As a long time Windows user, learning Linux has -- so far -- been rather fun, thanks largely to this forum's friendly, helpful members. However, a few of Linux's *unique* aspects have set me to scratching my head or -- in a few cases -- grinding my teeth. So please bear with me as I ask a few (probably dumb) questions in hopes of learning to love Linux. 1- Mounting a disk? I don't need to tell Windows when a disk or a UFD is present. Windows already knows. Doesn't Linux? 2- Who pressed the TRON button? a- While Linux is starting-up or shutting down, it onscreen-prints lengthy, visible lists of information in unreadably tiny letters. Those lists ask nothing from me during start-up & shut down (AFAIK). =>So why print the lists? b- Linux also prints lengthy lists of info when installing a new app. However, the installer's list is readable, & that list DOES ask me questions. c- To begin, I press the package manager's Install button. When the installer's list begins, it asks me if I want to install. I answer Yes (I suppose this assures Linux that I didn't press its Install button due to a muscle spasm). d- Then, after producing many more lines of data, the installer's list again asks me if I really want to install. So, for the 3rd time, I tell it YES! =>Why ask me basically the same question twice? Am I missing something? e- When I install an app with Windows, it asks me what language I want it in, & then gets on with its business, silently & quickly. =>Linux's app installer is verbose & slow. Why?
1. Years ago when I was using standard installs of popular, user-friendly distributions they didn't have any problems discovering something was plugged in to USB port - be it a printer or UFD. They automatically mounted UFDs. How they announced it to user was dependent on used distribution and chosen desktop environment.
bellgamin, not to take anything away from Wilder's helpful folks, but many, many years ago when I dabbled with Linux, I found this website VERY helpful: https://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/ Look at the Bruno's All Things Linux forum. Not that many people are there but those few are very helpful, at least they were over a decade ago. Good luck, Acadia
My take & afair. And sorry my responses probably won't be clear. 1. As long as a disk isn't mounted I can safely uninstall it without losing or corrupting data. 2. a. That's a graphical startup & if it freezes you gather info about what went wrong. Using a magnifying glass in this instance. 2. b. is a statement. 2. c. Some programs don't install alone. They need separate libraries. Gives a chance to read what will also be installed or updated. 2. d. Sometimes there's more information given between each prompt. So more confirmation is needed. 2. e. Slowness of install afaik it's checking dependencies & libraries all along the way.
As to disk mounting just use Disks/Gnome Disks (it's in all repositories). Main interface, click the cog wheel, edit mount options, change the defaults
Hi Bellgamin, under Settings in MX-21: Hahaa...that's just Linux wanting to appear more technically advanced than Windows.
+1 There are two gnome tools that KDE Plasma can't compete with gnome-disk-utility gparted I install both of them on every KDE Plasma distro I use, because they just work.
Thanx All of your comments were helpful except I don't understand the one quoted here. More info on this one, please. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I got a great teaching site from @Acadia & some great apps to grab from @Joxx & @shmu26. V.helpful screenshot from @wat0114. Between this forum & Linux's intriguing idiosyncrasies, I am totally enjoying the process of learning Linux. Plus, a few of my computer friends are watching me learn & getting interested.
If a disk is mounted after operations are completed & the disk is not being used. It still might be being used & transferring, copying, rearranging etc. data. So if disk is disconnected before being unmounted data might be lost or corrupted. Just like Windows & Flash Drives.
What @zapjb says is correct. Using MX-21 as an example distro, the safe course of action is to right-click the mounted drive and choose "unmount" as seen in the first screenshot, or if it's a USB drive, select "Safely remove" as seen in the second screenshot. In either case, if data is still transferring to or from the drive, you will get a warning before you can unmount it or safely remove it. In fact when you log out or shutdown/reboot, any mounted drives will automatically "unmount" or "safely remove" as long as they are not still in the process of a data transfer, in which case you should still get a warning. It's quite a bullet proof safety net, so nothing to worry about, unless of course a muscle spasm causes one to physically override the warning
