Hey guys, the biggest problem I have been having with linux are .tar.gz files, and not being able to remove programs (specifically the AWN program dock). I would try and run command line to remove the AWN dock, and it said it didn't exist, but I could open it up and run it!? I have never been able to figure out .tar.gz. I will select all, hit extract, and then extract it to a file I made in my documents folder, but I can't do anything with the files it puts in there. I am in a good for nothing linux class and have learned nothing, and I am so frustrated with Linux now that it has heightend my love for Windows, and I am about to walk away from Linux completely.

The problem is, I can't because I can't stand it when I can't figure something out, and I get determined to learn it. I am curious about linux, want to learn to use it as well as I can use windows, and overall, just want to learn it. I need some help to ease my frustrations and I am hoping there is someone out there who can help me. I have broken linux enough already and had to reinstall (had to do a reinstall because I couldn't get rid of that dock program). I am using Ubuntu 8.04. Thanks for any help you guys can provide. Also, can you point me in the direction of a good book for linux newbies that walks you through becoming an advanced user?

In then end, I want to be as advanced a user in linux as I am in Windows, so that if I ever walk into an admin job and they are using linux, I can do it instead of avoiding the job altogether. Thanks again guys for your help. I am serious though, I am about to walk away from linux because it doesn't feel like it's worth the trouble, and still use my windows machine more because it's what I'm used to, and I am way more comfortable with it (cliche I know )

Hi bparkerson04

Are you comfortable with command line under Linux ?

Because tar work very well with command line

--Jean-Philippe

I'm really new with it, but I am comfortable using it if I know the commands. I used to think command line was archaic and useless until I was introduced to linux believe it or not. I actually want to learn it for Windows and Linux now. But to answer your question, I don't know alot of syntax, but I am comfortable getting in there and trying it. The worst I can do is destory the machine and just have to do a reinstall...but that's why I bought this machine in the first place; to learn. Thanks for the quick reply.

What specific Linux distro are you using, and it should have a package manager for add/ remove programs. What are your .tar .gz files to be used for? Those are a group of compressed files, which you usually extract to a folder on the desktop, and run a executable such as a sh file, (script) In Slackware these .tar/ .gz files are used with package management. Try to do some online searches with Google, and check your local book store, and www.amazon.com, ( 2 good Linux books are; The Linux Bible, and Linux in a Nutshell). http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...oq=Linux+books

You don't have to worry about uncompressing a tarball it's pretty safe

open your terminal and go to the folder where the tarball is

the command I use often is tar -xzvf filename.tar.gz

tar = the command;
- = options;
x = extract;
z = gzip;
v = verbose (always good with tar);
f = filename;

the file will be extract in the same folder

if you comme across an extension .tar.bz2, use the same command but change z for j

-- Jean-Philippe