I'm attempting to install TOR and came to this site:

https://www.torproject.org/docs/tor-doc-unix.html.en

and (as you can see) it says if you're using Ubuntu you need to get the deb repository first on this page

https://www.torproject.org/docs/debian.html.en#ubuntu

I'm just generally lost... I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 maverick if it helps...

I don't know what to type in the terminal because whatever it tells me comes up as either "command not found" or something else to that effect

If you only intend to use Tor as a client - Tor website offers all-in-one browser package, use that, it does not require any installation, just untar it and click 'start-tor-browser.sh'. The only thing to keep in mind - 64-bit may be a bit buggy so I'd advise using 32-bit version.

If you want to run a server, post here and I'll advise.

Well, I'm running 32bit so I wouldn't go for 64 anyway. But now, when you say client...what exactly does that mean? What would my alternative options be?

It's just that from your opening post I cannot make out what exactly it is that you are installing Tor for. Possible reasons may include: running Tor exit node server, running Tor relay node server, running a Tor bridge, running a Tor client to anonymize Web browsing, running a Tor client to anonymize some P2P application (please don't do this one though) etc etc.

Absolute majority would just want to use Tor as a client to anonymize Web browsing. If that's the case with you then you shouldn't be 'adding the deb repository first' or complicating things in any other way. On the Tor website simply download Tor browser bundle, extract the downloaded archive and in the folder that you'll get you'll see a file called something like 'start-Tor'. Click on that and you'll see first one window show up showing connection to Tor network and after a minute or so a Web browser (Aurora) will pop up. That's all you need to do - there is no installation involved whatsoever.

If on the other hand you need Tor for something more complicated or you intend to run a server - post here and I may be able to help.

Wow, I didn't know all the possibilities of running TOR. Well I am just intending on using it a client so thanks for that. I see it works generally in Firefox. Do you know of a way to get it working in Chromium? I have the "Proxy Switchy!" extension installed but when I tell it to switch to TOR it say's there's no connection.

And yes, I do put in the http as 127.0.0.0 (or whatever it's said to supposed to be) and the other thing as 8118. I also make sure to specify that the button knows to only switch between the direct connection and TOR. Is there something you know about this? Or should I start a new thread of question asking elsewhere?

Judging by your last questions I can assume that you did not take up my advice about using Tor browser bundle. Let me state it as clearly as I can - for a newbie running any browser other than Aurora, which is included in the bundle, is unsafe and worse - will provide a false sense of security where there isn't one. There are DNS leaks, plugin leaks, browser fingerptinting, auto-fill and other things that can and will expose you to an adversary.

With regards to your specific problem - the first thing you need to make sure is that Tor is running and is connected to the Tor network.

The bundle didn't come with Aurora. It came with Firefox. As soon as I start Vidalia Control Panel it opens a Firefox window saying "Congratulations! Your browser is configured to TOR!" It tells me what my IP appears to be and it says I'm on the network. It okay with me but I tend to use Chromium and would like to have Chromium use the Tor network.