Hi!
i installed ubuntu 8.10 in my desktop today.I dont know anything based on linux so please heLp me in downloading and installing the following programs:
VLC MEDIA PLAYER
MOZILLA FIREFOX (LATEST)
ITUNES
UTORRENT
how should i use .tar.bz2 file

Hello and welcome to LinuxQuestions,

Installing software in Ubuntu is quite easy and straightforward. There are a lot of good guides on the internet, easily found by Google. Here are some:
Ubuntu installing software 1
Ubuntu installing software 2.

tar.bz2 files are compressed archive files that generally contain source code to compile or install. Since you're new to Linux/Ubuntu I advice you to stick to using the easy way of installation as described above in the links until you're more at ease with Linux and feel at comfort using the command line.

Kind regards,

Eric

Welcome to LQ!!

First--if it all possible, always use the package manager to install SW. You will find this in your menus----Look for Synaptic or Adept---or maybe something that just says "install programs" or "install software".

If you have to install something that you downloaded, then it depends very much on exactly what it is. Most downloaded SW will come with instructions--often in a "README" file included in the package.

Whenever you see "tar.gz", tar.bz2", etc. you first have to extract from the archive---eg:

for tar.gz: tar -xzvf filename

for tar.bz2: tar -xjvf filename

These commands are normally issued as the root user. In Ubuntu, unless you have enabled the root account, just add "sudo" in front of any command that needs admin (root) privileges.

Hi,

the above links will certainly give you the information you want.

I use Debian, but, since Ubuntu uses the same package management, for a quick reference:

should install vlc

or check this thread for the latest version
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=330386

.tar.bz2 files :