How to configure Fedora 18 and install popular software?

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The question should read: "How to configure Fedora 18 and install popular software?"

Filesystems and partition schemes should not affect installation process of programs.

Use AutoPlus / Fedora Utils / PostinstallerF - GUI's that will help to get you started, install and configure essential stuff on a fresh Fedora install. If neither of the tools has been updated for Fedora 18, you should stick to Fedora 17 until they will get updated. Especially that:

• Fedora 18 is still in beta

• you'll be able to update 17 to 18 using FedUp

  Fedora 17 to Fedora 18 update using FedUp

as said @Bucic Fedora 18 is still in beta. therefore, many repositories do not work if you not disable the repositories 'updates', and you enable only the repositories 'test updates'

How to disable or enable repositories?

su -c 'gpk-prefs'

I do not understand because you use the native method about a rpm. I recommend you read about the command 'yum'

http://yum.baseurl.org/wiki/YumCommands
http://centoshelp.org/resources/commands/yum-commands/

How to install Google Chrome?

32 bit

yum -y localinstall https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stablecurrenti386.rpm

64bit

yum -y localinstall https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stablecurrentx86_64.rpm

extension to give more options to the panel?

Do you know about Gnome Shell Extension?

What are GNOME Shell Extensions?

GNOME Shell extensions are small pieces of code written by third party developers that modify the way GNOME works. (If you are familiar with Chrome Extensions or Firefox Addons, GNOME Shell extensions are similar to them.) You can find and install GNOME Shell extensions using this website.

Since extensions are created outside of the normal GNOME design and development process, they are supported by their authors, rather than by the GNOME community. Some features first implemented as extensions might find their way into future versions of GNOME.

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I also I have Fedora 18 and above, working properly EXCEPT dropbox you must disable the repository, because it blocks system updates.

Please search inside 'Ansk Fedora' there are many questions about how to install Flash plugin correctly using 'yum'

Today is January 13th at 21:3o (time I am writing this). In two days, you will be able to download Fedora 18.