I just got Simply Mepis 2004, and I still have a lot to learn.......alot. Anyway this shouldnt be to hard to answer but i dont know.

WHAT IS APT-GET and how does it work?
Im looking for: what kind of file do I download, how I use it exact commands or can I just use some kind of gui, pretty much need to know everything about it, please be thorough otherwise i just get confused.

By the way I would recommend MEPIS to anyone and everyone

apt-get is a /bin comman wich gets files from a specific URL, not sure, but Im pretty sure. If you downloaded ISO files or whatever, check the discs for a package (rpm or tgz or anything that looks like a package) then install it using this command in a Konsole/Shell/bash window.
cd /mnt/cdrom/THE/PATH/TO/THE/PACKAGE
installpkg PACAKGENAME.tgz

or if it isnt a tgz package you can use a GUI tool to compile it.
RPMs suck so if Mepis is using them then I suggest a Distro Switch =)

kpackage is a gui tool for apt-get

this comes with some distros.

ok i know how to get into kpackage but to get new files such as lmule, do ineed to download them first or will kpackage do that for me? if so what kind do i download?

kpackage does everything.
click on the package you want.. hit install.. it will take you to a secondary screen.. click install again and you can see the progress in the right-hand window.

do i do this for anything under the sun or only the files that kpackage retreives?

you have the option of selecting mirrors.. you can install anything that the mirror has.

<edit>
so kpackage will have everything the mirror has
</edit>

ok thanks, on a different note, is there any way to do a syatem restore cause i think i just screwed stuff up majorly.
I did some stuff installing in super user mode and now when i try to open any file through kpackage it says"could not find mime type application/ocet-stream" and then it says"no mime types installed" and now when I try to listen to songs through xmms that i was listening to before i screwed stuff up, theres no sound, and it doesnt even look like its playing on the player. I would just like to restore to where I was an hour ago '


i am very very very scared

hrm...

try an
apt-get update
that will confirm you have everything up to the most current level... as far as a 'restore'.. i don't think so.. but i am not the best person to ask.

well i logged out and backin and its all back to normal i can even use limewire!
Im assuming that the error is hiding somewhere in my computer with a knife or some kind of blunt object waiting for the right moment to jumb out and get me....but until the oh well


The Moral of this story kids is, dont f#!@ around in super user mode under any circumstances unless you are capable of comprehending the damage you will create by doing so