Zorin 9 Doesn't Show Desktop

Hello Linux experts (because I suspect experts are what I need). Being a newbie I tried to choose a linux distro that I could use most like windows XP in particular, to include apps, maintenance and ease. To me it seemed like ZORIN fit the bill so I installed Zorin 9 on a 500 gb HD and configured a desktop with Cairo Dock (that dock being like the quick launch bar in Windows). So far so good.

Two main tasks I have is finding a back up (clone) utility I can use to clone the entire HD to an external USB HD so that I can simply plug in that clone and have the identical Zorin back exactly the way it was. Secondly I want to install my Canon printer (all in one print, copy, scan, and fax) so that I can use it the same way as with XP.

So far I've been disappointed for both because the clone apps I see available are "dd" (terminal) which does not seem to work and/or if it did the advice is that a clone could take days or weeks? Say what? Is that nuts or what. In windows I can clone my HD in 45 minutes, plug it in the computer and have an exact working copy of the source HD. Obviously days or weeks to obtain a HD clone is not good, and I'm not even sure that if I did it anyway that I would actually be able to plug it in (in place of the original HD),having an exact working copy of all files including boot, system, files and apps.

Next, installing my Canon printer seems unlikely if not impossible because I can't find drivers for that printer available for Zorin.

Did I make the wrong distro choice, and if so which Linux distro should I have installed? Ubuntu? Mint? Or maybe I'm looking for more in any Linux that can be had to date? Any advice please? Save me from having to go back to Windows which everyone knows (including M$oft MVP's)sucks.

Hello Linux users. I'm described as a newbie (which i am) but you've never seen a newbie as new as I am I'll wager.

I installed Zorin 9 OS core as an alternative to Microsoft crap that I'm really tired of, (cost as well as never vending bugs). Yes I know I'll still have bugs with linux but at least the patches and fixes in any Linux distro is for the benefit of Linux users and not to sell more Microsoft crap.

I have evidently been reasonably successful to install the latest Zorin 9 with my desktop environment choice. However I'm used to (and like) the MS so called quick launch bar at the bottom of the XP desktop installation, from which I can place links of any app or web link to instantly go there. Correct me if I'm wrong but Linux has basically the same quick launch function which I can choose from the software center and I've tried to select and install at least 2 named Cairo-dock and Docky for example. I did choose and install those according to the Linux prompts but I notice no change in the "Avant Window Navigator" at the bottom of my desktop, and when i try to drag a web link or app to that bar it either flips back to the link spot i saved on the desktop, or there's no action at all. In other words I am not able to put a link or app on the AWN, which AWN does not serve as a dock launcher at all (except for my Firefox browser icon WHICH IS INSTALLED at the left bar location and does work to quick launch Firefox when I left click on it.

So how do I not only properly install that notorious quck launch app in linux Zorin 9 OS and finally drag or otherwise install my links there?

thanks for any advice or replies.

Burnt Zorin 9.0 Ultimate to a"LightScribe" disc, now I am unable to open it and I see no desktop icon, Can anyone help? I have no clue about this "Operating System" it has turned out to be more of a headache to me.

Hi everyone,

I tried to install Elementary Freya and everything was good, though suddenly while using my laptop I get a black screen. I cannot use the mouse nor the keyboard. When I press the power button, to put the computer in sleep mode, and the open it again, I can see the desktop but cannot do anything.
I tried to use Mint 17.1 and then reinstalled Elementary again but I keep getting the same problem.
I use Linux next to windows 8.1

Thanks in advance, I would appreciate any help

Hello,

I'm a new Linux user (Mint 17.1 Rebecca Mate) going through the learning curve. It's a challenege. Dual boot with Windows 8.1, which provides the motivation!

I have an older Dell Dimension PC with XP. It's old and cranky, but I do love my XP. I want to wipe the hard drive and install a user friendly simple version of Linux that I can reinstall XP into as VM.
I am clueless where to even begin to figure out which version of Linux is best for this aside from the two mentioned below. The PC operatest 2.17 GHz, has 1.25 GB RAM, and a 156 GB Hard Drive.

I tried installing Zorin, both by DVD and USB, but could not get it to install or even work live. Just kept getting the F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup ingfinte loop. Spent a week trying every which way, short of a format, to install Zorin but I just refused to work, despite their excellent suopport.

Also tried every which way to install Robolinux ( all three versions), and again could not get it to install, although I was able to do the Xfce and KLDE versions live. Just went to them for support and it requires a $5 donation per case. Knowing how much supoport I could need, that could really add up.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.
TIA.
Cheers!

I just got a new laptop with Windows 8.1 and I cannot figure out how to install Linux Mint by booting from a CD or USB drive. Previously, I had installed Linux Mint on my old desktop and netbook computers that were running Windows XP. I had no trouble booting from a CD. Now that the process has been complicated in Windows 8.1 I don't know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I would really like to get rid of Windows 8.1 ASAP. Thanks!

I'm having trouble getting OS installs to work on this low-end laptop. I've tried Linux Mint, OpenSuse, Manjaro, Zorin OS Core 9 (32bit, 64bit and lite versions). My problem is that once installed, the graphics aren't rendered correctly or (with Zorin) the system would freeze right after logging in. Manjaro did install and work, but the screen was so dark it was unusable, even after adjusting the brightness levels. With Linux Mint, the compatibility mode worked perfectly using the live cd, but the graphics were too distorted once installed. OpenSuse also had distorted graphics. I just want to put the laptop to use until it dies on my.

I've tested the hard drive with the on board diagnostics and I've checked the memory. Neither of those tests gave any errors.

The specs a

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core TK-55
2 gigs of DDR2 memory
Nvidia GeForce Go 6100 graphics card.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm not an expert, so be gentle with the help and recommendations.

Hello All. This is my first post here. I am worse than a newbie; I'm a PC dinosaur! Not joking either.
Recently got a Dell Inspiron 3048 with Windows 8.1 pre installed. As I am a die hard XP user (my other PC is a Dell Dimension 2400), and seeing that PC's days may be numbered, I want to start using Linux, and decided Mint 17.1 would be first on the list.
Ordered a Linux Mint 17.1 boot disk and went to install it. At the option for a dual boot with Windows, I got lost, and did not understand the "other" choice versus making Linux the only OS on the PC. I wound up wiping my HDD and lost contact with Windows 8.1. Fortunately, the Dell Tech I got at Dell Support was able to walk me through getting Windows back up, but the only way I can now access Mint 17.1 is with the boot disk, but there is no set up options as it is already set up, even though incorrectly for a dual boot.
How do I wipe out Linux without losing Windows 8.1 as well so I can re install Linux and this time make the correct selection for a dual boot?
Anyone willing to respond please do so small and slow so I can follow.
TIA.
BTW, I have tried installing Zorin OS 9 Ultimate on my XP machine via DVD and USB, but I can't get past the f1/f2 loop, even though I have reconfigured my boot sequence according to the drive I'm installing from. Zorin support has been MIA on this. Anyone having a similar problem?
Cheers

I have VirtualBox up and running on my headless Centos 6 machine, am using http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpvirtualbox/ as a GUI, and created a virtual machine and installed Windows 7 on it.

I can access it using the VirtualBox console (via phpvirtualbox interface), however, only can see part of the screen and the mouse doesn't work properly. I can also access it using Windows Remote Desktop Connection using IP 192.168.1.200:9000 (why port 9000?), but again the mouse doesn't work.

I have the following ext packs installed on the server.
Code:

login as: Michael
Michael@192.168.1.201's password:
Last login: Sat May 23 10:06:04 2015 from 192.168.1.10
[Michael@devserver ~]$ VBoxManage list extpacks
Extension Packs: 1
Pack no. 0:   Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
Version:      4.3.10
Revision:     93012
Edition:
Description:  USB 2.0 Host Controller, Host Webcam, VirtualBox RDP, PXE ROM with                                                                                                                                                              E1000 support.
VRDE Module:  VBoxVRDP
Usable:       true
Why unusable:
[Michael@devserver ~]$

Do I need additional extensions to better interact with the guest? How are they installed? Thank you

Hi guys

I have installed Linux in a virtualbox on a windows 8 laptop. I found the screen size in the vrtualbox running ubuntu to be too small so I looked around for a solution.

I came across this

'Use Xdiagnose From the Dash, search for and launch Xdiagnose, then enable all the options under the Debug section. Click the Apply button, then close the window and restart the system. You’ll have to restart. Logging out, then in won’t do.'

After doing so my screen went from bad to worse and now I can only see a pixelated view of my screen.

Does anyone know how to work around this problem and get a bigger screen in virtualbox ?