im new to linux. I havent even been using it a week. i need help installing programs. i dont know how to use rpms or tar.gzs. the only program that i have secsessfully installed was Aol instant messanger. the rest i think i instaled but i dont know how to run them. this is a serious problem. i mostly want ot install WINE. can u plz HELP?o yea i am using mandrake 9.1

how you install programs depends on what version of linux you have. More details are needed. Wine is included with most major distributions. However, you should know that it is difficult to get most windows programs to run in linux. Wine is still alpha quality software. If you want to run MS office, photoshop, and quicken, consider buying crossover office from codeweavers (http://www.codeweavers.com/home/). If you want games, consider buying winex (http://www.transgaming.com/). The best solution is to start exploring and learning about all the high quality linux native software that has the same functionality as many windows programs (for free).

If you want to know how to install programs from source, there is a very good article under the "Answers" section of this site.

For information on installing RPMs (that is, if you are using Mandrake, RH, or a RH-based distrobution), there are many documents on this. The first place to start would be searching the docs @ http://www.redhat.com

Also, there is the Linux Documentation Project, http://www.tldp.org , which is very useful.

These three articles appeared in the Newbie section of Linux Magazine recently. THey are very detailed and long but they do walk through three popular ways to install software very carefully.

http://www.linux-mag.com/2000-08/newbies_01.html
http://www.linux-mag.com/2000-09/newbies_01.html
http://www.linux-mag.com/2000-10/newbies_01.html

for tar.gz you need to extract them first... then cd [directory] to the directory.. then normally its ./configure ; make ; make install ; make clean [no ; - those are seperators that i used..] the URMPI database is the best.. you need to configure your sources ... PLF and texsar are good ones! and then you run RPMdrake [i think your using mandrake right?] and it gives you a list.. but first you need to configure your souces.. thers a thing for that next to remove programs and instlal programs... its not like windows where you double click and it installs .... well URPMI database does that.... but it downloads it too.. but tar files and stuff arent like that. RPMs are though.. you can download it directly and just double click it and enter root password and its installed! or you can do a local install which is only for your current user [i think... not sure aobut that, never did it.. well good luck.. it took me a while to learn that too... ] theres good tools for untarring and stufff or you can do it manually via tar xzvf [filename] (you gotta be inside the directory the file is in..) well GOOD LUCK mate!!

Thanks guys

your welcome cycopath !