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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.
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
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.
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....
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".
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 =)
should i upgrade my linux from 8 to 9? what's the difference between the 2 versions?
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.
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sorry for asking so many questions but i'm also curious on why i'm getting so many problems with my downloads....
No problem
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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?
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
Regards
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