L:inux newb here have some questions,

1. How do you know what programs are installed?

2. If you have a program saved on the desktop and you run it were is it saved?

3. Can soemone explain 2 me how the linux operates? I mena as in windows has a registry what does linux have?

4. How do u install java VM?

thanx for all the help

1.

if you hit tab twice in a console or terminal you will get a list of all commands available. If you are using an rpm system you can query it with

rpm -qa | less

to see them.


2.

the Desktop folder is in your home folder

/home/username/Desktop


3.

each program has it's own config files, and the systems config files are mostly in /etc

4.

download it and if it's an rpm do rpm -i filename, if it's a tar.gz use

tar zxvf filename

1. see HERE
OR
They are usually installed to /usr/bin

2. What type of "program" is it? Do you mean you have <program>.rpm on your destop, you click it, something opens up, you "click through it" and want to use it? If this is the case, open up a vterm ( the icon at the bottom of kde that looks like a black monochrome screen) and type the name of the program.
For example:
If you installed Everybuddy, the rpm would be something like everybuddy-0.70pre4.rpm so you would click it, and then it would be installed. So you would open up a vterm, and type "everybuddy" (without the quotes) and it would start everybuddy...

BUT
If you have a program called <program>.tar.gz and you want to install it, you first have to decompress it. This type of file is called a 'tarball'. There are several different ways to decompress it, so I won't tell you how, you choose your favorite.

Once you get it decompressed, you enter the directory it created, and type (this is all in console by the way) "./configure" (always without the quotes, unless specified). This will create what is called a "makefile" for you. Once it does configuring, type make. Once that is done, you can type "make install". This will install the program into your "$PATH". Your path is where programs/processes (pretty much anything) looks to see if you have all the requirements (dependencies) met to install a particular program, etc.

After you run Make Install, you can then type the name of the program (see the example above) and the program will start.

3. That is an easier question than it sounds like. Linux has a kernel. It is the heart and soul of the OS. But it's not as "cryptic" as a registry in Windows. Many people reconfigure their kernel monthly! You would be shot my Microsoft if you did this to your registry.

Anyway, the kernel pretty much controls everything. It is the buffer between the hardware and the software. You may want to check out some site like This one , This one and/or This one . They will all provide you with good information for a newbie wanting to learn about and how to use Linux.
I also strongly suggest looking at www.linux.org and going through their tutorial. It will teach you simple commands and the "idea" behind Linux.

Good luck, and WELCOME TO LINUX

Looks like DavidPhillips gave you a quicker answer than I did.

Thanx everyone this is the best post I have recieved.

Thanx again