I am new to Linux and Linspire and have got my dual boot with Windows XP in good working order.(I don't want to get rid of Windows just yet) I have one problem that is driving me crazy. How do I install programs after downloading them? I know how to use CNR and it works fine but I want to know what to do after a file is "Unzipped" using ARK. Where do I extract the files to? When others have told me to write commands such as "./configure or Make, make install...where am I typing these commands? I need to be walked through this very slowly and patiently!! I know very little about Linux except what I have taught myself this past week. Can someone help??

Thanks,

Rick

Keep this in mind as you read... I have no experience with Linspire, and am no immediately sure what it's based on or similar to...

So, knowing that, it sounds like other people have basically told you that you'll need to compile your own programs.

Don't worry, it's easier than you'd think (provided you have a working bundle), even for someone with little or no programming/linux knowledge.

Usually, what you'll want to do in this situation, is the following (assuming it's a trusted package):

Unpack the .ark, .tar.gz, .bz2, or whatever it may be, into any place there's room for it, and you'll remember where it's at, and all of that kind of thing.

Once it's done, there will almost always be a 'configure' file in there if you do a ls (dir equivalant from DOS, well, ls -al is closer, but that's another post).

Once you find it (most often it will be in the root of the unpacked items, sometimes it will be in the src directory...depends on the bundler) you will want to type this on the command line: ./configure
What that does, is execute the configuration script, which will then prepare what's called a Makefile tailored to your machine's needs.

When that is done (assuming there were no dependancy failures or anything), you will probably want to stay in that same directory, and type "make" at the command line. This will compile the program, and get it ready for use.

Once that is complete (again, assuming no errors...if there is one, it should be easily spotted by "error ***" or something followed by a detail of the error), you can try switching to root, and typing "make install". It may tell you "No rule to make 'install', or it may start doing some things.
-If it starts doing things, it's placing the executable into somewhere appropriate (like /usr/bin, or /usr/local/bin), and placing any other files it needs to so it can run properly.
-If doesn't do anything, then you can probably try just runing it from the command line there by typing ./<executable name>. The name will be what is built by the makefile, and is usually very similar to the name of the package you downloaded, minus any version numbering. This may or may not work, it depends, but it should hopefully be close.

Okay...if you're not scared off by now, then hopefully you have something you can run. If not, or if there's anything I've forgotten (doing this all from memory, but it should be fairly close), please ask/correct me about/with it.

OK, I did what you said and it started to work but error messages appeared. This is for a game called Xmahjongg
checking for working aclocal...missing
checking for working autoconf...missing
checking for working automake...missing
checking for missing autoheader...missing
checking for working makeinfo...missing
checking for gcc...no
checking for cc...no
configure: error: no acceptable cc found in $PATH

What does all this mean?

Rick

Well, i m just looking at Linspire , and i think it s a stripped-down Debian set with a very good installer.
( i m used to Slackware and curious about Linspire )
But it has NO c-compiler , so you can t compile source-code ( yet ).
CNR is nice , but you gotto pay for it ( brrrr...).

Here is a way to install programs from the Debian-site s by using apt-get .
( read the WARNING at the end of this post !!! )

1 add the following lines to the file - /etc/apt/sources.list :

deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb http://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US stable/non-US main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org stable/updates main contrib non-free

just use copy ( from this page ) & paste ( in the file ), and save the file.

2. open a console and type :

apt-get update

this will download the info about all programs.

3. then type :

apt-get install synaptic

this will install a GUI for apt-get wich is very handy.

4. now type :

synaptic

to run it .

i just installed XINE and it s working .

##### WARNING #####
i also read some messeges about apt-get fucking-up the Linspire installation, so be carefull , don t use
the upgrade facility or any batch-installs . using this is on your own risk !!!

egag

What happens with this command?

apt-get install gcc

# Debian links
Installing Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 For Intel x86
The Very Verbose Debian 3.0 Installation Walkthrough
APT HOWTO
Debian Package Management HOWTO Version 1.1

# Guides to software management
LNAG - How do I install a program I downloaded from the Internet?
Rute Guide's software explanation
You might want to check out CheckInstall to manage source code installations/uninstallation

Some one on another forum wrote:
"Ah... it doesn't look like you have gcc, the GNU C compiler. You need this to compile C programs from source (which is what you'll need to do for pretty much any source package you download). I'm not sure how Linspire handles this, but see if you can get their pre-compiled gcc-2.95 and make packages. Someone who knows more about Linspire could better assist you with this part"

Does anyone know where I can find these packages, GCC -2.95 and Make?

Rick

Oh, is this a linux that supposedly runs on the Windows filesystems, perhaps a version of Lindows?

I would recommend checking at Linspire Support Home for how to get the packages you need from the CNR Warehouse.

If you really are interested in Linux, it works much better on it's native filesystems.

Preparing to install Linux:
# Choosing a Linux Distribution:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions
# Freeware tools for partitioning/resizing hard drive partitions:
Any Linux Live CD usually have fdisk, cfdisk and other tools available
Ranish Partition Manager
# Understanding Linux Filesystem layout:
Directory Navigation Help File
Filesystems, Directories, and Devices Help File
Proper Filesystem Layout
Advanced filesystem implementor's guide (requires registration)

Do I buy a boxed source, download off the internet or buy some cheap CDs?
It's your choice! If you download, I suggest that you check the md5sums on the Linux ISO Images and make sure you know how to burn ISOs in Windows to install Linux
# Cheap CDs
AlmostFreeLinux
Discount Linux CDs
Linux Central
Cheapbytes
TuxCDs
ComputerHelperGuy
CheapISO
Os Heaven

Yes, I just checked and it is a new version of Lindows. Try a real distribution as the Windows filesystems don't have the capabilities of native Linux filesystems, so we will be of little help here.

I have Fedora Core2 disc ready to go. Is this a good distro? If I am going to dual boot (for now, anyway) and I have a second hard drive with Linspire/Lindows on it, do I still have to do any partitioning?

Thanks for the replies,

Rick

I have been using fc2 since May, and it works for me. The biggest leap in usability occurs once you have a good /etc/yum.conf file in place. If you decide to go with fc2, I will post mine.

During installation, you can specify to only overwrite linux partitions, so if you already have a partition with linspire, it should go quite smoothly.

I would strongly suggest you use CNR. It is well worth the cost. That being said - yes, the Linspire system is pretty stripped down and does not have the "Development Tools". If you purchased Linspire and have a CNR membership, you can easily download the Developers Edition that has everything you need.

Linspire is based on Debian, yet it is modified quite a bit. You cannot use CNR and Apt-Get. One of the other, but not both. You will eventually mess it up.

Linspire comes with the apt-get sources "commented out" this means they put a # in front of the source list so that apt-get won't work. You have to go to the file and edit out the #. This is done so that Newbies don't try to wreck the system in the first week.

To edit this file, go to /ect/apt and click on the file that says source.list

Text editor will open up. Just remove the # in front of the sources.

Then you can open up your console and type apt-get update. DO NOT USE apt-get UPGRADE. NEVER UPGRADE unless you are ready to reinstall.

I would apt-get synaptic

or

apt-get kpackage

My faforite is kpackage. These are gui front ends that make installing software through apt-get very easy.

Hope this helps.

Again - CNR is getting better and better at what it is designed to do. When I first started with Linspire it was Lindows and CNR cost about $100. Now it is $50. Well worth it in the long run. Believe me. Especially if you are new to Linux. Linspire is a great system that has been configured and modified. The applications in CNR are desigend to work together ont he system and not break anything. When you use apt-get, you risk breaking something.

I lhave one system that I use CNR and one system that I only use kpackage. Makes it fun.

I ran Apt-Get and installed Synaptic, from a console, which seems to be workiing, but, I'm not sure what packages I want. Any particuliar packages I might want to try?