Diggin Linux - But a few Random Newbie Questions

[regin]

FIrst off i'm diggin linux but i have lots of little questions.

1. Smartd fails at startup
why does this happen? how can i fix it?
2. Probing for new hardware takes about 5-10 minutes on startup
Should it take this long with no new hardware? Cani i speed it up, or since i know i'm not chaning hardware disable it?
3. I still need windows for class i have a Visual Basic class
Can fedora emulate VB.net or should i just leave that to windows?
4. New software
When i download and install new software where should i installl it to, so it is managable?
Is there a way to have fedora install it so that it appears in the Package Manager/Add Remove Apps?
Is there a way to install so Up2date will look for its updates? or do only the packages on the cd's do that?
5. Mozilla plugins
Where can i get plugins for mozilla to play like Quicktime or Windows Media files?
6. Downloads
Where is a good site for linux downloads?
7. Tars and RPM's
I once ran mandrake that when i clicked on either a tar or rpm file, it would unpackage it or run it.
Now i'm getting a Associate Application message. Any Apps i may have missed that were packaged
WIth fedora good for this?

I think those are all my questions for now anyway.

Thanks, Karl

Please read the FedoraFaq.org and the FedoraGuide.org. They should answer most of your questions. After you thoroughly read those, use yum or apt/synaptic or up2date to manage all software on your system. For media and plugins you should install mplayer and mplayerplug-in via yum.

[foolish]

Windows applications run best in windows.

For installation of software, see www.fedorafaq.org/#installsoftware

If you need to install something from a tarball, use /usr/local/ to keep things manageable.

If you install stuff using an installer (like games or firefox) use /opt

And read www.fedorafaq.org

[imdeemvp]

6. Downloads
Where is a good site for linux downloads?

www.distrowatch.com and www.linuxiso.org are the place to go for me

5. Mozilla plugins
Where can i get plugins for mozilla to play like Quicktime or Windows Media files?

in mozilla under Help and it will also take you the mozilla support page!

this forum already have the FAQ answers you can do a search here too and like the others suggested visit the www.fedorafaq.org

[Prometheus]

Have you updated the kernel? I know initially when i used the default FC2 kernel, it took baout 5-10 min to boot, first time i ran yum-update and got the new kernel, it only took a few minutes to boot. You may want to try that and see if that speeds up your boot time.