Ok I've downloaded a lot of files by now and have installed some of them because the sites offer installation instructions now I've downloaded some files with no installation instructions and since I'm a newbie I don't know how to install them for example I've downloaded GTK-Gnutella a filesharing program for the gnutella network and it is a .deb file now the problem is I don't know how to install this type of files. any help would be appreciated
-thanks

a .deb file is a debian package. what distro do you have? you're also going to have to be more specific about exactly what you are trying to install, including file names, etc.

.deb files are ment to be installed with dpkg, the Debian package system. While I am sure you could get dpkg running on distro's other then Debian, you are far better using your distro's preferred method of package management, or downloading a zipped tar of the source and compiling the program manually.

What distribution do you use? Redhat and Mandrake use rpm's, so does Suse if I am not mistaken. Slackware uses it's own installpkg system which uses binaries put into gzipped tarballs. Gentoo uses a system called portage that downloads source and compiles it because on ebuild files. I am sure there are other methods as well.

I'd recommend a look here

I'm reading through it and it's very helpfull!

Ok My distro is red hat 9

Then you either have to find an rpm or download the source and do it manually

d00d your going to have to be patient ...

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=143349

you already have this thread going ...
read the rules (remember you agreed to them )
don't double post

ahhh Ok sorry DrOzz no damage was intended I'm very sorry.