Hi, I never planned on using linux. It's only because I somehow managed to fail partitioning a drive and having no backups is why I'm here. I basically know nothing about linux, and I'm surprised I could even connect to the internet through it.. and I can't seem to install everything.

4 hours of reading later.. apparently I'm missing a C compiler called gcc, which I have, but is not in $PATH so I can't install.. well... anything. Can somebody point me in the right direction? I'd like to keep using linux and ubuntu but I can't seem to find any answers.

I really should explain this better.

Basically, ubuntu is here. I'm wanting to install XMMS(for mp3s) and Wine(to use .exe files) but neither of them will install proprely because I'm getting this message: configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH

After googling around, I found out that I need GCC before this will work. Apparently, I already have GCC under /usr/lib/gcc/i486-linux-gnu yet clicking the (1) file does nothing. I have absolutely no idea how to transfer the GCC to my $PATH(I don't even know what an $PATH is, don't bother explaining it, it won't make any sense, I'm thick) so I'm stuck in a revolving circle.

I wouldn't be asking for help but I've really come to an end.. I have about, 5 different questions, but this one is the most important.

there's no need to compile xmms yourself. seen this?

I see, but I can't find the package of wine or xmms in there to install.. so that doesn't really answer my question. Like I said.. I'm new.. don't blame me if I miss something :/ (although, I have been reading linux related garbage for over 8 hours.)

PATH is an environment variable used to store a list of directories in which executables can be found. When you type a command in the console, the shell checks those directories to see if the command is in there. If not, it'll tell you it can't find it. Windows also has a PATH environment variable. There are loads of examples on LQ about updating $PATH, you can do a search. Not sure why your gcc isn't in /usr/bin.. you might not have the right file :/.

So what file do I need?

Sorry if I come off a bit ignorant here, I really have no clue what to do. If I change my GCC location to the location you specified, would it make a difference?

I'm just stabbing in the dark. Somebody, please point me in the right direction!

First things first, what was the name of the file you found?

This is ridiculous.. the main file I found was "cc1" and appeared to be an exe(I still have windows jetlag) but clicking on it does nothing.

If I search for gcc, I get this:

/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libvos3gcc3.so
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libuno_salhelpergcc3.so.3
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libuno_cppuhelpergcc3.so.3
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libucbhelper3gcc3.so
/usr/lib/libstlport_gcc.so.4.6
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libsalhelpergcc3.so.3
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libjvmaccessgcc3.so.3
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libi18nutilgcc3.so
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libi18nregexpgcc3.so
/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
/usr/lib/libgccpp.so.1.0.2
/usr/lib/libgccpp.so.1
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libgcc3_uno.so
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libgcc1.shlibs
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libgcc1.postrm
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libgcc1.postinst
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libgcc1.md5sums
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libgcc1.list
/usr/share/doc/libgcc1
/lib/linux-restricted-modules/2.6.12-9-386/fglrx/libfglrx_ip.a.GCC3
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libcppuhelpergcc3.so.3
/usr/lib/openoffice2/program/libcomphelp4gcc3.so
/usr/share/man/man7/gpl.7gcc.gz
/usr/share/man/man7/gfdl.7gcc.gz
/var/cache/apt/archives/gcc_4%3a4.0.1-3_i386.deb
/var/lib/dpkg/info/gcc-4.0-base.md5sums
/var/lib/dpkg/info/gcc-4.0-base.list
/usr/share/doc/gcc-4.0-base
/var/cache/apt/archives/gcc-4.0_4.0.1-4ubuntu9_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/gcc-3.3-base_1%3a3.3.6-8ubuntu1_i386.deb
/usr/lib/gcc
/usr/share/man/man7/fsf-funding.7gcc.gz

I also tried to install NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-5336-pkg1, but it says I'm using an X server, and I have no idea what that means either.

see http://www.ubuntuguide.org
that will tell you, among other things, how to install software.

btw, you don't have gcc installed.

Somebody just said I had gcc installed. They even confirmed it.

Now when I try to install a program, I'm not getting a c compiler message, but this: error: no suitable lex found. Please install the 'flex' package.

Perhaps you would have better luck using apt-get. This is a package manager, that automatically downloads and installs the program and all its dependencies. In a terminal window, try:
It will prompt you for your password, then install XMMS and (I think) add an icon to the menu.

Alternatively, you can use a graphical package manager, such as Synaptic, which is a frontend for apt-get, and should be in the Applications menu, I think under System Tools.

I hope this helps
--Ian