Fresh Newbie to Linux. Used to be good at DOS commands. Used Norton Commander a lot. Now have to learn the ins and outs of Linux. Need help with subject. Thanks.

If you are talking about installing software from *.tar.gz files, you will need to learn about compiling from sources. It's really not all that complicated, unless you must resolve lots of dependencies.

You would do better, though, to get your software from the Ubuntu repositories (your user agent icon says "Ubuntu," but, if you are using a Ubuntu derivative, this also applies). Generally, in most Linux distributions, you don't download random files from websites and install programs; you install the programs from the repositories (commonly referred to as "repos"). The files in the repos have been vetted and tested. In addition, most package managers (programs are referred to as "packages" and the programs you use to install and remove them are "package managers") resolve any dependencies automagically.

This article gives a good explanation of repos and how they work.

And welcome to LQ.

To unpack:

And copy over your required files.

Read FHS (File Hierarchy Standard) to learn about Linux Filesand Directory Layout).

These days very few Linux Distributions distribute using tar packages. Instead they use RPM, DPKG and some other.

To unpack, use the command

tar -xvf xxx.tar

if your file extension ends is with .gz then go for

tar -xvzf xxx.tar.gz

http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/ex4.html

^a good tutorial

Like others have said, though, better to use apt-get to install stuff, or the software center. If you use the tools meant to do the job, you get fewer little problems later on, especially when it comes to updating and/or uninstalling.

Also see: https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian

almost all tarbals are SOURCE
and you DO NOT just copy files places

you build the source code and use the autotools to install it
the default
but not all tarbals are source
a VERY FEW are prebuilt self contained programs
like firefox-37.0.2
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla....-x86_64/en-US/

for these you do NOT copy anything anywhere

Will try to absorb all the responses. Thanks much. Still a Newbie. Have not gotten very far. Still trying to understand the cryptic nature of Linux.

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!
I like to provide to new users that have requests of this sort the following;Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!