MSN Messenger, what is the alternative ?
 

I wouldnt say i like using Windows more than i like Linux, Linux is much cheaper of course LOL.

But with Windows i have a lot contacts/friends who use MSN Messenger, I see there isnt a LINUX version of MSN Messenger, so what is the alternative???

please.

tim:newbie:

Gaim is an alternative. It's shipped within your Mandrake's CD's. Look after that. There're plenty of other messengers as well which does the very same function as M$ MSN, as amsn. A simple google search would lead you into the right path. Using this forum search button would also point to many other threads regarding the very same question ;)

Good luck

thanks pal, i asked my young daughter about it she mentioned GAIM as well, i have now downloaded it (i didnt realise it was alreay on my CD's) but how do i install it ?, just double click on it, i bet it isnt as easy as that !!!, is it ?.

tim:newbie:

It's almost that easy,Go to control center and click on install software. At the top of that window is a search bar,type in Gaim ,and then click search by repository and it will tell you which CD to put in to install the program.

cheers mate that does sound easy , to easy to be true LOL. in fact that sounds to be as easy as using that "other" OS !!!!!

i shall do that straightaway LOL.

tim

Hi timmy toad!! :)

Here is a nice thread about installing programs. Sooner or later you will face a program that does not exist in your CD's, does not have have a Mandrake package or simply ain't easy to install (many Linux programs are distributed as source code only, so you have to compile it yourself.). This cover most of the installation process:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=45094

If I were you I'd print it out as for a quick reference ;).

Good luck and welcome to LinuxQuestions.org!!! :)

thanks for that megaman

i didnt have any luck at all with your previous info, it isnt on my CD's, however i did download it from somewhere, but to install it, it has to be in the ROOT directory, trouble is somehow i cant access my ROOT directory because it is locked.

how on earth can i UNLOCK It ????

i shall have a look and print out what that other link says later, i have to dash off to work now LOL

:newbie:

tim

Cool :)

Well, basically, a Linux system should have at least two users, one ordinary one and a root. Think about root as being the administrator in a Windows Environment or a Referee in a soccer match if you are into the sports ;). He is the one who has total rights about a system. He can create/remove/modify anything, including users. He is the one who can also install / remove programs.

Ratter then using Mandrake's installation packages (OK, in the beginning it's fine to use, but try to quit as soon as possible) try learning to use very well a terminal/konsole. It's the most powerful tool under Linux ;).

Fire up a terminal and type:

su

You will be required for the root password that you created during the installation of Mandrake. Mandrake has a bad habit of letting you proceed the install process without creating a root password. If you did not create one, just type enter, otherwise, type you password in there ;). Now you should be root. Note that the prompt line which was:

[something@something timmy]$

changed into

[something@something timmy]#

The dollar symbol at the prompt denotes that you are an ordinary user, while the hash one (#) root. Beware when using root privileges though. You may easily end up with an unbootable system. [b]Never[b] login as root from the main login, it's a big security risk too. Always "su" when a root task is required. Navigating through a terminal is pretty similar to the good old DOS, "cd" to get into a directory, "cd .." to get out, "mkdir <directory name> to create a directory. Basically, installing an .rpm package:

rpm -ivh <name of the package> (you need to be root)

The short are i = install, v = verbose (to have a better error report), h = hash (to see some nice hash showing the installing process...lol)

and to install from source, 3 commands do the job (always read the README though).

./configure (this command checks for components installed at your computer, if it's OK, then proceed)

make && make install (you need to be root) (this compile and install a program as long as no errors were reported into the ./configure)

Again, this is the roughest explanation in the world. Some programs requires special parameters to be passed into the ./configure line (as mplayer, which asks for ./configure --enable-gui or something like that to compile it with gui support).

The thread/link above rocks ;). The README file is the most important too and comes with all programs you download (unless the developer prefers to have a faq at their homepage. If no README at all, not even try to install, the developer is a lazy lamer .ghehe)

Good luck! hmmmm, you are working today... well, I kinda prefer to work in a Sunday ratter then on Monday :) lol.

Regards

Hiya friend
message deleted see below post

ps.i only work sunday morning, cleaning a couple of cars for an old rich lady, LOL, in fact there was ony one car this week, she bent the other one LOL.

deleted

Good Grief, it gets worse, i have now found out it has already been installed LOL:newbie:

trouble is now i dont know what to do towith it so that i can enter my hotmail account details so i can chat with my buddies LOL

tim

hehe :) Yeah, somehow, it always will get worse :). But I believe that sometime it will have an end and start being better again :) lol.

Well, this is how you configure gaim to chat with your buddies :)

1 - run gaim
2 - click into accounts
3 - click in add
4 - Make sure protocol tab is set as MSN (there you can also see how powerful and how many protocols Gaim currently supports ;))
5 - Fill the tabs with:
Screenname = <your hotmail address>
Password = <your hotmail password>
Alias = <Name that you want to show into your friends MSN when you login ;)>
6 - Click in save

Now you are at the previous screen right? There you can choose to connect now or auto-login :) That would configure everything

Good luck ;)

LOL, the trouble is i have ONLY two options under PROTOCOL

AIM/ICQ and TOC no MSN or hotmail anywhere :(

and thats all, i thought there was a catch, dammed thing, i am still not giving up on LINUX just yet LOL.

tim

hehe....hmmmmm, perhaps Mandrake's is shipped with an older version of Gaim, but there should be MSN protocol somewhere... Lemme see if my Mandrake box still boots :)