I'm 15 years old and I've used Windows for years so I'm the BIGGEST Linux newb you'll ever meet. Please don't ask "why don't you just use Windows?" because it's a long story.
Anyways I have Ubuntu and I'm trying to install Java 2 Runtime Environment from the Java website. I've followed the instructions, downloaded the right one, but when I try to open it in Gedit, i get the message "Could not open file....could not detect character coding, please check you are not trying to open a binary file..."
I've tried doing what it says but I have a gut feeling I'm doing something wrong. Can somebody possibly walk me through this? You can also add me at happy_dood@hotmail.com if it might take a while.

#1, It is right to use Penguin. Nobody asks use evil bil's junk.
#2. Can you post a) what exact file you download b) what exact instruction you followed c) post entire error message and your command. d) detailed description of your penguin.
#3. So that other penguins can make better understanding on your situation

Oh, sure. See, I'm a huge newb.

I'm trying to install Solaris (32-bit) from java.com
the actual file name is "jre-1_5_0_07-linux-amd64-rpm.bin

I saved it to my desktop and then when I open it (in Getit), It reads,
"Could not open the file /home/charley/Desktop/jr…_0_07-linux-amd64-rpm.bin.
gedit has not been able to detect the character coding.
Please check that you are not trying to open a binary file.
Select a character coding from the menu and try again."

Anymore information?

gedit is a text editor, you wouldnt want to open an executable with that...

open a terminal (gnome-terminal or something in ubuntu?) then
then try
i KNOW suns help doesnt say open it in gedit so i dont know where you got that idea

After I downloaded it and opened it, it just automaticaly opened it it Getit. Should I open it in something else?
Also, I tried what you said in the terminal and it said "bash: ./jre-1_5_0_07-linux-amd64-rpm.bin: Permission denied"

Even newbies sometimes have a clue.

Do you have a Solaris 32-bit installation? If you do, you're trying to install an AMD64 (64-bit) program on it. It'll never work.

Do you have a 64-bit version of Ubuntu? Is there even a 64-bit Ubuntu? If not, it'll never work.

I think you should read some documentation before you do anything else. Read and understand. In the first place that file you downloaded is not meant to be 'opened.' It's meant to be executed, but I'm pretty sure it's the wrong file anyway. Here's a tip ... You can't execute it by double clicking on it.

I believe Ubuntu has a Sun Java installation package in their repositories. I'm sure there is also a line by line explanation of how to get it installed somewhere on their website.

Using Linux is a man's job. Not recommended for kiddies. At 15, I have every reason to believe you're capable of doing it right, but making wild stabs in the dark is not the right way to get started.

That's right. pwnd, take a look at http://easylinux.info/wiki/Ubuntu_dapper

and

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UserDocumentation

You'll find information there on how to install JRE on Ubuntu (and how to manage Ubuntu).

Also, the package you downloaded is not meant for your system, as rickh says; first is for 64 bit systems and second is a rpm package (Ubuntu is based on Debian, so it uses .deb packages or just .bin packages)

Come on, don't discourage him ; you'd be surprised to know how fast kids can learn stuff

Thanks for all the help. I was just getting really impatient and trying to jump in there too fast.

Oh one more thing, I have AMD, not Pentium. Would that have anything to do with my problems?

Thanks to everybody who helped me out earlier and had patience with me.
I took your advice and read all about installing files, the terminal, package manager...etc. I found out what I was doing wrong, but now when I try to install it, this comes up:

Do you agree to the above license terms? [yes or no]
yes
Unpacking...
Checksumming...
0
0
Extracting...
UnZipSFX 5.50 of 17 February 2002, by Info-ZIP (Zip-Bugs@lists.wku.edu).
replace jre-1_5_0_07-linux-amd64.rpm? [y]es, [n]o, [A]ll, [N]one, [r]ename: y
inflating: jre-1_5_0_07-linux-amd64.rpm
error: Failed dependencies:
glibc >= 2.1.2-11 is needed by jre-1.5.0_07-fcs.x86_64
sh-utils >= 2.0-1 is needed by jre-1.5.0_07-fcs.x86_64
fileutils >= 4.0-8 is needed by jre-1.5.0_07-fcs.x86_64
gawk >= 3.0.4-1 is needed by jre-1.5.0_07-fcs.x86_64
textutils >= 2.0-2 is needed by jre-1.5.0_07-fcs.x86_64
/bin/sh is needed by jre-1.5.0_07-fcs.x86_64

Done.

I can't get certain things to run that requires J2RE so I know something went wrong.

I've merged the two threads, there's no need to start a new one as you
were getting support in the original, and it was only started today.


Secondly, I see two inconsistencies:
1st you're talking about a solaris package
2nd you're using RPMs for Ubuntu?

Can you please clarify what distribution you're using, and what
the source of your JRE package is?


Cheers,
Tink

Sorry for the confusion I'm not using Solaris at all...I don't know where I got that from, I didn't really have a clue what I was doing.:P
And I'm using a .bin file.

Also, after I type apt-get install sun-java5.bin, it reads:

E: Couldn't find package sun-java5.bin

Why is it not able to read it? (btw it's on my desktop)

You appear to be improving slowly, but you still haven't learned to read. In response #7 above, you got a couple links for Ubuntu documentation. The 1st one has a link a little ways down the page that says something like, "Install Sun Java." I glanced at it ... It appears to include two (2) very simple instructions. I think you can manage it.

In the meantime, delete that file on your desktop. It's probably the wrong one anyway.

I'm not surprised it says "Couldn't find package sun-java5.bin" as the package is called "sun-java5-jre".
You dont need to download the package from sun, you download it from ubuntu and apt-get dose it all for you.
just typethenIf apt still can't find the package then read this