cant update my browser
 

hi just got my daughter this netbook never used linux before not a comp wiz just trying to update browser so she can play facebook games and utube im trying to do goggle chrome but when i download and open file it says needs root permission i never put a password in it so dont know what that is and when i try other browsers it says abode cant read it it might have been sent by email ahhhh please help i feel like giving it up

Hi Emnmick.
Linux has different ways to install software, unlike other platforms in which you just click on the next buttom. It adds a level of security so malicious software wont take over your computer.
The first thing you need to do is find out what is the administrator password so you can install the browser you need.
Perhaps the person from whom you bought the computer would help you with that.

Once you have the password you can install Adobe Flash payer which is what these games and videos in facebook requires.

In Linux there are always two accounts one is the regular user who log in the computer for everyday things without having to change anything in the system

And the aministrator or root user who does changes in the software, install new software and changes settings and other stuff.

The password for your regular user can be the same as the root user depend on how the operating system was set up from the beginning.

I am assuming you are using fedora as your linux distribution?

hi yes i think it fedora i tried to get hold of the last owner and they said they never put a root or ad priv password so im back to square one is there a way of scrapping it and starting again or is it a take to a comp shop job thanks for reply any suggestions would be appricated

maybe password is "root" or "toor" by default? try it

As soon as the computer boots up and you see the grub push tab or e to edit the grub (never worked with fedora). On one of the lines there would be a line that begins with kernel you have to add 'init=/bin/bash' and then boot. Watch the lower area of the screen for more information about which keys to boot and which keys to edit. Once the computer boots then you would be at the command prompt logged in as root. There you can type 'passwd' and then enter the password and that would be your root password.
Hope this helps.