I recently installed Debian 5 (64 bit). Many Youtube videos will not play, and I get a pop-up telling me I need a later version of flashplayer. I went to the Adobe site, found Flashplayer 10 for 64 bit Linux systems and downloaded it as a .gz file into my /usr/local/src directory. I then Tarred it and it extracted a file called libflashplayer.so. As I Windows user, I would have at this point clicked an 'install' button and gotten out of the way. That sort of thing doesn't seem to exist in Linux.

Where do I go from here? I assume I need to log into a root terminal. If someone could give me the exact commands to enter (and the directories to enter them from), I can probably follow the logic of it all and hopefully learn how to do this stuff.

Also, if there is a more appropriate version of Flashplayer for my system, I'd appreciate a heads up.

TIA

Stavrowsky

Hello,

You're so right when you say
That is indeed a Windows thing. Have a look at the Debian Wiki, always a good starting point.

Kind regards,

Eric

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one way is to copy libflashplayer.so to /usr/lib/iceweasel/plugins
debian recommended way:
update-flashplugin-nonfree --install

More info:
http://wiki.debian.org/FlashPlayer#Installationandusage
http://wiki.debian.org/Iceweasel#Plugin

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May I ask why you installed Lenny, and not Squeeze? Lenny is now oldstable and will be supported only for a year, Squeeze is stable since 6. February, and it will be so simple as to enable the contrib repo and do ato install the flashplayer.

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I guess, 'cause I didn't know the difference? I installed the version I had on hand, and assumed (I know- that's always a mistake) that the updates would, in fact, bring me up to speed on what was available. So the next question is: Do I have to uninstall Lenny? Or can I just locate a Squeeze distro and install it on top of my Lenny installation?

You can either download a Squeeze-image and make a new install, or you can update your Lenny to Squeeze.

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I went to a site for instructions on how to upgrade from Lenny to Squeeze. This was the table of contents:
4.1. Preparing for the upgrade
4.1.1. Back up any data or configuration information
4.1.2. Inform users in advance
4.1.3. Prepare for downtime on services
4.1.4. Prepare for recovery
4.1.5. Prepare a safe environment for the upgrade
4.1.6. Remove conflicting packages
4.2. Checking system status
4.2.1. Review actions pending in package manager
4.2.2. Disabling APT pinning
4.2.3. Checking packages status
4.2.4. The proposed-updates section
4.2.5. Unofficial sources and backports
4.3. Preparing sources for APT
4.3.1. Adding APT Internet sources
4.3.2. Adding APT sources for a local mirror
4.3.3. Adding APT source from CD-ROM or DVD
4.4. Upgrading packages
4.4.1. Recording the session
4.4.2. Updating the package list
4.4.3. Make sure you have sufficient space for the upgrade
4.4.4. Minimal system upgrade
4.4.5. Upgrading the kernel and udev
4.4.6. Upgrading the system
4.5. Possible issues during upgrade
4.5.1. cryptoloop support not included in the squeeze Linux kernel
4.5.2. Expected removals
4.5.3. Errors running aptitude or apt-get
4.5.4. Conflicts or Pre-Depends loops
4.5.5. File conflicts
4.5.6. Configuration changes
4.5.7. Change of session to console
4.5.8. Special care for specific packages
4.6. Upgrading your kernel and related packages
4.6.1. Installing the kernel metapackage
4.6.2. Device enumeration reordering
4.6.3. Boot timing issues
4.7. Preparing for the next release
4.7.1. Upgrade to GRUB 2
4.8. Deprecated components
4.9. Obsolete packages
4.9.1. Dummy packages

Each of the above subsections has several pages of instructions, making references to dozens of things I don't have a clue about, and when I just try to just enter the required text of the instruction shown in the examples,either nothing happens, or I get a message that says the file or directory doesn't exist. Once I got a nastygram from the machine telling me I wasn't authorized to even attempt those kind of changes, and I was going to be reported to the system administrator (who, I thought, was me).

Either that, or the instruction does not seem possible to carry out (e.g., it tells me to change all references from "Lenny" to "squeeze" and "testing" to "stable"in the /etc/apt/sources.list file.... and when I open that file for editing, I find only references to Debian.org and no references to "Lenny", "squeeze", "stable",or "testing" anywhere). As a Newbee, I don't have a clue what the file is supposed to look like or whether my file is defective or if I'm doing something completely wrong. The instructions tell you to back up your config files and data files before starting, but don't tell you how to go about doing that (e.g, where those "critical" config files are located), and if you just try to copy any file that looks like a config file to a directory you create for backup purposes... you get told at every turn you don't have permission to do the copy. It is INCREDIBLY frustrating.

In truth, I have a better chance of winning the lottery than being able to carry out this upgrade (which, I've no doubt, is a simple enough task for someone who understands this system).

Ergo... I will probably just wipe my hard disk and do a fresh install of Squeeze once the disks arrive (download time was 7 hours plus if my download manager is to be believed - and that was the remaining time after it had been downloading already for 90 minutes). The set comes on a mere 8 DVDs (not CDs... DVDs), of which I'll probably only have to actually have 1 to install the system (just a desktop environment) that I'm trying to install.

After it's all in (probably a couple of hours work) and generally working, then I can use the new apt-get instructions to install the latest version of flashplayer so I can watch the Youtube video my buddy sent me.... which was all I was trying to accomplish when I started this thread. I would be willing to bet next week's salary that after all this, when I enter the "apt-get update", and "apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree", I will get a return that says, "File not found", or "Invalid directory", or some other Linux euphemism for "Boy... you just don't have a clue, do you?"

Thanks all for your help. I really don't mean to sound ungrateful. I'm not. I'm incompetent in this arena, and I'm not the sort to take being incompetent well.

Hello,

The strong part of Linux is that it's well documented. On the other hand you look to be stuck in a 'Windows' way of thinking for what I'm concerned, no offense. The very first thing you need to do is read the documentation and read it well. It's there for a purpose. For instance you say you're downloading all of the 8 DVD images for Debian. Why would you do that? Read before doing anything and when in doubt read again. From the Debian site download page for http/ftp:
Another thing, the documentation pointed to in regards to upgrading from Lenny to Squeeze, or the documentation about installing Flashplayer are very complete. They are there for a large public that might have different issues and look for different answers. Again, if you think a chapter applies to you, then read very well what it says before 'blindly' copy/paste commands you do not understand. That definitely will break your system at one point in time when you least expect it.

If in the documentation you cannot find what you need, or you don't understand it, then please do not attempt things you don't understand or know. Instead post here on LQ and we WILL help you and explain what a specific command does. When asking a question be as specific as possible.

You mentioned in a lot of words that you were trying to follow the guide which is a good thing, but when you encounter the system telling you that a command doesn't exist or you don't have permissions, then please post the exact command you're trying to use and the error you get and the LQ community WILL help you. That's what we're here for.

Most of all, a friendly advice, don't give up. Linux is worth it but yes it has a steep learning curve and is a world of difference when you come from a Windows environment.

Kind regards,

Eric

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Thanks, Eric. I know what you say is right. And it is just a matter of familiarity. For example, I didn't attempt intentionally to download all 8 DVDs. I just clicked on the button that said "Download Now" on a site that didn't offer me the option of downloading only a part of the total potential package. Had I been more familiar with Linux in general, I probably would have instinctively looked elsewhere for the package, and found the site that had the caution that you pointed out. When one doesn't have an historical base of websites that work for you to go to, one relies on search engines - that are as likely to produce something that an affiliate marketer wants you to find as anything genuinely useful.

You are also right about the Windows perspective and how I need to change that. Unfortunately, that's really the only reference I have in the wide wonderful world of digital processing...... so it's difficult to lay that all aside. I make it akin to rather like trying to learn a new language... without the benefit of translation. Subjunctive mood in English... subjunctive tense in German. They don't equate, and if you try to translate them directly, it makes no logical sense.

You're also right about not giving up. I just have to take it in little bits (no pun intended), and remind myself that monitors are too expensive to be putting 9mm rounds through on a regular basis.

lastly, I appreciate the offers of assistance. I tend to try to work through puzzles on my own, operating on the theory that I'll end up with a better understanding of what it is I'm doing. Sometimes, that is just swinging at curve balls in the dark.

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