Top of the day;

I have just converted over to Ubuntu 7.04 from Windows because it works so much better. I have downloaded some .bin files and need to know the best way to install them?

Typically, you would not install SW by just copying files ending in .bin.... What are the files?

MANY programs are available thru the package manager (Synaptic in your case), which is hands-down the best way to install. If what you are looking for is not mainstream, you might have to enable more repositories (in the Synaptic menus)

however, if you do need to install those programs anyway...

i guess, the files you've downloaded are installer programs, so if you run them, the wizard will unpack and install the contained program data. please notice, that some programs require root-level access in order to do a correct installation, so you might need to do the instructions bellow as the root user. however, some programs can be installed in your home directory only and they can be installed by any user. always read instructions and manuals!

you can run a bin file in two ways: from shell (command line) or directly from folder-window (nautilus). the last way is very simple - just do double click on the bin file, and choose "Run" in the dialog. if it does not work, make sure the file is set to be executable (right click on the file->Properties->Permissions-tab->Execute check-box on).

if you still can't run them from nautilus, then you can try to do it from the terminal window. start new terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), and do following:
1. go to the folder where you saved the file, let's say folder downloads
2. set executable attribute on the bin file
3. launch the program
of course, you must replace the names in the example with the right name of your file

hope this helps!

Hi,

New computer, new operating system, new-bie. Same exact problem as GaryBrune.

This is the best thread I could find, and I tried a lot of things, learning some basics along the way.

So far: the file GoogleEarthLinux.bin downloads fine. Appears in the Download Manager. It's on the desktop, and is permitted as an executable file. I double click to open, and get a dialog with the option to run it in Terminal. Yes!

...maybe not... here's what it said:

Verifying archive integrity... All good.

Uncompressing Google Earth for GNU/Linux 4.2.180.1134..............................................................

./setup.sh: 284: setup.data/bin/Linux/amd64/setup.gtk2: not found

./setup.sh: 299: setup.data/bin/Linux/amd64/setup.gtk: not found

The setup program seems to have failed on amd64



Fatal error, installer failed to run at all!


<== END PASTE

I have an AMD Turion 64 CPU. Is this what is being referred to? How can I rectify or learn more?

I tried jpk's command line, but I know zero command language (again I looked around and found some basics), and maybe I'm getting it wrong?? Here's what I tried:
alex@alex-laptop:~$ cd /home
alex@alex-laptop:/home$ ./GoogleEarthLinux.bin
bash: ./GoogleEarthLinux.bin: No such file or directory

OK, I think I will go outside and smoke a cigar and rest my eyeballs. I hope someone can help. I am a dummy but I want to learn!!

- AFD -

I just did a quick google, and apparently you're not the first person having problems with google earth on a 64-bit box (example).
If you really think you need it, there is a work-around mentioned here.
Or maybe you might just want to wait for official 64-bit support to come.

BTW your command is fine, you just needed to go to the right directory. Instead of cd /home, you should have typed:
cd /home/alex
(or)
cd ~
(or)
cd
Either of those commands would take you to your home directory. Verify whether the file is present using ls. Then ./GoogleEarthLinux.bin would have executed the file (anyway it'd give the same error that came when you double clicked it, but its always good to learn the command line).