tar.gz, bin and the like. what are they?

i installed mandrake 10.1 with kde. there seems to be a deficit with GUI configs. i'm far to used to win-blows. i wish to install flash and lmule and many others.

i've seen reference to command line but there is no "command line" option. what do they mean? is it "console"? be precise please.

how do i deal with a bin file?

is there a copout for the gui users? and how do i install it?

basically, what the heck do i do now?

i've tryed search engines but don't find what i need to know. they seem to be geared for those whom use linux naturally.

please help me enjoy linux... i hate Microsoft

tar.gz, .tgz,bz2 all these files have to be "unzipped" into a folder..

u can see the installation instructions for that package in readme.txt which will be provided..

the general procedure is to change to root using

$su - [$ means normal user]
password :....

# ----------->[# means root ]

and do the following

#./configure

#make

#make install


in case of .bin files ---

#chmod +x blah_blah.bin

#./blah_blah.bin

that should install the bin file..

Read about rpm and urpmi as ull be using them extensively... when u have to install rpm's

i placed them in a folder. on the desktop so i ca find them easy.

your info may be very usefull but i need to know howto, step by step, to get to the command line thet would permit me to do this.

how do i get to root?

how did u logon ??? as root or a normal user

open konsole or xterm [in other words a terminal ]

if u logon as normal user ull see $ on the command line

if u logon as normal user ull see # on the command line

always install software as root..

$su - [will change ur status from normal user to root


if u logged on as root open konsole or xterm

change to the directory to where u have unzipped the files or location of the .bin file
using cd command

eg.--------> #cd /root/Desktop/dir-of-unzipped-targz-or-the-bin-file/

and follow the steps in my last post..