download problems
 

I'm trying to install software like bittoran, or vuze or divx, and when i hit download, my screen pops up and says open with ......? I'm new to this system, so i have really no clue what i'm doing. I made sure the downloads are compatible for linux, click download, then my screen pops up, " open with .... (browse)" or save to disk. I assume i should open it, but with what?

Details are important. What distro, exactly how are you trying to install them and from where, and exactly what steps are you taking. No mind readers here (that I know of).

Read this: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I went to a DIVX site and clicked on a download for divex that is compatible for linux. My screen popped up with a message, "open with ....." or "save this to disc. I'm not sure what to open it with?

You want to save to disc if you want to keep a copy of it or if it is not packaged in you Linux distribution's package format and is just a .tar file which is usually installed manually by command line.
You still fail to tell us which Linux distribution you are using, you should put it in your signature if you want more precise advice when you forget to mention which one you are using.
If this file you try to download ends in .deb and you are running a Debian derivative Linux, you would open it with synaptic or whatever package manager you are using.

I am very dumb when it comes to computers, linux more so than windows. This computer I have is an Acer with linux lite. Do u think I should re-install this version of linux? My help button on my settings page shows an error when i click on it, and when i get a software to actualy download, and I try to open it, it comes up with an error as well, i.e. such and such a python not detected, no data detected. I don't know, really lost and confussed with this computer.

I am assuming by "linux lite" you have Linpus Lite installed on that machine. It's a Fedora based distro that uses RPMs.

Whether or not you want to install a different distro is entirely up to you. If you wish to keep what you have it would pay to learn as much about using it as possible, especially with regard to the package management.

It sounds like you're close, you need to install all the packages reported by the error.
I went to DivX site and could not find anything for linux, only Mac & Windows. Can you provide a link to the download page you're getting this from?
If masonm is correct and you are using an RPM distribution, the name of the file you are downloading/installing should either end in .rpm or .tar. The .rpm can be installed by the OS using a utility called RPM which does not take care of installing dependencies (other packages that need to be installed before this one). Fedora based distributions are probably all still using yum as the default package manager that will take care of installing dependencies providing the package you are trying to install is in your Linux distribution's repositories.
Chances are DivX is not in the repositories which is why it's using RPM rather than YUM.
If you have an application that allows you to see all packages/software available for installation (as most do), use it to install those missing dependencies.

I'm not sure what the issue is with the error you're getting when trying to access the help in settings, but I would not go playing with settings just yet, nor would I suggest jumping the gun and doing a re-installation. Try installing those packages mentioned in the "install" error first, then try to install the DivX package.
And if you still run into issues, don't forget to copy and paste the link in the URL field of your web browser here when you are on the download page where you're getting this package so we can see what you're trying to install.