photo: courtesy of Guillaume Dargaud
www.gdargaud.net

Welcome to MEPIS Linux. If you have never used Linux before, this little guide is designed to help you get started. We have set a couple of optional but recommended steps for you to do first — then we have a couple of short guides to get you up and running. Not sure if MEPIS Linux is right for you? Please visit this page for more information.

Step #1 (this is an easy one) - go here and join the MepisLovers (ML) forums. You will find the people in our community are really friendly, helpful, and above all 'newbie- friendly'. On ML, you won't find 'rtfm' comments, and the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. We are all volunteers, and we are here because we really want to help. You will learn a lot by browsing the forums, and you will also meet some really nice people who started just like you are doing now.

Step #2 (requires a bit of reading), if you are coming from Windows then go here and read this guide (From Windows to MEPIS). It will help you understand a lot of the differences, it will let you know a little of what you are in for, and it will help make your transition a whole lot easier.

Step #3 Expand your horizons! MEPIS Linux is a highly configurable operating system. To get the most out of it you'll want to learn the easy way to get it the way you want. There are different styles of learning, and MEPIS Community members have different styles of teaching.

• Like to watch video? Topcat has visual aids to many of the steps in using a Linux LiveCD, preparing your hard disk drive, installing MEPIS Linux, and configuring software.
  An Introduction to Linux - Demonstration Videos
• Want step-by-step detailed GUI instructions? With plenty of screenshots? Saist is the man:
  The MEPIS Guides
• Find the concept of typing instructions to your computer on "the command line" a little scary? SilverBear can show you that it's not only easy to learn some basics —it's often faster to do it that way!     See an example of how handy it can be in this guide:
  SilverBear's Guide to Enabling All Multimedia in MEPIS Linux
• And, of course, since you won't hear anyone say it on the MepisLovers.org forum, you'll have to find out from us where to go to RTFM in html or downloadable PDF:
  MEPIS 7 Users Manual
• For particular questions ranging from how to work with a dual-boot setup to how to solve a hardware problem to what Linux software to use, consult the extensive and user-friendly MEPIS Wiki.