Getting Started
Vocabulary
Hardware
Parts of the computer you can touch: Monitors, keyboards, mice, and the insides of the computer.
Software
Programs on your computer you cannot touch, such as your operating system, your Firefox web browser, video chatting software like Skype, word processing software like Microsoft Word, and so on.
Operating System
Software which manages computer resources. Without it you cannot use your computer.
Linux Mint
This is your current Operating System and Distribution.
Why Linux?
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
Spirit of collaboration, access and freedom
No licensing fees!
Harder to get viruses!
Free Software
Open Source Software
The First Steps
System Configuration
The first thing you'll see when you turn on your Free Geek computer for the first time will be the System Configuration screen. This tool will take you through step-by-step on creating your personal account for the computer including a username, password, timezone, and more. Check out our video if you want to learn more about what each section of the System Configuration wizard/tool is for. Note that before you log in for the first time, we recommend Restarting your computer to make sure everything is functional.
Click the Power Icon
The last thing we need to do before we can use our computer is restart it. This will finalize some settings and ensure that your computer is completely ready the first time you log in!
Find the Power Icon in the top right corner of your screen and click on it. Then select Quit.
Restart your Computer
Once you click Quit from the Power Icon menu in the top right corner of your screen select Restart. Your computer will then run through the process of shutting down and loading back up to the Login Screen. You don't need to restart your computer every time you turn it on - just this once.
Time to log in!
After you have created your user accounts through the setup process you will see the login screen every time you turn on your computer. You should see the username you created during the setup and a box to type in your password. If you type your password into this box and press the enter key, your computer will take you to your desktop so that you can use it like any other computer!
The Desktop
When you log in you'll be brought to your Desktop. Here you will be spending most of your time while working on your computer. You can find out more about the Desktop by reading our section on Navigating Linux Mint below.
Sound Settings
Click the Speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your screen and then select Sound Settings from the menu that appears. This will be the place you go to make sure that your speakers, microphone, and/or headphones are working just as they should!
Sound Test
Once the Sound Settings appear you should see a Test Sound button where you can test your left and right speakers to make sure both sides are working properly. If you received a computer from Free Geek, this test was performed during the refurbishment process, but you should still double-check to ensure that your computer is 100% functional.
Need Help? Call Tech Support!
Your Tech Support Warranty
Your computer will be supported as long as:
The operating system has not been changed.
The system has been used by you or your family.
Tech Support includes:
Replacement of failed hardware.
Operating system troubleshooting.
How long is the Tech Support Warranty?
Volunteer Program, 1 year from today.
Plug into Portland Program, 1 year from today.
For Store purchases, 6 months from date of purchase.
For more information visit our website:
Connecting to the Internet at Home
What you will need:
A Laptop or Desktop Computer (Congrats if you got one from Free Geek!)
An ethernet cable
Or a Wi-Fi to USB adapter
If you have a laptop, you probably already have Wi-Fi built into your computer and do not need an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi to USB adapter.
An Internet Service Provider like Xfinity, CenturyLink, AT&T, or Verizon
A modem and router (your Internet Service Provider often gives you one unit that combines the modem and router into a single box)
Comcast Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials provides internet service to eligible customers
$9.95/month plus tax at up to 50 Mbps
There are no term contracts, no credit checks, and no standard installation fees!
Eligible customers must not have Comcast debt in the past year and may not have subscribed to Comcast internet service within the past 90 days, where applicable.
To learn more and apply, please visit https://internetessentials.com/
Ethernet
An Ethernet connection requires an Ethernet cable (pictured above) to attach your computer directly to your modem or router. This is always the most reliable and fastest way to connect to the internet, but it being able to connect a wire between your router and computer isn't always easy and so people often prefer using Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi
Connecting to the internet through Wi-Fi is often easier if your computer doesn't live in the same room as your router. However, you will either need a Wi-Fi card built into your computer (most laptops will have a built in Wi-Fi card) or you will need a Wi-Fi to USB adapter, like the one pictured above.
Internet Connection Settings
In the bottom-right corner of your screen you'll be able to see the Network Settings Icon (which may look like one of three icons seen below) which can give you a quick overview of how you are connected to the internet. If you would like to connect to Wi-Fi, this is also the place. By clicking on the Network Settings icon, a menu will appear that gives you a list of all available Wi-Fi signals. You can click on the one you want to join and then type in the Wi-Fi password if it is needed.
No Internet
This is the default Network Settings icon that shows that you are not connected to the internet. If you click on it you will find all available Wi-Fi signals (if your computer has built in Wi-Fi or has a Wi-Fi to USB adapter).
Ethernet Connected
If you have connected an Ethernet cable to your computer, this icon will show that you are connected to the internet through this cable.
Wi-Fi Connected
If you are connected to the internet via Wi-Fi then you will see this icon for your Network Settings. You can change which Wi-Fi signal you are connected to by clicking here.
Updating Your Linux Mint Computer
The Update Manager
The Update Manager is the software that helps you keep your computer up-to-date with the latest security and program features. You will find this either in your menu or with an icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen. The Shield icon that appears can have a few different meanings, but the two listed below are the most common.
Updates are Available
The shield icon with an orange dot means that there are updates waiting to be downloaded and installed in the Software Manager.
Updates are Complete
The shield icon with no other symbols means that there are no updates remaining in the Software Manager.
Types of Updates
Security Updates
Protect your computer from viruses and malware
Kernel Updates
Improve stability and performance of your computer
Software Updates
Improve stability, performance, and add features to specific programs
Installing Updates
If you find the Shield Icon with an orange dot in the bottom-right corner of your screen, that means you have updates that are ready to be installed. If you click on that icon you will open the Update Manager. Here you will find the three different types of updates that your computer may need; Security Updates, Kernel Updates, and Software Updates.
If you do not see any updates available, you may need to click the Refresh Button towards the top of the Update Manager.
If you do see updates listed in the table in the middle of the Update Manager you can click on the Install Updates Button located towards the top of the Update Manager, next to the Refresh Button.
When you click Install Updates you may get an additional window that says "This upgrade will trigger additional changes." This is normal and you can click OK to continue.
After this, you will also need to type in the Administrator Password in order to Authenticate and agree to actually applying the updates. This password should be the same one you use to log into your computer when you turn it on.
Your computer will then begin to download and install updates. Depending on how long it has been, this could take only a couple of minutes or up to a couple of hours. We recommend updating your computer every 1-2 weeks to keep the updates fast and your computer secure.
If this is your first time installing updates, you may want to click the Refresh Button towards the top of the Update Manager when it seems like it is done installing. Sometimes updates do not appear until after you have installed other updates first. It is a great habit to click the Refresh Button after every initial update, but it is only likely to reveal more updates if it has been a long time (or the first time) since updates have been installed.
Navigating Linux Mint 20
The Desktop
You will be spending a lot of time on the Desktop as that's where you'll find the most common ways to interact with your computer. If you have ever used some of the older versions of Microsoft Windows (like Windows 7 or Windows XP), then this will probably look pretty familiar. If you are more comfortable with Apple's MacOS, then it may take some adjustment. But if this is your first computer, then fear not! The Linux Mint team has invested a lot of time and effort to make finding and using your computer as streamlined as possible!
Launchers
Launchers are icons that you find on your Desktop. They are often used for one specific task like launching a program or opening a file.
Panel
The Panel is the large bar at the bottom of your screen. You can adjust the size of the panel by right-clicking on it and selecting Panel Settings.
Menu
The Menu is the section where you will find all of your programs that you want to use. Everything from internet browsers (e.g. Mozilla Firefox), to office tools (e.g. LibreOffice), and system settings for Linux Mint itself can be found and launched from the Menu. Check below to learn more about the Menu.
Applets
Applets are the tiny icons in the bottom-right corner of your screen that can give you a quick look into the status of your computer. These icons change depending on what your computer is doing at the time and can help with fast troubleshooting. You'll find things like reminders for updating your computer, how you are connected to the internet, and your current battery remaining if you are using a laptop.
Using the Menu
The Menu is the section where you will find all of your programs that you want to use. You can access your menu by clicking on the Linux Mint logo located in the bottom-left of your screen, next to the green desktop icon. You can also pull it up by pressing the super key on your keyboard (note that it doesn't say the word "super" but instead has a picture). Most of the time this is found between the ctrl and alt keys on the left side of your keyboard.
Favorites
You can save frequently used programs to your Favorites and they will show up on the left side of your menu for easy-access.
Categories
If you are looking for a specific program, but can't remember the name of it - check the Categories! For example, if you are looking for the spreadsheet tool, but can't remember what it is called, you can go to the Office category and try some of those options until you find the program you're looking for.
Programs
If you have All Applications selected in your Category column, then this will display a list of every application you have installed on your computer. If you select a specific Category (like Internet) then this column will only display applications that fit in that specific Category. Once you find the application you are looking for, you can click on it to launch the program.
Using the Search Bar
If you know the name of a program (or at least what it starts with) you can search for it using the Search Bar. Click in this white box located at the top of your menu and start typing.
Click the Program you Need
When using the Search Bar the Applications column will only show applications that match your search. This can be a fast way to access certain programs that you know the name of!
Installing New Programs
The Software Manager
Most of the Applications (or Programs) you need will be installed on your computer already. This includes things like an internet browser or office tools. However, if you find yourself missing a certain tool you can likely install it using the Software Manager.
The Software Manager acts a lot like an app store for an smartphone. All you have to do is find the application you want and click install! The great thing about the Software Manager is that all of the applications found will be Free and Open Source. So you won't have to pay for any applications that you install (there are certain programs that you can pay for additional features like Spotify, for example).
Unfortunately, not all software you might be looking for can be found in the Software Manger. Only programs that are both Free and Open Source will be found there, so a program like Google Chrome (which is Free, but not Open Source) will have to be found and installed from the internet. https://www.google.com/chrome/
For any program that you want to install from the internet, make sure it is from a trusted source and they have an Ubuntu/Debian version for you to install. Linux Mint (the Operating System that is installed on your computer is based off of Ubuntu, which is based off of Debian. Which means that the best chance of you finding a program that works will come down to finding an Ubuntu or Debian based version.
While we highly recommend the web browser that is installed with Linux Mint by default (Mozilla Firefox), we understand that some people are more used to Google Chrome or have a specific need that requires the use of Google Chrome. To find out how to install it, check out our Installing Google Chrome page linked below.
Customizing Linux Mint
What can I customize?
This computer is yours! You should be able to set it up exactly the way you want and be able to feel comfortable and unique with your new system. Linux Mint offers a great variety of ways to customize your computer, but we're only going to focus on the two big ones: Desktop Background and Themes.
Desktop Background
Changing your Background is one of the easiest ways to change the way your computer feels and Linux Mint has a few different ways of doing this. To use an image that you found on the internet as your Background all you have to do is right-click on the image and select Set as Desktop Background from the menu that appears. This also works with any image you have saved to your computer - like a family photo!
Themes
Changing your Theme can add further customization to you computer, like changing the color of your folders or how your Window Borders look. To change your Themes open your Menu from the bottom-left corner of your screen and search for Themes in the Preferences Category. Then, once you have opened the Themes application, you can click on any of the options there to change how each of those parts of your computer looks. You can even change how your Mouse Pointer looks!
What is LibreOffice?
LibreOffice is an open-source office suite that is comparable to Microsoft Office an other office software. It includes a variety of tools including a document editor, a presentation creator, a spreadsheet tool, and more. It comes pre-installed on many Linux-based operating systems (Like Linux Mint), but is also available to download for free for Windows and MacOS users.
LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Writer is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Office Word. It focuses on giving the user (that's you!) the ability to create functional documents like essays, resumes, recipe books, and more - all for free!
LibreOffice Impress
LibreOffice Impress is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Office PowerPoint. This is an insanely helpful tool when you need to give a presentation for school or work. Just like all of LibreOffice - it is completely free!
LibreOffice Calc
LibreOffice Calc is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Office Excel. Creating budgets, balancing checkbooks, and analyzing data are all well within reach of Calc. And best of all? It's completely free!