Difficulties installing Netscape 7.1
 

Hi all! I hope someone will be able to assist me with my issue. I have several questions, but I will start with this one.

At this time, I am unable to install Netscape 7.1 from the GUI. After double clicking the Netscape Installer, it begins the install wizard. After agreeing to the license agreement and choosing the 'Recommended' installation, I first get the following dialog box:

Directory /usr/local/netscape doesn't exist. Create it?

When I click Yes, I get the following error:

Error [-624]: Can't make destination directory. Please try another directory.

When I try to create a dir called netscape in the /usr/local dir, I get the following error message:

Error creating directory "netscape/": Permission denied

I know I'm probably trying to install to the wrong dir, but I would like any assistance anyone can give to assist me with this issue.

Thanks for your time!

weeee, a post i can actually help with :-)

ok, it sounds like the problem is that you are trying to do an installation from a user account instead of root. by default, users cannot write to the /usr directory.

so, here is what you need to do:
either change to root by using su and do the installation as root
- or -
install netscape to your home directory if you do not have root access. the netscape installer should offer you the ability to choose the destination directory.

if you install to /usr/local/netscape (and, maybe if you do it in your home directory) you will probably run into the following problem: after netscape is finished installing, you will be all excited and type "netscape" at the user prompt. however, it will say that it can't find the file. the way to fix this is to add /usr/local/netscape to $PATH. you can do this by entering:

[johncoltrane@jazzfest]$ export PATH='/usr/local/netscape':$PATH

if you install it in the home directory, then modify the path to the correct directory. e.g.:

[johncoltrane@jazzfest]$ export PATH='/home/johncoltrane/programs/netscape':$PATH

i hope this helps.

btw, there is a trick if you decide to install a java plugin for netscape. just check back here if you decide to do it.

Thanks for the quick reply! I apologize that I have not had a chance to get back to you.

I have a question though; what is 'su'? Does this stand for software update perhaps? Remember, this is a newbie forum, so please be patient with those of us that are still trying to figure out all this stuff.

Thanks for your time!

'su' stands for switch user. By default if you do not set the user you want to su to it will pick root by default. On some Red Hat based systems you will need su - in order to get full root power. Such as to start, restart, and stop services.

example

[mike@alpha mike]$ su
Password: (enter your root pass here)
[root@alpha mike]#


example 2 (su to a diffrent user)

[mike@alpha mike]$ su bob
Password: (enter password for bob here)
[bob@alpha mike]$

When you su from a user to another user you will be in the current directory. So if you want to switch to the home directory of the user you just su'd to just type a simple 'cd' and you will then be taken to the correct home directory where you have permissions to write and make files.

Thanks for all the help guys! I was able to install Netscape using my home directory, without have to use the 'su' command in terminal. Also, I found a Flash plugin that I installed for Mozilla, that also worked for Netscape as both Mozilla and Netscape can go to Flash sites. My next project is getting my sound to work! I will have to post in this forum one I have the exact model number of my sound card. Thanks again for your time!