I am a completely new user of UBUNTU Linux and am terribly frustrated by the fact that I can download programs from the net but have no idea how to install them. An anti virus program and Flash8 spring to mind.
Can somebody help me please?..........Regards..........Normael

How have you downloaded the softwares? And what softwares are they?
Have you tried to use synaptic under System > Administration.

http://www.newlinuxuser.com/howto-in...ce-code-files/

http://monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/

A word of advice. www.google.com/linux is a wonderful tool.

You generally don't need an anti-virus under linux unless you are running a mailserver or something like that

If memory serves me there was no Flash8 version for linux. Flash went from 7 to 9.

Also, one of the things I like most about Linux is that I can get essentially ALL of my software from trusted repositories thus avoiding downloading stuff "from the net". That is a good start if one wants to avoid compromising the security and integrity of ones system.

just my

Thank you all for your valuable input. I have now worked out how to load programs. It's a bit different from Windows isn't it? Is there a site somewhere that I can Log on to that will give me a list of Linux software and what task it performs?.........Regards.........Normael

The package manager gives a description of the software usually, but you can look on google, if its nessecary

If you're using ubuntu you have something called add/remove programs in the menu, I think. This will let you search the programs available in your software repositories. If I remember correct it allows you to search by name, category or keyword. You can also add other repositories, I think the proprietary repositories are easily enabled there as well (or if you have something in the menu called repositories). Remember to be careful about what repositories you add, so that you don't compromise the security or integrity of your system.Those repositories that you can enable from the menu can be trusted (though some people dislike them because they contain software that is not open-source).


Ubuntu is based on Debian and uses the same packaging system. It is simply awesome. Read the apt-howto (you can google it up, it's available from a lot of places). It's worth the effort.

Yeah the Synaptic will do it for you. But it will only give the names of the softwares and packages that are available through the repos that are trusted by the distribution. But as said before untrusted repos can be enabled as well if you are sure it wont compromise your systems integrity and security. But the default repos in Synaptic are trusted and can be used safely. It gives options of almost around 29000 packages. Huge IMHO.

in ubuntu to get flash player for firefox just do

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree

anti-virus is not needed like other's had said unless you are running a server if so, id suggest googling a anti-virus package or post back and search for you.