MX-14: QuickStart

Note: RC=right click
See also the MX video collection for step-by-step help.
README
MX-14 has been developed as a midweight OS whose size is restricted to 700 MB in order to fit on a CD. This limit constrained the quantity and choice of default applications, but users can easily install additional items from language packs to browsers with a single click using the MX Package Installer.
These documents can be accessed at any time by clicking Start menu > System > Help as well as through the MX Docs
tab on the MX Forum. Questions, suggestions, offers of help etc. should be posted in the MX Documentation thread.
Panel
The default desktop of MX-14 has a single vertical panel on the left side of the screen. Default panel elements from top to bottom:
- Clock in analog format (double-click for orage calendar)
- Window Buttons: area where open applications are shown
- Web browser
- Settings manager
- Notification Area
- Update manager
- Keyboard manager
- Network manager
- Volume manager
- Power manager
- Other applications may insert icons here when running.
- Log out button.
- Pager: displays available workspaces
- Start menu ("Whisker")
To change the default Panel, see Customization.
Tips & Tricks
Some handy things to know at the beginning:
- For a detailed explanation of the installation procedure, watch this video.
- If migrating from Windows XP, please consult the videos Migrating, Part I and Migrating, Part II.
- If you have trouble booting Live media, be sure to consult the boot parameters available in the menus. You may also type an "e" (without the quotes) to be able to edit the boot parameters, and then add a suitable cheatcode.
- When you first boot into an installed MX-14, be sure to click Start menu > System > Synaptic and then select Reload.
- If you want maximized windows to not cover the entire screen, RC the Panel > Panel > Panel Preferences to set workspace margins.
- Adjust general loudness by RC speaker icon > Mixer.
- Exit the session:
- Press exit button above the Start menu icon.
- Click Start menu icon in lower left corner of the desktop, then the small logout icon in the upper right corner
- RC the desktop > Applications > Log Out
- Press Alt-F4
- Trash can be easily managed in the File Manager (Thunar), where you will see its icon in the left pane.
- Handy key combinations (see Settings Manager > Keyboard > Application Shortcuts).
Keystrokes |
Action |
Ctrl-Alt-Esc |
Changes the cursor into a white "x" to kill any program |
Ctrl-Alt-Bksp |
Closes the session and returns you to the login screen |
Ctrl-Alt-F1 |
Drops you out of your session to a command line; use Ctrl-Alt-F7 to return. |
Alt-F1 |
Opens the MX-14 Help document |
Alt-F2 |
Brings up a dialog box to run an application |
Alt-F3 |
Opens the Application Finder |
Alt-F4 |
Closes an application that is in focus |
PrtScr |
Opens the Screenshooter for screen captures |
- Keep your system current by watching for the green indicator of available updates on the Update Manager (Apt-Notifier) icon. See the Synaptic doc for details.
Applications
Applications can be started in a couple of ways.
- Click the Start menu ("Whisker") icon, in lower left corner of default desktop.
- It opens to Favorites category, and you can hover mouse over other categories on right side to see contents.
- At the top is an incremental search box--just type in the first few letters to find any application without needing to know its category.
- Place a # at the beginning of the search box followed by any command (e.g: #xdelta3) to bring up the man page.
- RC the desktop > Applications.
- If you know the name of a program, type
Alt-F2
and enter it. Click on the green down arrow for details and menu editing.
System info and management
System information
- Click Start menu > System > System Profiler and Benchmark for a nice graphic display
- Open a terminal and enter
inxi -F
System management
- Check under the categories System and Accessories in the Start menu
- Good command-line applications are available: see this help document
Video and audio
- For monitor settings, click Settings Manager icon on Panel > Display
- Make handy quick monitor changes with Start menu > Settings > Monitor Settings
- For nVidia and ATI drivers, sgfxi can be used
- Sound adjustment is done through Start menu > Multimedia > Audio Mixer (or RC Volume manager icon)
Help
For more general help, consult these resources.