Hello all!
I am a new convert to the Linux world! I installed Mandrake Linux 10 last week and am slowly but surely learning my way around the system. I have been reading a book on Linux, plus using this forum for help. However, I have run into a problem that I need help with. I added URPMI to my system and downloaded Firefox and Thunderbird. Thunderbird added a menu item and works fine. However, Firefox will only run in a Root console by typing in Firefox. It did install an icon under Internet, but it would not run from this location on the start menu. When you clicked on it, it would just say "starting Firefox" and would then disappear. I deleted the menu item and tried reinstalling with no luck. Do any of you have an idea what is wrong? Please be specific on what steps I need to correct this. I am still learning the system structure and am a complete NOOB!
Thank you all in advance for helping a rookie!

Hey rdrude and welcome to the linux world!!!

Seems the problem you're faced with has to do with permissions on the executable file (i.e. who has permission to read, write & execute the file). I'm not sure where your firefox will be installed but mine for instance is installed in /usr/local/mozilla/firefox because of personal preference.
Unfortunately, since I have no way of knowing which permissions you need to change so I can't help you in that sense, but I advise that you google for "chown" which is basiccally the linux permissions command. Also, how did you go about the installation? If an installation is not run as root then there aren't system wide permissions unless otherwise specified.

Good luck
Kinus

Thank you for the reply. I installed Firefox as an RPM package. I installed it in the default location that the installer chose. How would I go about deleting the installation and starting over from scratch?

I would go to system > Configuration > Packaging > Remove Software and then search for firefox. After removing it try reinstalling it from root.

I was having the same problems so i installed it in my home folder and it worked great. The only difference is i didn't use urpm. i downloaded the tar file from the firefox website and untarred it with ark. Then i clicked on the file called firefox and it asked where i wanted to install it and a couple of other questions then it installed.

Thank you for the info. I fixed the problem and now it is working fine.
For my next question: There are TONS of programs out there to add on to Linux. As a NOOB, what are the essential programs that I should downloand and use with my new found friend (Mandrake)?
Thanks in advance for the info!
rdrude

The beautiful thing about your new found friend Mandrake is that everything that you'll ever need is probably already there. Unlike M$ where you just get the base operating system installed and then have to get hold of all the applications your might require with linux all applications are installed by default. There're so many things which you probably will never use, but then again, what you will use is there - from media players to word processors. The only thing which I'll say is ideally essential that you get set up properly is your firewall. I haven't done a Mandrake installation in ages and can't remember whether a firewall comes installed by default or not but I do know with other distros that during installation you're given the option of installing a firewall. Any additional applications that you might need you can find on sourceforge.net

Have fun exploring and trying things out!

kinus

I would install urpm and then if you see something you want to install download and install it from there. It's fast and easy

Here's the site Easy Urpmi