It did something new

bobby@cpe-24-174-165-252:~/My Downloads $ rpm limewirelinux.rpm
RPM version 4.0.4
Copyright (C) 1998-2000 - Red Hat, Inc.
This program may be freely redistributed under the terms of the GNU GPL

Usage: rpm {--help}
rpm {--version}
bobby@cpe-24-174-165-252:~/My Downloads $

What does that mean

I am going to hit the sack.I am on a roll, though. For the first time today, I have hit some commands and make them respond. Given, I havent installed anything, Thanks for your help.

type:

rpm -ivh filename.rpm

to install the RPMs... from the directory where they are located...

i think that just shows info about the rpm command/utility.... since what you typed after "rpm" wasnt an option for the rpm command, it just showed info about it and how to use it.

about your LimeWireLinux.bin..... you said you downloaded this file correct? you cd'd to where this file is saved and type right? did this give you error about java VM/virtual machine? or what did it output

Not here to create a troll about distro but i understand what u want ... quickly get a equivalent to windows.

It is not the good time to learn eveything about linux in a day, your head will explose ...
try to get a stable system without installing to much thing.

i would recommend to install Mandrake 10.1 DVD.
Torrent client is included in the distro as well as many others applications.
Installation process is quite easily and take less than 15 mn and can be used with dual booting with XP.


I've learn on it so i thnik it is quite nice to start learning linux.

Did you guys just "get it"? Is it just me, or am I slow at this stuff? I don't see how I could have learned this without a forum, much less the internet. How did you guys manage? Is it just one of those "you either get it or you don't" kind of things, like calculas and other "side-of-the-brain" abilities.

I think he/she got the RPM version... and was confused about endings.

To install an RPM:
TO install from a bin/sh file (Example only)
apt-get/synaptic is different again. They provide (when set up correctly) an easy way to get programs. I'm not familiar with either (I use Fedora) but in FC3 to install apps using yum (FC version of apt-get) it's a simple:
Easy, eh? Feel free to ask more questions if you get stuck again

I am really just trying out Ubuntu on my old family computer. I have a nice, new system I built, so what distro do you recommend? I have a 160 gig hard drive, and I plan to dual boot. What is a good amout of space to give to both windows and Linux? I will use windows for games, and if I catch on to Linux, it for everything else.

As i did Lyko , mandrake 10.1 full options and xp.
Works fine.

On my pc : I have a 80 Go for linux ( Torrent, App, Backup ) and 20 Go for XP ( game ).

That makes sense. I didn't really understand the whole apt-get thing.

Ok, well now I really am going to sleep. Thanks for the help. I will try this stuff out tomorrow.

I think it is good to go back to the basics.

On linux, you have things called "packages", which are pretty much the same as windows installers. Except, that on linux, different distributions use different package formats. rpm format pachages are for redhat, fedora, mandrake, suse and such. You are using ubuntu, which is using .deb format packages. So basically, the stuff you downloaded is useless to you. (unless you want to do a whole lot of work).

One other thing that is available is source code. It typically comes with instructions to type "tar" "./configure", "make" and such, such as the instructions you found on the website. These instructions do not work together with packages.

To a beginner, I recommend not downloading source code, but only using packages (i.e. deb files in your case).

You are using ubuntu. Go trough the menus, and see if you find anything called "synaptic". It is pretty much like "add/remove programs" on windows, except that it also downloads for you, if necessary. From there, you should be able to find everything you need.

In its default configuration, synaptic knows only a limited number of sites. This can be extended. If you feel you need to do that, post another question :-)

LinuxQuestions has a newly created ubuntu forum. They should be happy to explain everything with regard to ubuntu and packages and stuff.

Groetjes,

Kees-Jan

No...

Lyko!

Don't install RPMs on Ubuntu. Though possible, Ubuntu is not an RPM based distribution.

Use the graphical package manager synaptic which makes it very easy to install and uninstall applications using just mouse clicks. Read the documentation on "apt-get" to learn how to add repositories to apt.

Synaptic is just a graphical front end to apt-get. Ubuntu is a Debian based distro, meaning it uses .deb package format and not the .rpm package format.

To have a clean system with no dependency worries, use Synaptic (or apt-get) alone to install your programs. This is really a fantastic software packaging system and will give you no dependency problems even in the future.

Ubuntu has a large collection in their repositories. I suggest you go to the Ubuntu website and learn how to install more packages using Synaptic or apt-get, rather than worry about manually downloading RPM files and trying to install them.

When i began linux, i read doc on this site
Large amount of infos, especially
Using Mandrake, i can recommend

Mandrake doc

Mandrake Manual

Look in your /usr/doc/Linux-FAQs. There's file "FAQ" or "Linux-FAQ". You MUST read it to know MANY Linux basics.
To see the help about a command type in console:
Smth helpful: www.thelinuxbox420.com