What are some of the easiest ways for a beginner to make their system untable when they start tinkering with it?
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Ah yes, I've made that mistake, too.
Also, going through Synaptic and deleting everything you don't know.
Synaptic is a new Linux user's worst enemy. Makes it too easy to just break stuff.