Hey everyone! I just installed Linux Mint today, and I'm trying to figure things out, but I'm running into some issues. The software manager has been stuck on "generating cache, one moment" for over 4 hours! Whenever I refresh the update manager, it shows a few cache packages being installed.
I'd also love some tips on how to navigate Linux Mint in general—like how to download software, update the system, change settings, and maintain my machine. I'm completely new to Linux and I used to be a Windows user, so any advice or guidance would be really appreciated! Thanks!
4 Answers
Don't forget about .deb files! You can install them using the `dpkg` command. Just run `dpkg -i /path/to/file.deb` after you've downloaded the .deb file. It’s super handy for installing certain applications! If any of this doesn’t make sense, just ask away! I’m happy to help!
Most applications on Linux will be installed either through Flatpaks or using APT. For Flatpaks, you can download the application file from Flathub and follow the instructions there. For APT, just use `sudo apt update`, then `sudo apt install [package-name]`—like if you want to install the Brave browser. And remember, you don’t need to use `sudo` in a new terminal session until you close it!
First off, is your computer connected to the internet? It sounds silly, but sometimes it helps to double-check the connection. If it is, try changing your mirrors in the software manager to see if that helps with the cache issue. That can often fix hangs in the software manager!
Another thing you can do is open the Terminal and run a few commands. Type `sudo apt update` and then `sudo apt full-upgrade`. If those run without errors, try opening your software center again to see if it’s working better. It’s a great way to manage your software directly from the command line!
Yes, I've been connected from the moment I booted up! I'm using a mobile hotspot.