alright, wtf is a .rpm file how do i open it, and how do i open what i need to open to open the .rpm (ha)

i downloaded the aol for linux, and installing this... is more than hard.
ive tried everything i could... and now i beleive my newbness needs a step by step by fucking step tutorial (sorry)

ive got suse 9.1 i realy honestly have no idea what im doing when people say things like: (im going to comment on the "how to" of aol")

Installation Instructions for RPM
1. Download AIM onto your system. (durr)
2. Log in as root. (how do i do that, wtf is root and why do i have to log in to a separate user just to do this?!)
3. On the command line, type the rpm command as shown in the example: rpm -i aim-1.5.286-1.i386.rpm where 1.5.286-1 represents the AIM version and release numbers. (wheres the command line, how do i get it? is it just run then type that in? if so then ive been doing that and it just gives me bs.)
4. To install a higher version of AIM, use the rpm upgrade option, for example: rpm -U aim-1.5.286-1.i386.rpm (only if i could do that)
5. To run AIM, log in as a regular user, and type "/usr/bin/aim" on the command line.

PLEASE HELP ME THANK YOU

click your home directory(or whatever directory you downloaded it to)...double click on the rpm file, and Yast should offer to install if for you....

Welcome to LinuxQuestions. We will show you the way but it will take some effort on your part also.

RPM stands for Redhat Package Manager. Now here is your assignment, go googling and learn all about RPMs.

root is the same thing as administrator on a windows PC. Unlike windows linux is way more secure and administrative functions can not be performed by a regular user. You did create a regular user? If not then be forwarned that linux is less forgiving then windows. Recovery from inadvertently deleting files is difficult.

When the command line is mentioned one is refering to the command line interface which is like the DOS prompt box but 100 times more powerfull. I am not familar with the SuSE but if you type xterm at the run box this is where you will type in the commands. FYI linux is not a 100% GUI OS, you will need to use the Command Line Interface so now is the time to become familar with it.

To log in as root from the command line type in su - , press enter and type in root's password.

Also linux does not natively run windows applications. There several apps that will run windows executables but it isn't 100% compatable.

michael, right now, you are my golden god.

thank you so much

i understand things much easier now, i already knew how to set up a user, and i figured logging in as root is just plain login name:root and then the password i set for root during installation...

question though, when i so the su - and login does the xterm window just consider me as root or as a regular user?
anway, the aol rpm file is on my desktop... and when i type in rpm -i filename, it says file or directory not found...
so i type in /home/daeo/desktop/aim-1.5.286-1.i386.rpm and the same thing happens
so i add file:/ in the front...... doesnt work either???

whats the problemo

i also tried the double clicking (no files have an auto program... i have to select a program to open the file with every time.)
and it said which program would you like to use, i find yast, and it brings up a prompt about root password, i type in and then... nothing the window goes away and nothing else happens.

thank you again

when you su in xterm, it considers you a regular user with superuser (su) priviliges which means you can install/remove edit things like root.

if the file is on your desktop, then while in xterm, type 'cd Desktop' without the quotes. this will change directories and put you in the desktop directory.

then su and password, and try the rpm -i again. it should find the file for you.

another suggestion for you is this great online book:

http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html.gz

tons of info and easy reading...i learned a lot from it.