2 questions: downloads + printer
 

I didn't know where to put my questions and since I'm a newbie when it comes to Linux, I thought to put my questions in this part of the forum.

Question 1:
Whenever I managed to download a file or program, I can't seem to manage to open it to install it. When I try clicking to start the installation it just does nothing.
So I'm wondering how to fix that.

Question 2:
I have a printer attached to my desktop, but I attached it to my laptop once too. Amazingly my laptop detected it and everything was set. I had selected that printer on my laptop do print out my document and it said it was sending over the information, but no printing started. Do I have to do anything else to get it to work, or can it just be that my laptop and printer are just not compatable?
Names of products:
Printer: Canon PIXMA MP500
Laptop: Acer Aspire One A110-Aw White Azerty


I'm actually a newbie at computer language and English isn't my main language so please be easy on all the technical terms ^.^"

Before trying to help you with distro and version do you use ?
All the distros has a way handle installing programs but all some what different from each other

distro?
erm...
Let's see. *opens the systeminformation and translates it*
This is what it says:
Modusname: Aspire One
Controlsystem: Linpus Linux Lite V1.0.11.E
BIOS version: v0.3114

Does any of this help you?

and it has this program called InstallPatch, but it says that I need to install the updaterepairprogram first...
And if I say ok it says that the repairfile ain't available.

I'm just giving you all kinds of information in the hopes to help you find an answer ^^;

Never used Linpus Lite but it seems to be based on Fedora
How much it differs from Fedora do not know.
Assuming that they make use of some Fedora options than there is in you´re menu a option called Add and Remove Software
ore something like that to install and uninstall software a other option could be on the command line as root YUM install
package name
There should also be a option for automatic update
There could also be in youŕe menu a option called system see if there is suboptiopn called Printers

Installing Software:
Always try the package manager first--it will be in the menus under the name "add/remove software", "install programs", or something similar.

If you need to install something that is not in the package manager, then the proceedure varies. Please tell us what the program is, and what king of file you downloaded.

Installing a Printer:
Before using a printer on a typical Linux system, you have to install a "queue". This is simply a config file which includes the appropriate driver. The best printer setup (IMHO) is the CUPS html tool. Simply enter "localhost:631" into a browser URL window. Click on "add printer" and it will take you thru the steps. One of the first steps involves selecting the printer (device). When you get to the Device window, the first entry will be something that does not make much sense--scroll down and see if you printer has been automatically detected.

I'm still trying to find the menu where it says 'add/remove software' ^.^; I have no problem with finding it on Windows but I can't find it on this type of server =S
Could someone please give me a detailed step by step guide to get there? Then I can, hopefully, continue on my own.
To have an idea on how my screen looks like here is a linky: http://www.acer.com/aspireone/
I'm absolutely and completely lost. If I had a CD-drive on this laptop I would download Windows instead and completely solve the problem =.="