Complete Linux noob, HELP!

[minimoose]

I just installed Linux Mint 17 for the first time, and I am trying to get it to work, but I'm VERY confused.  There is no taskbar and it seems that my screen is cut off, but I can't get into the settings, because i can't find the settings, HELP!

 

To be clear, I'm in the live demo version, also, is there a way to install Mint 17 alongside Windows 7 without losing your Windows 7 and files?

[AlwaysFSX]

Press your printscreen button and upload a screenshot?

[minimoose]

It's a bare desktop background photo, nothing to see, I did figure out if I hit f2 it opens firefox, but I still can't get settings.

[zamielverb]

You can install Linux Mint alongside any other operating system, and the installer will help you with that so don't worry.

[minimoose]

Press your printscreen button and upload a screenshot?

NM, I'm being stupid, it had just set my second monitor as the primary one.  However, when I set the monitor at a 16:9 ratio res it cuts off parts of the screen, any idea why?

[minimoose]

You can install Linux Mint alongside any other operating system, and the installer will help you with that so don't worry.

I'm at the installer.  The first option is to erase Windows, I don't understand the other options, should I resize the Windows partition?  Will I erase the drive that way?

[AlwaysFSX]

NM, I'm being stupid, it had just set my second monitor as the primary one.  However, when I set the monitor at a 16:9 ratio res it cuts off parts of the screen, any idea why?

Driver is screwing up? Try auto?

[minimoose]

Driver is screwing up? Try auto?

I don't remember auto as an option, but I had to go out.  I'll let you know when i get back.  If you could send me a screenshot of where the auto button is, that would be awesome!

[AlwaysFSX]

I don't remember auto as an option, but I had to go out.  I'll let you know when i get back.  If you could send me a screenshot of where the auto button is, that would be awesome!

So would me knowing where my linux usb is!

[minimoose]

So would me knowing where my linux usb is!

I looked, and there is no auto option. It just cuts off the bottom of the screen, so I can only see the task bar if I run at a 4:3 aspect ratio. And it doesn't seem like my TV have the H. and V. Settings like most monitors do.

[AlwaysFSX]

I looked, and there is no auto option. It just cuts off the bottom of the screen, so I can only see the task bar if I run at a 4:3 aspect ratio. And it doesn't seem like my TV have the H. and V. Settings like most monitors do.

Might be a problem with your TV? Are you using HDMI?

[minimoose]

Might be a problem with your TV? Are you using HDMI?

Yeah, I'm using HDMI, I don't have issues with any other devices. I just remember though. The first time I plugged the laptop into the TV, while still on Windows, it did this, I fixed it by going into Intels iGPU driver settings and moving the image. But since Linux doesn't have drivers like that, I don't know what to do.

[AlwaysFSX]

Yeah, I'm using HDMI, I don't have issues with any other devices. I just remember though. The first time I plugged the laptop into the TV, while still on Windows, it did this, I fixed it by going into Intels iGPU driver settings and moving the image. But since Linux doesn't have drivers like that, I don't know what to do.

You can find any settings window for controlling this?

[minimoose]

You can find any settings window for controlling this?

I attached a photo of the display settings.  I assume that is where the setting would be, though I might need a line of code in the terminal to fix something with this.

[minimoose]

You can find any settings window for controlling this?

Fixed it!  Thanks for all your help!

[AlwaysFSX]

Fixed it!  Thanks for all your help!

Uh, cool!

[ohJey]

I'm at the installer.  The first option is to erase Windows, I don't understand the other options, should I resize the Windows partition?  Will I erase the drive that way?

1. shrink the main windows partition in windows drive manager

2. boot the live cd

3. select something else instead of remove windows in the installer

4. create a primary swap partition and give it 2gb

5. create a / partition and give it the rest of the space

6. make sure the boot loader is being installed on the drive you are installing linux on (for example /dev/sda DONT INSTALL ON /dev/sda1 or dev/sda2 etc..only /dev/sda)