How to install a .tar file
 

I downloaded a file to upgrade my mozilla from 1.4 to 1.6. I downloaded it to my home directory and it reads: /home/oldsarge/mozilla-i686-pc-linux-gnu-1.6-installer.tar. So, how do I install it, please? I have 4 different books on Linux and NONE of them breaks it down so that the action completes and installs.

Extract the files first.

Then look for the readme file extracted from the package and follow the directions from there.

Go to the answers section(blue button, top of page) and read the compiling from source guide that should be under software if my memory serves me correctly.
Good luck, post back here if you have any questions...

edit:hah, I wait 15 minutes for someone to say something because I figured if I said anything someone else would have said it before me...and then someone else does manage to post before me :)

anywho, it's usually the INSTALL or install file that tells you how to install, the readme typically only covers the functions of the program.

mozilla is a little different than standard parckages because it usually has its own installer. after unpacking the tarball, cd into the new directory, and launch the installer as root:

# ./mozilla-installer

(the ./ tells it to execute the file from that directory.) then just follow the installer prompts. :)

To All who replied: I have tried to do what all you have suggested and found that unarchiveing the .tar file does not accomplish the task of installing and that the only thing that worked was to delete the file entirely! That is the absolutey only thing that worked. I have come to the conclusion that the only way to upgrade anyone component of SuSe is to upgrade the entire program to the next level, which I may do this one last time to SuSe 9.1, but I am having a hard time convincing myself to shell out the money to do so, as I have 9 Pro, even though I do not have a business nor am employed, anymore. Cost Justification is a primary concern for someone doing/learning/using Linux on his own!!!

:confused:

unarchiving a .tar file won't install it, it will just unarchive it. then you go into the archive and install the program.

another question is are you sure it was a .tar file and not a tar.gz? all the mozilla downloads i have used have been tar.gz files. in that case, you have to execute the command as comp12345 posted it, except with a z in the options:

tar -zxvf mozilla-i686-pc-linux-gnu-1.6-installer.tar.gz

then do the mozilla-installer as root.

so try again, here's the file:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.o...staller.tar.gz