How do i install programs??
 

After i download a program from the net, how do i install the program? How do i install the aMSN i downloaded? I'm very new to linux (just installed it) please help.... Thanks.

Hi!
Welcome to the real world! :cool:

Well, it depends on some things: mainly your distribution and the kind of package you downloaded (source, rpm, deb...; check the name of the package). Give us this information.
Regards

quote:
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Originally posted by Y0jiMb0

Welcome to the real world!
_________________________________

Welcome to the Free world wolf
sounds cool, now don't it? :D

I can provide u with a lot of links (reading material) to assist u if u can tell what type of package u downloaded.

My linux version is Red Hat Linux 8 , it was bundled from a book i borrowed from my local library. sure, I would like to see that website. Can you tell me how do i install the aMSN programme i downloaded? I clicked on the "aMSN desktop" which is the application launcher and the system asked me if i want to open it with another program.... so... i'm pretty confused at this part. Really appreciate the help from you guys.....

(The reason why i decided to switch to linux is after reading this book about the openess of this system....)

Well, only downloading it is not enough. Much like Windows (which you are probably used to) you need to install something before you can use it. Where Windows only has one typical method of installation (the famous .exe files), linux has many types and methods, the best known and most widely used are the packages mentioned in this thread by Y0jiMb0. If you are using Red Hat, an rpm is probably your best bet. What is the extension of the file you downloaded? Was it .rpm? Or was it something else?

We would love to help you, but we need a little more information.

welcome to the real and free world :cool:

here you are!!!
ftp.sourceforge.net/pub/sourceforge/amsn/amsn-0.71-1.noarch.rpm
or
ftp.sourceforge.net/pub/sourceforge/amsn/amsn-0.70-1.i386.rpm

download install and
have phun:cool:

It says there .tar.gz .... so.... i should only download files which ends with .rpm? what does .rpm stand for anyway?
btw, do you know where i can download the java pack for linux? cuz i tried to log into this secure site just now, and it says that i lack this plug-in (application/x-java-vm) that i can only view with the appropriate plug-in....

welcome to the real and free world here you are!!!
 

welcome to the real and free world

here you are!!!
ftp.sourceforge.net/pub/sourceforge/amsn/amsn-0.71-1.noarch.rpm
or
ftp.sourceforge.net/pub/sourceforge/amsn/amsn-0.70-1.i386.rpm

download install and
have phun

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my computer couldn't open the package i downloaded from these two sites? erm... could you kindly tell me what could be wrong?

Any file ending in tar.gz are source files. You would need to compile the software from scratch. Fun, educational, but not for the new linux-users ;)
Stick to rpm's for now. On the commandline, I think the proper way to install an rpm file is "rpm -i somefile.rpm".

If you want to locate an rpm, visit http://rpmfind.net/linux/RPM/
For more information about rpm's, try "man rpm".

should i upgrade my linux from 8 to 9? what's the difference between the 2 versions?

sorry for asking so many questions but i'm also curious on why i'm getting so many problems with my downloads.... i can't seem to install many of them as there's always this error message that tells me some packages are not found and installation cannot continue...? can you guys please kindly clarify with me? I really feel bad for asking so many questions but linux doesn't seem to be as user friendly to me right now..... hope you guys can help.... Thanks a lot =)

these are not problems my friend but founding steps of ur linux knowledge.
check out

http://www.linux.org/docs/ldp/howto/RPM-HOWTO/

Quick Guide to Red Hat's Package Manager (RPM):
http://www.tfug.org/helpdesk/linux/rpm.html

http://www.rpm.org/

In principle you don't need it; but could be a good idea from the security viewpoint. I mean, you can download and update every package with security problems (although you couldn't find it straightforward), but if you upgrade to a newer version (or distro) you, hopefully get a more secure system, and it rests to upgrade only few packages. Moreover you won't have so many dependence problems with old versions of libraries, because the packages used are likely to be newer or the newest, in some cases.

No problem :)
You maybe could tell us the exact name of the file you're trying to install, and what are you exactly typing or doing to install it, and the exact error you got :confused:
Regards

here's more.
always remember, the links i give are ur best friends in the linux world. :D)

http://www.rpm.org/max-rpm/

http://members.blue.net.au/felgall/linins5.htm

Dont blame me for giving so many links.

They teach u a lot.

oh ya.... btw, how do you delete programs for linux? Is there an uninstall program like in windows?