data li<raries to install a giAen 0rogra,: /o-r 0ac9age ,anager will 9now tis
and install te, for /o- a-to,aticall/. 3o- will onl/ eAer aAe to download a
sared li<rar/ once <eca-se: well: it=s sared </ all te 0rogra,s tat need it.
If /o- end -0 re,oAing te last 0ac9age tat needs a sared li<rar/: ten te
0ac9age ,anage,ent software will re,oAe tat too. (ut: if /o- decide tat
/o- do want to 9ee0 te sared o<?ect an/wa/: 0era0s <eca-se /o- ?-st 9now
/o-=ll need it later: ten /o- can tell te 0ac9age ,anage,ent software to do
tat: too.
%/m still not convinced
$oodO Post a ,essage on te for-,s a<o-t it if /o- aAe a gen-ine concern
a<o-t 0ac9age ,anage,ent: or to as9 a<o-t oter 0eo0le=s e80eriences. It
<ears re0eating tat te 0ac9age ,etod of distri<-tion in $N'J"in-8 relies
on tr-st: so if tere=s a 0ro<le,: we want to ear a<o-t itO
A final word. 3o- ,a/ aAe <een s-<?ected to r-,ors to te effect tat "in-8 isn=t
finised /et: or tat if /o- -se "in-8 ten /o- are a <eta5tester: or tat "in-8 software is
-nsta<le. Tese are all alf tr-ts. *"in-8+ will neAer <e *finised+: an/ ,ore tan an/
oter ,a?or o0erating s/ste, can <e considered *finised+. 2ro, te "in-8 9ernel to te
artwor9 on /o-r screen: all te ele,ents of /o-r o0erating s/ste, will always <e -nder
so,e 9ind of deAelo0,ent. Tis is <eca-se 0rogra,,ers are wor9ing ard to 9ee0 -s -0
to date wit te latest deAelo0,ents in 0rogra,,ing and ardware tecnolog/. Tis does
not ,ean tat te software aAaila<le for /o- to -se is of <ad D-alit/. Te <ase s/ste, at
te core of "in-8 #int as <een -nder eaA/ deAelo0,ent for a<o-t two decades now:
and is Aer/ ,at-re: sta<le: and 0roAen. !ile tere are definitel/ -nsta<le Aersions of
,ost of te software on /o-r o0erating s/ste,: you won=t <e -sing te, <eca-se you/re
not a <eta tester. 3o- 9now /o-=re not a <eta tester: <eca-se /o-=re reading tis. Te
software aAaila<le to /o- on te re0ositories /o- -se will always <e sta<le and well
tested: -nless /o- cange tose re0ositories to te ones -sed </ te testers @in wic case
congrat-lations: /o-=Ae ?-st <eco,e a testerB. It=s a <it of a no5<rainer: reall/.
.o: to s-,,ariGe wit an e8a,0le: wen /o- install O0era: Real Pla/er or $oogle Eart
in "in-8 #int: tese a00lications do not co,e fro, teir original deAelo0ers @O0era:
Real and $oogleB. Of co-rse te -0strea, a00lication co,es fro, tese deAelo0ers: <-t
onl/ after te/IAe <een 0ro0erl/ 0ac9aged and tested do te/ <eco,e aAaila<le for /o-.
.o: in oter words: /o- so-ld neAer need to go and <rowse te Internet to loo9 for
software: as eAer/ting /o- need is aAaila<le and alread/ tested for /o- and for /o-r
s/ste, </ te "in-8 #int and '<-nt- tea,s. All /o- need to do is coose wat /o- want
to do.
Page )1 of 50
"in-8 #int will -0date itself a-to,aticall/ tro-g a tool called te '0date #anager:
wic will -0date not onl/ te <ase o0erating s/ste,: <-t all te software installed on
/o-r ,acine as well.
It=s tat si,0le. !ewO
.o,e of te ,ost 0o0-lar a00lications tat are not installed </ defa-lt in "in-8 #int are
O0era: .9/0e: Acro<at Reader: $oogle Eart and Real Pla/er. 3o- ,igt also want to
add ga,es @a lot of nice free ga,es are aAaila<le for "in-8... tr/ installing gno,e5ga,es
to start o-t witB.
T51 S(6&84'1 M4%4<1'
Te easiest wa/ to install software in "in-8 #int is to -se te .oftware #anager. It is
<-ilt on to0 of te 0ac9age tecnolog/ we disc-ssed earlier: <-t ,a9es tings easier to
-nderstand: as it allows /o- to install programs rater tan 0ac9ages @to-g: re,e,<er:
it is still -sing te 0ac9age s/ste, in te <ac9gro-nd: so it still as te sa,e <enefitsB.
O0en te ,en- and select *.oftware #anager+.
Te .oftware #anager lets /o- <rowse te software ,ade aAaila<le for "in-8 #int. 3o-
can <rowse </ categor/: searc </ 9e/word or sort te software </ rating and 0o0-larit/.
T51 M1%*
If /o- 9now wat /o-=re loo9ing for: /o- don=t need to la-nc an/ting. F-st start t/0ing
te a00lication=s na,e in te ,en- and aAe it installed fro, tere.
2or instance: to install te *gft0+ 0ac9ageE
Press 4TR"R.-0erM" to o0en te ,en-
T/0e *gft0+
Press te *'0+ arrow to igligt te *Install gft0+ <-tton
Press Enter
Did we ,ention ow great 0ac9age ,anage,ent is /etL
S/%40&,+ @ APT
If /o- want to install ,ore tan one a00lication or if /o-Ire loo9ing for so,eting wic
is not in te .oftware Portal or in te .oftware #anager: "in-8 #int 0roAides two oter
wa/s to install software. One is a gra0ical tool called *./na0tic+ and te oter is a
co,,and line tool called *APT+.
"etIs see ow we can install O0era @an alternatiAe to te 2irefo8 !e< >rowserB wit
tese tools insteadE
Page 60 of 50
O0en te ,en- and select *Pac9age #anager+.
4lic9 on te *.earc+ <-tton and t/0e *o0era+. Ten go tro-g te list of 0ac9ages and
find te one corres0onding to te O0era !e< >rowser. Tic9 te <o8 and select *#ar9 for
Installation+ ten clic9 on te *A00l/+ <-tton.
Now letIs see ow we co-ld aAe installed O0era -sing te APT co,,and line tool.
O0en te ,en- and select *Ter,inal+. Ten t/0e te following co,,andE
apt install opera
Note: a)e sure synaptic is closed before using A#". &ynaptic is using A#" in the bac)ground so both
can3t run at the same time. "he same goes for the &oftware anager.
As /o- can see APT is e8tre,el/ eas/ to -se <-t itIs not gra0ical. ItIs O%. If /o-Ire
starting wit "in-8 /o- 0ro<a<l/ 0refer to deal wit a gra0ical interface @tat=s w/
te/=re tereB <-t as ti,e goes on /o-Ill 0refer tings to <e fast and efficient and as /o-
can see te fastest wa/ to install O0era is to t/0e *a0t install o0era+. It canIt <e si,0ler
tan tat.
Tere is one i,0ortant difference <etween te .oftware #anager and ./na0ticJAPT
to-g. !it ./na0tic and APT /o- <asicall/ deal wit 0ac9ages. In o-r e8a,0le te
O0era a00lication was Aer/ si,0le and was onl/ ,ade of one 0ac9age wic na,e was
also *o0era+: <-t tis will not alwa/s <e te case: and so,eti,es /o- ,igt not 9now
wat te na,e of te 0ac9age is. .o,eti,es /o- ,igt not eAen aAe access to te
0ac9ages for a 0artic-lar a00lication.
Te .oftware #anager is different <eca-se it lets /o- install *a00lications+ </ getting te
rigt *0ac9ages+ for /o-: not onl/ fro, te re0ositories @0ac9ages data<asesB tat
./na0tic and APT aAe access to: <-t also fro, oter 0laces on te Internet.
.o /o- ,igt -se te .oftware #anager for two different reasonsE
5 >eca-se /o-Ire not -sed to APTJ./na0tic
5 >eca-se it can act-all/ install a00lications /o- donIt aAe access to -sing oter
tools.
R12(:1 4007,+4&,(%.
F'(2 &51 M1%*
Re,oAing an a00lication is D-ite eas/ in "in-8 #int. .i,0l/ igligt te a00lication in
te ,en-: rigt clic9 on it and select *'ninstall+.
Te ,en- finds te 0ac9ages and de0endencies related to te a00lication /o- selected.
Page 61 of 50
4lic9 *Re,oAe+ and te a00lication will <e -ninstalled.
U.,%< APT
Anoter wa/ to re,oAe a00lications is </ -sing APT. Again: weIre tal9ing co,,and5
line -tilit/ ere: <-t see ow s-r0risingl/ eas/ tis isE
O0en te ,en- and select *Ter,inal+. Ten t/0e te following co,,andE
apt remove opera
Note: a)e sure synaptic is closed before using A#". &ynaptic is using A#" in the bac)ground so both
can3t run at the same time.
And tatIs it. !it one single co,,and /o-IAe re,oAed O0era fro, /o-r co,0-ter.
S/%40&,+
3o- can also -se ./na0tic to re,oAe 0ac9ages... "in-8 is all a<o-t coice so letIs see
ow to do tis.
O0en te ,en- and select *Pac9age #anager+.
4lic9 on te *.earc+ <-tton and select *o0era+. Ten go tro-g te list of 0ac9ages and
find te one corres0onding to te O0era !e< >rowser. Tic9 te <o8 and select *#ar9 for
Re,oAal+ ten clic9 on te *A00l/+ <-tton.
U0)4&1 /(*' ./.&12 4%) /(*' 4007,+4&,(%.
If a new Aersion of an/ 0ac9age installed on /o-r co,0-ter is ,ade aAaila<le /o- can
-0grade to it. It ,a/ <e a sec-rit/ -0date for so,e co,0onent of te o0erating s/ste,: it
,a/ <e an o0ti,iGation in one s0ecific li<rar/ or it ,a/ eAen <e a newer Aersion of
2irefo8. >asicall/: /o-r s/ste, is ,ade of 0ac9ages and an/ 0art of it can <e -0dated </
-0dating so,e of tose 0ac9ages. Tis ,eans re0lacing te c-rrent 0ac9age wit a newer
Aersion.
Tere are ,an/ wa/s to do tis <-t onl/ one of te, is reco,,ended.
3o- co-ld -se APT to -0grade all /o-r 0ac9ages wit one si,0le co,,and @*a0t
-0grade+B <-t we strongl/ reco,,end /o- donIt do so. Te reason is tat it doesn=t ,a9e
an/ distinctions in selecting wic -0dates to a00l/ and ass-,es tat /o- want all of
te,.
.o,e 0arts of te s/ste, are safe to -0date and so,e oters arenIt. 2or instance: </
-0dating /o-r 9ernel @te 0art wic is res0onsi<le a,ong oter tings for ardware
recognitionB /o- ,igt <rea9 /o-r so-nd s-00ort: /o-r wireless card s-00ort or eAen
so,e a00lications @s-c as V#!are and Virt-al<o8B wic are closel/ lin9ed to te
9ernel.
Page 6( of 50
U.,%< &51 U0)4&1 M4%4<1'

"in-8 #int co,es wit a tool called te '0date #anager. It giAes ,ore infor,ation
a<o-t -0dates and lets /o- define ow safe an -0date ,-st <e <efore /o- want to a00l/ it.
It loo9s li9e a sield and sits on te <otto,5rigt corner of /o-r screen.
If /o- 0lace /o-r ,o-se 0ointer on to0 of it: it will tell /o- eiter tat /o-r s/ste, is -0
to date or: if it isn=t: ow ,an/ -0dates are aAaila<le.
If /o- clic9 on te loc9 icon: te '0date #anager o0ens and sows /o- te -0dates tat
are aAaila<le. Te interface is Aer/ eas/ to -se. 2or eac 0ac9age -0date /o- can read te
descri0tion: te cangelog @tis is were deAelo0ers e80lain teir canges wen te/
,odif/ te 0ac9ageB: and eAent-all/ if "in-8 #int assigned warnings or e8tra
infor,ation a<o-t te -0dates. 3o- can also see wic Aersion is c-rrentl/ installed on
/o-r co,0-ter and wic Aersion is aAaila<le for /o- to -0date to. 2inall/: /o- can see
te sta<ilit/ leAel assigned to te 0ac9age -0date. Eac 0ac9age -0date <rings
i,0roAe,ents or fi8es sec-rit/ iss-es <-t tat doesnIt ,ean te/Ire ris95free and canIt
introd-ce new <-gs. Te sta<ilit/ leAel is assigned to eac 0ac9age </ "in-8 #int and
giAes /o- an indication of ow safe it is for /o- to a00l/ an -0date.
Of co-rse /o- can clic9 on te col-,ns to sort </ sta<ilit/ leAel: stat-s: 0ac9age na,e or
</ Aersion. 3o- can select all -0dates or -nselect all of te, </ -sing te *4lear+ and
*.elect All+ <-ttons.
Page 6) of 50
"eAel 1 and "eAel ( -0dates are ris95free and /o- so-ld alwa/s a00l/ te,. "eAel )
-0dates *so-ld <e safe+ <-t: alto-g we reco,,end /o- ta9e te,: ,a9e s-re /o-
loo9 oAer te, on te list of -0dates. If /o- e80erience a 0ro<le, wit a 0artic-lar "eAel
) -0date: tell te "in-8 #int deAelo0,ent tea, so te/ can ta9e ,eas-res to ,a9e tat
-0date a "eAel 6 or a "eAel 5 so as to warn or eAen disco-rage oters against a00l/ing it.
If /o- clic9 on te *Preferences+ <-tton /o- so-ld see te screen a<oAe. >/ defa-lt te
'0date #anager tells /o- a<o-t "eAel 1: ( and ) -0dates. 3o- can decide to ,a9e "eAel
6 and 5 *Aisi<le+. Tis will ,a9e ,ore -0dates a00ear in te list. If /o- want to /o- can
eAen ,a9e "eAel 6 and 5 -0dates *safe+ @alto-g tis is %(& reco,,endedB. Tis will
ca-se te, to <e selected </ defa-lt witin te '0date #anager.
Te '0date #anager onl/ co-nts *safe+ -0dates. .o wen it tells /o- /o-r s/ste, is -0
to date: it ,eans tere are no -0dates aAaila<le assigned wit a leAel tat /o- defined as
<eing *safe+.
Te '0date #anager onl/ sows *Aisi<le+ -0dates in te list.
2or e8a,0le: if /o- ,ade all leAels *Aisi<le+ and onl/ "eAel 1 and ( *safe+: /o- wo-ld
see a lot of -0dates in te list: <-t te '0date #anager wo-ld 0ro<a<l/ tell /o- tat /o-r
s/ste, was -0 to date.
Te *A-to5Refres+ ta< allows /o- to define ow often te '0date #anager cec9s for
-0dates.
Te *'0date #etod+ ta< lets /o- define ow te '0date #anager cec9s for new
-0dates.
Te *.tart-0 dela/+ is te a,o-nt of ti,e te '0date #anager waits <efore cec9ing for
an Internet connection. Tis dela/ is -sed to giAe te Networ9 #anager an o00ort-nit/ to
esta<lis a connection wen te co,0-ter starts.
Page 66 of 50
3o- can also define wic do,ain na,e is -sed </ te '0date #anager to cec9 te
connection to te Internet. Te '0date #anager will tr/ to 0ing tis do,ain <efore
loo9ing for -0dates.
Te *Incl-de dist5-0grade 0ac9ages+ o0tion allows /o- to define weter te '0date
#anager so-ld install new de0endencies or not. 2or instance if 0ac9age A Aersion 1 was
installed on /o-r co,0-ter and 0ac9age A Aersion ( <eca,e aAaila<le: <-t Aersion ( ad
a new de0endenc/ on 0ac9age > wic isnIt installed on /o-r co,0-terN wat wo-ld
a00enL
If /o- left tis cec9<o8 -ncec9ed: Aersion ( wo-ld not a00ear as an -0date in te list of
-0dates.
If /o- cec9ed tis cec9<o8: it wo-ld: and if selected it wo-ld install 0ac9age> as a
de0endenc/.
>e caref-l wit tis o0tion as de0endenc/ can install new 0ac9ages on /o-r <ealf <-t
te/ can also so,eti,es re,oAe 0ac9ages /o- alread/ aAe installed.
In te *Ignored 0ac9ages+ ta< /o- can define 0ac9ages for wic /o- do not want to
receiAe -0dates. *L+ and *V+ wildcard caracters are s-00orted.
Te *Pro8/+ ta< lets /o- define 0ro8/ settings.
Te last ta< lets /o- cange te icons -sed </ te '0date #anager in te s/ste, tra/.
If /o- get errors wit te '0date #anager @*4anIt refres list of 0ac9ages+ for instanceB:
/o- can cec9 te logs. Rigt clic9 on te loc9 icon in te s/ste, tra/ and select
*Infor,ation+. Te following screen a00earsE
Page 65 of 50
In tis screen /o- can see te 0rocess ID of te '0date #anager: weter it=s r-nning
wit -ser or root 0er,issions: and te content of its log file.
3o- can also reAiew te -0dates tat were a00lied on /o-r s/ste, @0roAided te/ were
a00lied Aia te '0date #anagerB </ clic9ing on *View5W&istor/ of '0dates+.
Page 6; of 50
T,0. 4%) T',+9.
Are /o- ,a9ing te ,ost of /o-r des9to0L Do /o- -s-all/ 0ress *4TR"R4+ on /o-r
9e/<oard to co0/ so,e te8tL Do /o- o0en a te8t editor to ta9e a D-ic9 noteL &ow do /o-
sare files wit /o-r friendsL Tere are ,an/ wa/s to 0erfor, si,0le tas9s: so,e ,ore
efficient tan oters. Tis ca0ter is going to sow /o- a few 0artic-larities of "in-8:
$no,e: and te "in-8 #int des9to0: to ,a9e s-re /o- ,a9e te ,ost of /o-r s/ste,.
C(0/ 4%) 04.&1 8,&5 &51 2(*.1

#ost 0eo0le are -sed to clic9ing on te *Edit+ ,en- or to rigt clic9ing on te content
te/ want to co0/. In "in-8 #int /o- can do tis as well: <-t ,ost $N'J"in-8 o0erating
s/ste,s also let /o- co0/ and 0aste content fro, te co,fort of /o-r ,o-se. &ere=s ow
it wor9sE Te left <-tton of te ,o-se co0ies and te ,iddle <-tton 0astes. It=s as si,0le
as tatO
"et=s giAe it a tr/. "a-nc "i<reOffice !riter or a te8t editor: or an/ a00lication of /o-r
coice tat lets /o- in0-t te8t. Now t/0e a few sentences. .elect so,e of te te8t /o- ?-st
t/0ed wit te left <-tton of /o-r ,o-se. Tin9 /o- need to clic9 on te *Edit+ ,en- and
0ress *4o0/+L NoL >et /o-=re tin9ing /o- wo-ld -se a co,<ination of 9e/s on /o-r
9e/<oard s-c as *4TR"R4+. In "in-8: it is ,-c si,0ler. F-st </ selecting te te8t:
Page 67 of 50
/o-=Ae alread/ co0ied it. Tat=s rigt... tat te8t is now co0ied to /o-r *,o-se <-ffer+ and
/o- don=t need to 0ress an/ting else.
Now clic9 on so,e oter 0art of te doc-,ent to ,oAe te c-rsor tere and clic9 te
,iddle <-tton of /o-r ,o-se @or te weel5clic9 if /o- aAe a ,o-se wit a weel: or
<ot te left and rigt <-ttons togeter if /o-r ,o-se onl/ as two <-ttons... eAer/ting=s
<een to-gt of: a0art fro, tose weird #ac ,ice wit onl/ one <-ttonB. As /o- can see
te te8t /o- 0reAio-sl/ selected as now <een 0asted.
Te ,ore /o- get -sed to tis te faster /o-=ll get at co0/ing and 0asting content. Tis
tecniD-e also wor9s on ,ost 'ni8 and $N'J"in-8 o0erating s/ste,s.
Note: "he buffer used by the mouse is not the same as the one used by the Gnome des)top. &o you can
actually copy something with your mouse and copy something else with 1-"4L=-2 or with the 17dit2
menu. "han)s to this you can copy two elements at a time and depending on how you copied them you can
paste them with either the middle mouse button or with 1-"4L=02 or the 17dit2 menu.
T491. %(&1. 8,&5 T(23(/
!e all ta9e notes. !eter it=s an address giAen </ so,eone oAer te 0one: an eAer5
growing TODO list or so,e 0artic-lar ting to re,e,<er: we=re often faced wit te
sit-ation were we need to ta9e a D-ic9 note. .o,e of -s aAe a lot of written notes
aro-nd o-r co,0-ters and neAer see, to find a wor9ing 0en wen te sit-ation arises:
oters waste ti,e in la-ncing tools tat are not s-ita<le for tis 0artic-lar -se
@"i<reOffice !riter for instance is not Aer/ and/ to ta9e notesB and Aer/ few 0eo0le
act-all/ -se software dedicated to note5ta9ing. "in-8 #int a00ens to incl-de a dedicated
note5ta9ing tool. It is called To,<o/ Notes.
To,<o/ Notes is a Aer/ eas/ tool to -se. >/ clic9ing on it /o- get a list of all /o-r notes.
3o- can create new notes </ clic9ing on *4reate New Note+.
Page 68 of 50
A new note o0ens -0. >/ canging its title /o-=ll also cange its na,e. 3o- can write
wateAer /o- want in te note and close it. Te content /o- wrote in /o-r note will
alwa/s <e accessi<le tro-g To,<o/ NotesC 3o- don=t need to saAe an/ting and /o-
can eAen re<oot or t-rn off te co,0-ter. Again: /o-r note is saAed a-to,aticall/ as
/o-=re writing it.
If /o- eAent-all/ decide tat /o- no longer need to 9ee0 a 0artic-lar note: /o- can o0en
tat note and clic9 on te *Delete+ <-tton.
If /o- write down te na,e of anoter note=s title witin /o-r note: To,<o/ will
a-to,aticall/ create a lin9 to tat oter note and /o-=ll <e a<le to clic9 tat lin9 to o0en
te oter note.
3o- can also -se different for,atting o0tions witin /o-r note and -se te ,an/ feat-res
0roAided </ To,<o/ Notes @s/ncroniGation: searc feat-res: e80ort notes to
PD2J&T#"...etcB.
A'+5,:1 124,7. 4%) 813.,&1. 4. PDF
Do /o- <oo9,ar9 we< 0ages wen /o- want to read te, laterL Do /o- 9ee0 old e,ails
in /o-r in<o8 wen te/ contain so,e infor,ation /o- ,igt need to re,e,<erL Are
/o-r in<o8 and /o-r <oo9,ar9s cl-ttered wit tings /o- don=t need <-t don=t want to
ris9 loosingL .o-ldn=t /o- store tis 9ind of infor,ation so,ewere elseL Of co-rse /o-
co-ld -se To,<o/ Notes for tis <-t 0asting an entire article fro, te !e< to a note is
not e8actl/ ideal: /o-=d loose te 0ict-res: te la/o-t and a lot of infor,ation. !/ not
?-st 0rint te content insteadL Not on 0a0er: <-t as a PD2 file...
Page 61 of 50
"in-8 #int co,es wit a PD2 0rinter installed </ defa-lt. Tis 0rinter ta9es te o-t0-t of
te a00lication /o-=re -sing and sends its content to <e stored witin a PD2 file. .o: for
instance: if /o-=Ae ?-st <oo9ed a fligt on te !e< and /o- were giAen a fligt reference
seet and a registration ID: ?-st it te file ,en- and select 0rint.
4oose te *PrintMtoMPD2+ 0rinter and clic9 on te *Print+ <-tton.
Te 0age /o- were loo9ing at will <e 0rinted witin a PD2 doc-,ent stored in /o-r
&o,e folder.
.i,ilarl/ /o- can 0rint e,ails fro, T-nder<ird or an/ 9ind of content fro, an/
a00lication and aAe te content stored in a generated PD2 file witin /o-r &o,e folder.
C(%+7*.,(%
Tere=s a lot ,ore to learn a<o-t "in-8 #int and a<o-t "in-8 in general. Tis g-ide was
?-st an oAerAiew of so,e of te as0ects related to /o-r des9to0. >/ now /o- so-ld feel
,ore co,forta<le wit -sing it and /o- so-ld aAe a <etter -nderstanding of so,e of its
co,0onents. !ere are /o- going to go ne8tL !ill /o- learn ow to -se te ter,inalL
!ill /o- giAe oter des9to0s a tr/ @%DE: H24E: etc.BL It=s entirel/ -0 to /o-. Re,e,<er:
"in-8 is a<o-t f-n and te co,,-nit/ is tere to el0. Ta9e /o-r ti,e and learn a little
<it eAer/ da/. Tere=s alwa/s so,eting new no ,atter ow ,-c /o- 9now alread/.
En?o/ "in-8 and tan9 /o- for coosing "in-8 #int.
Page 50 of 50