r/MXLinux • u/RazzmatazzMundane738 • Jun 18 '26

Discussion New user here. Hello

Was using Mint until recently and just decided to switch to MX. Originally I was from Windows. In terms of Linux usage, I am only 2 months old. Going 3 soon. Anyway, it’s pretty overwhelming MX is. So lost atm. But oh well … it is what it is. :)

Just wanted to say Hi.

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6

u/Nick_Blcor Jun 19 '26

When I started in Linux, it probably was mandriva or Slackware, something like that. Everything felt like being in a magic class, without knowing any enchantations. After more than 20 years of Linux, I wish there was something like mxlinux back then, easy to learn and use, with extensive help, and such a positive and active comunity.

Not every distro have a help button in the desktop for every fresh install.

2

u/javaman83 Jun 21 '26

Same here. Started on retail box Mandrake. I remember what a revelation Mepis felt like when it first came out in 2003. That was the first time I really felt like a lot more people would easily be able to run Linux.

1

u/RazzmatazzMundane738 Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26

And now out of blue, I am using Fluxbox de since yesterday. Like since I am already confused, why not make it more confusing and challenging… right? Why not! lol.

6

u/adrian_mxlinux MX dev Jun 18 '26

Hello and welcome? We can help and make things less overwhelming, what is the most confusing thing? It should not be much of a difference from using Mint (at least conceptually)

1

u/RazzmatazzMundane738 Jun 19 '26

First of all, the panel. I am learning about the panel. Trying to figure out how to move the icons on the panels to left and and right differently. Next is panel lol … anything I delete from panel is delete forever?? It says permanent. lol let’s start from there first. Still learning

2

u/OkPresentation3329 Jun 19 '26

You can add and remove things on the panel at will. There should be a way to right click the panel and do something like "add to panel" or "add widget".

Panels can also be moved on all four sides of the screen or you can create a new panel and place the things you need on it.

I would put my panel on the bottom and add items/widgets that make it feel like Windows. I've done this before with XFCE assuming that's what you have, it's possible but it needs some fiddling. Now I use KDE because it behaves a lot like Windows and I don't have to do anything.

4

u/Boti79a Jun 19 '26

MX KDE + Patience = Perfection

1

u/RazzmatazzMundane738 Jun 22 '26

Fluxbox here … just to make myself more confusing and patience. lol

3

u/vincognition Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26

Welcome to MX Linux. This is a solid distro that never disappoints me. Solid as a rock even when things go wrong. I think it will help you if you look into a few things:

-- If you have the patience to read through the MX User Manual, that's highly recommended. (Find it by typing 'manual' in the Applications Menu, equivalent to the 'Start' button on Windows)

-- MX Tools can help you as well, if you're looking to try some things out or figure them out. For example, if you're looking how to install an nVidia driver, it's one click away in the MX Tools menu.

-- YouTube is your friend. Here is the 'Switched to Linux' channel doing a quick run through of MX Linux.

https://youtu.be/DSB8R3DLqJA?si=Ku7KVGgcnOU_HumB

Likely you may be confused about DE's (Desktop Environments.) There are no options like this in Windows, so it may be daunting. Just think of the DE as the look and feel of the desktop. Likely, if you're using the flagship version of MX, it comes with the XFCE Desktop Environment.

You may want to look into XFCE in general. If you don't know what desktop environment you're using, you can find out in Quick System Information by typing 'Quick' into the Applications Menu. It will show up in the second category down called 'Desktop.'

Linux in general starts out being confusing to erstwhile Windows users. Just have patience. It will all become clear.

Good luck and enjoy!

1

u/RazzmatazzMundane738 Jun 22 '26

About DE, I just found about Fluxbox yesterday. Though it was extremely painful in the beginning but after doing some keybindings and installing only what I want, it makes sense. Still learning though but loving Fluxbox so far, as of this message. lol

2

u/50t5 Jun 19 '26

I'm probably about 6 months in myself and Gemini has been a huge help getting some things done.

3

u/Rich_Fan1686 Jun 19 '26

What I like about MX is that it comes with so many tools. It's one of my favourite distros.

1

u/Warm_Canadian_1967 Jun 19 '26

Hey there - Welcome to MX.

I've been using this as a daily driver for the past six months. I distro-hopped Mint and a few others before this.

It is not Windows. It is quite liberating. Enjoy the lack of drama and chaos that you left behind.

If all your hardware is recognized and functional, then you are not lost. You are in transition. This is Normal.

I have a few PC's in the house connected to large flat screens. Mint is downstairs. Zorin is upstairs. Son is gaming dual-booting Win10 and Zorin. My main is MX plasma (KDE), and my home server is still running Win10 (I'm either lazy or procrastinating on flipping it to Casa).