[PLUG] Is PLUG Appropriate For Me?

["Bill Diehl" <infonews@verizon.net>]

Dear PLUG Members:

Last summer (2007) I embarked on the great transition from 
Windows 98SE to Debian/GNU Linux - Etch.  However, I got stuck 
and still continue to use Windows 98SE (it does everything I need it 
to do but I'm pressing its limits).

Since I am not a hacker/programmer/geek/guru by any means and 
mostly just need help with getting Debian-Etch (or later) fully 
operational (before I lose my sanity and buy Windows XP), I was 
wondering if PLUG is appropriate for me.

>From what I have seen on your website, it looks like you folks enjoy 
mostly high-end technical aspects of Linux and Unix.  I got the 
impression that Linux can do everything that Windows XP can do 
and much more with greater stability and reliability.  Since both 
Linux and XP are foreign to me, I am basically starting from square 
one with either OS.

Even though I have been working with computers for 20+ years, 
using applications, configuring, building, repairing, teaching 
applications, etc., a disabling health condition that has plagued me 
since 1993 has turned my brain to mush.  That is, I just cannot 
grasp, retain, and apply this technical stuff like I used to and my 
energy and interest for doing so is just not there as in my younger 
years.

The one major problem that I have not been able to figure out is 
how to get SAMBA configured so that my computer can share files 
and printers with our two other Windows 98SE computers hard-
wired through a 4-port router.  The 3 Win98SE machines work just 
fine networked together but I cannot figure out how to setup 
SAMBA in Debian-Etch to work the same way.

Networking has never been something I grasped and having spent 
several weeks over the summer on forums and reading the SAMBA 
documentation only ended in more frustration.  I could not figure it 
out on my own and just gave up - until now.

Since my mind is not functional enough to comprehend this 
networking issue, I am essentially looking for help with just getting 
Debian and SAMBA fully operational - even if I have to pay 
someone a reasonable fee to do so.  Can you tell, I am at wits end 
with this and don't know where to get the help I need.

So, if this post is not appropriate for this group, please accept my 
apologies and please delete this post.  If there is any help out 
there, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
Bill Diehl
East Greenville
Montgomery Co., PA

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