Alright, I'm a complete newbie to this...so...extremely dumbed down explanations are much appreciated.

I'm running the Ubuntu distro of Linux. I've read the starter guide on the Ubuntu page, and tried these instructions:

1. Read General Notes
2. Read How to install J2SE Runtime Environment (JRE) with Plug-in for Mozilla Firefox?
3.

wget -c http . ://frankandjacq.com/ubuntuguide/LimeWireOther.zip
sudo unzip -u LimeWireOther.zip -d /opt/
sudo chown -R root:root /opt/LimeWire/
sudo gedit /usr/bin/runLime.sh

4. Insert the following lines into the new file

cd /opt/LimeWire/
./runLime.sh

5. Save the edited file (sample)
6.

sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/runLime.sh
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/LimeWire.desktop

7. Insert the following lines into the new file

[Desktop Entry]
Name=LimeWire
Comment=LimeWire
Exec=runLime.sh
Icon=/opt/LimeWire/LimeWire.ico
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;Network;

8. Save the edited file (sample)
9. Read How to refresh GNOME panel?
10. Applications -> Internet -> LimeWire

for installing Limewire, with links to how to install Java not linkified. Problem is, the computer never found the java file. Not sure why, but I think I read something about it not being available anymore.

So, I downloaded the .bin file from the Java's page, stuck it on the desktop, followed the instructions to install it, and the installer came up. It asked where I wanted to install it to, so I assumed it would go in the same directory as Limewire, which was /opt. Hit the next button and it says I don't have write permissions, and it won't allow me to change these permissions. The account I'm on is the only Linux user account this system has, and so I assumed it would automatically be recognized as the root...Other times, it'll tell me to either delete whatever's in the directory or specify a new empty directory for it to install to. No idea how to make directories, nor how they work. Limewire shows up under the Internet menu, but doesn't work when clicked on.

From here on out, I'm completely confused. I don't know where I'm supposed to put Java, how to put it where I want to put it, where to put Limewire, and how to make Limewire recognize where Java is.

Any help would be much appreciated...I read the similar topics on this issue and they all seemed a bit different from what I'm experiencing, so forgive me if this is a repeat of an old problem.

You could probably install java via the ubuntu package tools (whatever they are) alot easier.

But if you want to go this route, yoiull have to learn a tad more about using terminals. Don't worry, its not hard. (:

The instructions that you followed did roughly this:
unpackaged the distributed software under /opt/LimeWire, then you created a script to run it, and then made a desktop icon pointing to it. What you miss out tho when running it like that are _all_ errors it produces when attempting to run. So, you might want to open a terminal and mimic the actions you set a nicer way to do. So, just something along these lines:
Any errors you get on the terminal might be worth posting here..

Now, if you truly want to install the java, youll have to understand the concept of root. Ubuntu has it all screwed up so its not your fault. Root is an actual seperate user of any unix computer, including yours. Its the superuser account not meant for normal work but to be used in administering the system. Now, Ubuntu has this very weird way of granting sudo rights to the first user created so that they can perform actions as root _when they want to_ but not always.

So, to get up a real root terminal youll need to issue:
After that the terminal is fully root until you exit it. So, n need for sudo infront of commands anymore. Then you can start the java install and you will have permissions for creating directories in system paths. But, I suggest you dont install it under /opt but under /usr/lib/java or something like that, more standard. _BUT_ youll be better off using the ubuntu package tools to search for and install the jre.