First, thanks to all who have been so supportaive to those of us making the transition to linux. Here's my question....

I have a fresh install of Mandrake 10 and want to install Firefox Browser. I downloaded it and clicked it and KDE X-windows asks "Open with....."

Well, heck if I know, I just want it to install it. I'm used to clicking and it just happens in windows. So then I figure out that it's a tar file (a compressed file) and after a while, I figure out how to extract it.

Now, what? Well, I after a few hours I find a script file and it seems to be installing fine. Cool!

No so fast. Where the heck is it? It's not on the start menu under browsers or anywhere else that I know to look and the Firefox Facts don't say anything. So here I am with a computer that I think has firefox, but no way to run it.

Damn. So close...I think.

thats an easy one

open a 'shell' and type 'firefox'

there aint nothing you can do in the graphical linux that you cant do form the command line.. the grephical version justs looks prittyer :P

That doesn't seem to work, but if I type locate firefox, I get:

/usr/share/aps/kappfinder/apps/internet/mozilla-firefox.desktop

I get nothing if I type which.

And how do I get it on my desktop?

at any stage during your earlier experiment did you type './configure make make install' ot any part of those bits?

ifnot... go to where you extracted your tar file and type ./configure && make && make isntall

I did nothing of that nature.

So, is there a way to sort of automate the install? It seems somewhat prohibitive for new users to install firfox with ease.

echo kilo, when you extracted it, did it extract a directory called firefox-installer?

if so, then just go into the firefox installer directory and double click (or single click, whatever ytou have set) firefox-installer

firefox dev team made it easy to install firefox on linux

yeah... im to used to gentoo and enlightenment....

icons.... what are they? i gots shells,, but no icons :P

If you downloaded a firefox.tar.gz it should extract to a firefox folder with a firefox script inside. Run the firefox script with a command in a shell
/path/to/firefox/firefox
When you've found the command that works you should be able to create a launcher on your desktop that does the same thing (it depends what desktop you use).

Yep, I extracted it to a folder.

I found the sript and it's in green with a * so I'm assuning it's definately the script, but when I type it, it says "Command not found"?

And I wouldn't say they made it "easy".

type ./firefox-installer


it is easy
trust me

okay, that works. But how in the heck would a normal person know to go thru all this and then type type ./ ???

That's easy?

I'll keep you posted.....

Does it need to be in a certain directory?

it should be whjere it got extracted to

your right.,.. it should be a lot easier.... but linux is still quit elitist... which is why it will wont defeet microsfot...
on the plus side... skils learned messing about on a home linux install can be used on a £100,000 pound super cluster mega server with cream.

ok, it may not be easy
but if you read the manuals, or if you had more experience than i do then it would be easy.. lol

anyways
it *doesn't* have to be installed in the same directory as it was extracted.

Don't give up on linux, it may be very hard at first, but if you stay at it, you won't regret it.

I remember when istarted using linux, each time i gave linux a shot, i went back to windows 4 times...

now im using linux 100%. everything i can do on windows i can do on linux.. probably even more.

The only thing i don't like about linux is the lack of games, but there are windows emulators such as Wine and Cageda to use.

Good luck