Please help me getting Java to download
 

Hello!
I've been to the Java site and downloaded a Java file, the self-extracting non-RPM file to my desktop.
There are three files, a bin, a rpm.bin and a rpm.bin.part.
I don't think I have RPM installed so that's why I chose the file that I did.

Anyway, I'm following the instructions for how to get it installed and got stuck almost at the beginning.

To install the Linux (self-extracting) file
Follow these instructions:

1. At the terminal: Type:
su
2. Enter the root password.

After this, I couldn't get anything to work...

3. Change to the directory in which you want to install. Type:
cd <directory path name>
For example, to install the software in the /usr/java/ directory, Type:
cd /usr/java/
This is the prompt after I put in my password:
root@nora-laptop:/home/nora#

So I typed in: cd /usr/java/
And terminal replies: bash: cd: /usr/java/: No such file or directory

Now what?
Nora

Which distro? Most distros have the sun JRE and JDK in their repositories, by the way (except Fedora, but that it does have the openJDK).

I'm using Ubuntu 8.10
Is that what you mean by distro?
Thanks!

I downloaded the newest version of Java.
But really the biggest problem is that i do not know how to get anything to install on this system, even if it is self extracting it is still not plain to understand.

I have GNOME Terminal 2.24.1.1
Thanks!

Yes, Ubuntu is a distro. I would recommend that you record that type of information in your profile so people do not need to ask that kind of question time and again (check my profile on the left to see what I mean).

Well, just go to System > Admin > Synaptic, enter "java" in the search box, check the box for the application(s) that you need and click on "Apply".
Alternatively, you can install from the command line:
if you enter
aptitude search sun-java
if will show which sun-java packages are available. You can install any of those with
sudo aptitude install package_name (e.g. sun-java6-jre)

Yes, you could install the software you have downloaded manually instead but you will find that the methods above are a lot more convenient. And just look at all the software you can find in synaptic! Installing things manually is just not required anymore, unless you need to do something rather exotic.

By the way, have you set up medibuntu? It contains additional codecs, google-earth, etc. Just use google to find out how to set it up, then you can install those additional packages through synaptic or the command line.

Edit: I thought you might want to have a look at this: http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Intrepid

Just install Eclipse form add/remove .. It will automatically install everything u need .. By the way eclipse is a good IDE for ur java programs

Yeah, but installing Eclipse would be massive overkill if only the JRE and the plug-in were needed.

Yea thats right dude ..!!

Thank you for the help!
I didn't realize that a lot of info online is distro specific so it is really easy to go down the wrong path....
Nora

Another question...
I have followed the steps in this thread eg.sudo aptitude install and now in my terminal shows the Java license agreement and in red at the top, is "configuring sun-java6-jre".
The computer is humming.
Is it finished? Do I need to do something? Pressing enter does nothing.
Nora

That does not sound normal but you may need to scroll down the terminal and press enter only after you see the (Y/N).