Installing Programs dowloaded from Softpedia
 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

I'm totally New to Linux and I have Installed the Newest LINUX MINT distro on my laptop and everything works fine but i don't have a clue how to install any program i've downloaded from softpedia.

I have the extracted files, the .tar bz files but from there totally don't have a clue about whats next please could someone please tell me a set of instructions (FOR DUMMIS) how to do this.

I've put LINUX onto my laptop because i'm so naffed with Microsoft after years of **** so a dude recomended linux and said there is a massive community out there that will help.

Cheers

byker:

1. Since it is compressed tar bz you first need to decompress it using commands in your terminal (shell prompt in dos).
-Decompress it: bunzip2 "filename"
-Extract the archive: tar -xvf "filename"

2. Then issue this command inside the same folder where your extracted file is located:
- Installing it do this: sudo apt-get install "filename"

Just try it. If it doesn't work check back, other users will help you. (I havent used Mint these days, but if my memory serves us good, you shall do well.)

Goodluck.

Hope this helps.

Mint is based on Ubuntu. Have a look at "How to install ANYTHING in Ubuntu!" at http://amitech.50webs.com/installing/index.php.html and "Installing Software in Ubuntu" at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware

As Psychocats says: "Most Windows users who migrate to Ubuntu end up confused about software installation. They go to a website, download a .tar.gz file, double-click it, and don't see a Next-Next-Next-Finish wizard. This tutorial is intended to introduce you to the preferred methods of software installation in Ubuntu.

Rather than leaving it up to the user to track down installer files and keep applications updated, Ubuntu (like many other Linux distributions) has a software package management system that provides a searchable database of easily installable applications (like an online shopping cart but the software is cost-free), which it will download and install for you with a few clicks."

So your FIRST action should be to see if it can be automatically downloaded and installed from REPOSITORY. Your LAST action should be to use a .tar or start compiling!!!

What kind of Linux your are using? Ubuntu, SuSE, .. etc ?