New Linux user questions!

[bbrom]

Hi, I am very new to Linux. I am running SuSE 10.0...I managed to download and install Thunderbird 1.5...however, I didn't see a link for it on the desktop, so anytime I want to open it, I have to go to the folder where I extracted the files and run a shell script...I tried linking this shell script to my desktop, but nothing happens when I click on it...It seems I HAVE to click on the original one in the folder to run it.

Also, I have noticed under my hardware information in YaST, that it has the wrong video card listed...I have a Radeon 9600 Pro but it has ATI RV350 AR (whatever that is).

Also, my web browsing speed seems to have decreased dramaticlly with the installation of SuSE (Network Engineering is my field of experties, and I have done several tests, and it is running normally on an alternate Windows box I have running in the house). Is there something that could be slowing it down? I'm using Firefox 1.7.

If anyone could offer some help with these issues, I would be most appreciative. Thanks in advance.

~ Brian

[smolloy]

Hi, I am very new to Linux. I am running SuSE 10.0...I managed to download and install Thunderbird 1.5...however, I didn't see a link for it on the desktop, so anytime I want to open it, I have to go to the folder where I extracted the files and run a shell script...I tried linking this shell script to my desktop, but nothing happens when I click on it...It seems I HAVE to click on the original one in the folder to run it.

You can add it to the quick launch taskbar relatively easily. Right click somewhere on the task bar, and choose the option to add a program to the task bar (I forget the exact wording). If you installed Thunderbird manually (i.e. not using Yast), then you'll have to choose the option to install a non-KDE program.

If you installed it using yast (which is what I would normally recommend), then you might be able to find it in the K menu (the KDE equivalent of the windows start menu). Maybe in K menu -> Internet -> Email.

[bbrom]

How would I go about installing it with yast?

[Doog]

You are using Firefox so you can just click on tools and then click on read mail.
And that should open Thunderbird.

I can't help you about the correct driver for ATI. I'm running all Nivida.
I'm sure someone can answer that.

Just wondering how much ram does your system have? A few programs can be resource hogs. I think Beagle is one of them.

[smolloy]

How would I go about installing it with yast?

This link shows how to add yast repositories. This one gives a very comprehensive list of good repositories to add.

Once you've added a couple of the major ones, then you could right click on the rpm you downloaded and choose the option to install using yast. Or you may be able to find Thunderbird if you search the list of available packages in yast.

[bryansmith]

As for the slow browsing speeds, what are the contents of your /etc/resolv.conf file? Sometimes your router will be added which will greatly increase the amount of time it takes for DNS to get a web address. Do your pages load fine once the address is found?

Bryan

[oldcpu]

Also, I have noticed under my hardware information in YaST, that it has the wrong video card listed...I have a Radeon 9600 Pro but it has ATI RV350 AR (whatever that is).

To better understand what SuSE YaST thinks is on your PC, can you open a konsole, and type:
su (enter root password)
sax2 -p
and cut and paste the output on this forum?

[bbrom]

ok guys thanks for the responses, I'm about to install fedora core 5 to see if I have any better luck. I'll let you know how things work out!

[bbrom]

OK I have fc5 now! thanks everyone for the responses!

[bryansmith]

What works in one distro will work in another. So, if you really like Suse, we will gladly help you figure it out...

Bryan