As my first day with Linux (Fedora 16) comes to an end I find myself still unable to install from Tar.gz files.

I have read several gudies but it's still mind numbingly painful. Could anyone help?

Thank You ^_^ x

Your question is flawed, since tar.gz is simply an archive file format (like .zip in Windows).

You have to extract the archive and see what's inside.

What is the specific name of the file you're trying to install, what is the link to the site where you downloaded it, what is the link to the guide you're trying to follow, and which specific step are you stuck at (please copy & paste the error messages)?

1 members found this post helpful.

A file.tar.gz can be many different things : may be a binary package,
or something you will have to "build" :
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...code-895187/#6
→ Post # 6


.

Well, this has been asked and answered on here MANY times...you may want to use the search function, or Google.

snowpine summed it up nicely, though. Those are compressed files, so you first DEcompress the archive, then you take the next step. What that next step is, though, we can't say, since each program is different. What is the same with all programs, though, is that all of them come with instructions...look for the readme files, or check the website where you downloaded it. Read the manual, and it'll tell you what to do.

without the name of this archive ?????
a Tar.gz can be VERY old going back to 1990 older ones than that tend to be " TAR.Z " or " .tgz"

the newer ones tend to be " tar.bz2 "


so without knowing just What it is and from just Where you got it
we can not really help much

inside there "should be" a README and a INSTALL file , read them

but the archive might NOT be source code

so please post a link to where you got this file .

I did try google and looking this up already via the search function I just didn't get very far. I apologise if I was too vague with my question I knew that the tar.gz was just a container file. However I didn't know that the contents could be different from one tar.gz to the next. I thought it would be like .exe different programs yes but same install method.


I have managed to install VLC and get DVD playback but that's about it/. I have tried several times to install a few programs, as greatful for your help which I am. I don't expect you to talk me through each one but I will list them anyway to give you an idea of what I'm stuck with.

cdparanoia
nightingale
chromium
srware iron

I've not been able to install codecs either...

I am sorry if I came off as lazy before, I'm not perhaps just ignorant. I enjoy Fedora I didn't like the look of Ubuntu and a lot of the help online seems to be Ubuntu focused, I'm off to bed now I'm greatful for your help even if it's just to point me in the right direction

Grace x

for fedora have a look at mjmwired's help page
it is a short " at a glance" help and instructions
http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-f16.html
http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mj...l#mediaplayers
installing VLC on fedora is
and have a read through
the FedoraForum
http://www.fedoraforum.org/
the yellow link in the middle top of the page
"Fedora Set-Up Guides"

Fedora 16 :

1) cdparanoia : The system version must be used >> # yum install cdparanoia

2) http://getnightingale.com/
32bits OS : tar xvf nightingale-1.8.1-ed3358a-linux-i686.tar.gz && cd nightingale/ && ./nightingale
64bits OS : tar xvf nightingale-1.8.1-ed3358a-linux-x86_64.tar.bz2 && cd nightingale/ && ./nightingale

3) 'Google chrome browser' for Fedora
http://support.google.com/chrome/bin...n&answer=95346
32bits OS # yum localinstall --nogpgcheck google-chrome-stable_current_i386.rpm
64bits OS # yum localinstall --nogpgcheck google-chrome-stable_current_x86_64.rpm

.

1 members found this post helpful.

Nope, sorry. When you're installing from a tar.gz file, it's typically source code. Which means, you have you compile it and install it manually. This is the precise reason that pre-compiled binaries (essentially, the equivalent of .exe files in Windows), were created. Most all major Linux distros have online repositories..you can install programs by typing in a single command, or clicking a mouse button, and don't have to compile ANYTHING
No worries, but really each program is different. Think about Windows...SOME programs will go under C:\Program Files...some won't. Same thing here...each program has its own rules, and own set of parameters.

When asking questions, though, it's best to be specific...tell us what version/distro of Linux, what SPECIFIC program you're wanting to install, etc. "How do I install a program?" isn't a good question, but "I'm using Fedora 16, and I'm trying to find a program that will play back video files, and I'm stuck with error XXX", will get you much better help. On that same note, typing "fedora 16 play video files" into Google will probably also yield lots of help too.

Again, your online repositories will be of help, but without knowing what version/distro, we can't tell you how to access them, or what to install.