I am having problems downloading and installing files on Linux. I am new at the program. I can not install my printer. I can not install anything. I was hoping for a easy way to do all this. I hear about command prompt but not sure where it is or anything in simple language. I am not getting no where. I just want everything to be executable. So word to word on how to go by doing this. Thank you for reading.

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

this may help: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Sw...tu/FromWindows

Welcome to LQ. .. .. ..

... And when you have read everything in the two links from @fbobraga:

Command line : Open a terminal window and try this :
apt-cache search <name> ( or part of name ) : To find a package.
sudo apt-get install <package-name> : Will install a package.

We do not download software for Linux.
The selection of 30,000 packages covers the most basic stuff.
Here you have an overview of the packages :
http://packages.ubuntu.com/maverick/
..

I am trying to install my printer CD driver but it is not executable so I can not do it. I am not going anywhere with this.

Your CDROM can be accessed by using the 'mount' command (or use a GUI icon right-mouse-click action) but if your printer driver CD only contains drivers for mcrsft products that won't work anyway. It could help if you post the exact brand and version of the printer as often drivers are made available by either the vendor, included in the distribution (please fill in your distribution details in your user control panel) or through say http://www.openprinting.org/drivers or http://www.cups.org/ppd.php. If your printer driver CD contains drivers for Linux then there might be a README file with instructions for compiling and installing a driver from source or how to install binary printer drivers: if unsure list the contents of your CDROM.

I do not know how to use the mount command or any commands for that matter. I am a newbie.

You not need to use the driver CD, just plug and turn on it: it should work. If not, this may help: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Printers (note that you will not use the driver CD at all)

Start with the basics. What version of Linux do you have? What is the make and model of your printer?

One of my husbands friends installed it yesturday due to our Virus corrupting our computers windows. It has applications places and systems at the top. Brown bar. With wine and gnome. I just starting using it today.

My printer is a HP D1600 series I got this year.

Turn on it, plug it, and try to print something: it must work (also an entry for it must already exists in System->Administration->Printers)

That printer should work with the latest version of HP's software, HPLIP. I know, because I've got one. See post 7 for Ubuntu specific instructions (which is what you appear to be running).

I downloading the HPLIP for version 10.4 with Ubuntu guessing that is what it is. I opened file but it is telling me to browse to have it open. Not sure what to use to open it.

The printer is not working? - there's no need to install anything, if it is already working.
(install drivers for anything is a windows thing...)

it shows up under printer but it does not print at all.