Ubuntu Linux Question, Help!?

Question

Hi, I created a nice dual-boot system so that I can also have
Ubuntu Linux next to Windows 7.

I'm a newcomer to Linux, and I find the Linux file (navigation) system to be aggravating
and mysterious..

I opened up a terminal (in Linux), and I'm trying to access the "Downloads" folder.

Well, I managed to get to a directory such as "Computer-UserName: ~$ "
then I do a "dir" command to see a list of subdirectories,... and some of the
directories listed are indeed "Downloads", "SDesktop", "GNUstep", "Pictures", "Templates",
"Documents", "Music", "Public", "Videos",....

But, when I try to change to the "Downloads" directory, I get an error message
such as "No such file or directory"...

What happened? Why won't it let me change to the "Downloads" directory?

I used the simple command: "CD Downloads", or "CD /Downloads", and nothing works.

Answer 1

The version would help, but is not needed to answer the question.

UNIX and Bash/$ are CaSe sensitive. Slashes are also, \ and / mean different things.

From a site:

Notes for the UNIX Clueless:

1. LINUX IS CASE-SENSITIVE. For example: Netscape, NETSCAPE and nEtscape are three different commands. Also my_filE, my_file, and my_FILE are three different files. Your user login name and password are also case sensitive. (This goes with the tradition of UNIX and the "c" programming language being case sensitive.)

2. Filenames can be up to 256 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, "." (dot), "_" (underscore), "-" (dash), plus some other not recommended characters.

3. Files with names starting with "." are normally not shown by the ls (list) or dir commands. Think of these files as "hidden". Use ls -a (list with the option "all") to see these files.

4. "/" is an equivalent to DOS "\" (root directory, meaning the parent of all other directories).

5. Under Linux, all directories appear under a single directory tree (there are no DOS-style drive letters).

6. In a configuration file, a line starting with # is a comment.

see Third URI:

You are not using UNIX, you are using Ubuntu which is Debian Based.

sorta. it was at the beginning, things change.

Look at the Ubuntu Forums, there are plenty of good resources in that forum for almost any question that I have ever seen or come across.

Windows is like your Dads Cadillac, it has soft seats, but I suspect the oil needs changing, tires inflated and other things. But it gets point a to b.

Linux or GNU/Linux is like a tank with a jet engine in it that never breaks down.

But all systems will fail, eventually, so always make a backup.

I Read The Free Manual that comes with it.

Answer 2

Linux cli commands are different from windows dos commands. Here is a list of some of the basic ones. If you know a command you can find more info about it with the man command: e.g. man cd

You also have to be aware of the path used in the command. See the second link

If you are in your /home directory and Downloads is a subdirectory you have to use the command

cd /Downloads

If you have another subdirectory withing the Downloads directory the command would be

cd Downloads/other_directory

Do not use the caps CD for the change directory command it should be cd.

You do have to use the / to designate a directory.

Good luck

Answer 3

first no need to have cd in caps, lowercase works fine, in fact CD will not work. it has to be cd



but as to the file path, like the other guy said, the case does matter. cd Downloads is different from cd downloads.



so first in your terminal in the home directory? type cd ~ to be sure "~" is the home, user directory.

to view the full path (ie long form), open the terminal and type cd. then drag the file folder into the terminal. for me its /home/ubunut/Downloads (my username is ubunut because i mistyped ubuntu...and still need to change it)

Answer 4

Well it is case-sensitive, so make sure you are using the correct case. Other than that, I am not sure. Try using "ls" (lowercase "L") to list the directory contents and check the folder permissions maybe?