I have succeeded in getting my Windows machine to dual boot with Mandrake 9.1. Installed fine, recognized my printers, network card etc. Using the software that was part of the distro is different, but not impenetrable. I am sure that most of you reading this are rolling your eyes, but I have not been able to find any tutorials on how to install any software in Linux. I downloaded Mozilla Firebird OK, but the resulting .zip / tar file has tons of files in the directory, but nothing that makes any sense to me as to how to go about installing it. You're thinking "what a moron", but I have tried many different forms of queries using Google and all I get are hits on sites that presume much more expertise than I have.

I am very interested in using Linux. I am weary of seeming collapsing house of cards (under its' own weight) that Windows has become.

By way of reference, I am not a PC newbie. I build all my machines, can write a bit of HTML if needed, and have been online since '93.

Am getting the sense that Linux may be more demanding on the user than I am used to. Would appreciate any pointers or suggestions.

Chris Whitworth

Not more demanding, it just takes some learning/unlearning. Most of us understand how you feel because we've been there. Basically, learning Linux is (because you're also an old hand at this like I was), like learning dos and windows over again. However, most of the stuff works the same, it's just the commands/procedures that have changed. In a couple months (and it will take a while to get comfortable, trust me), you'll laugh at how you got hung up on something "simple". The main thing is hanging in there and not giving up. Once you understand Linux a little more intuitively, you'll be even less forgiving of MS's way of business.

Anyway, to your problem:

I'm running mandrake 9.1 as well, so here goes. I downloaded firebird into a directory named /home/scott/downloads. Then I opened gnome terminal (or Konsole if you're using KDE...they're basically the same thing). Then:

cd downloads

tar -xvzf Moz[tab]
(The x means extract, the v is for verbose, the z is for unzip, and f is to retain the folder information. Hitting tab extends the rest of the filename)

cd Moz[tab]

./Moz[tab]
(the ./ tells bash to execute the file in the current directory, and is a good habit to have, so you don't execute the wrong thing accidently)

And with that, firebird should start up (as long as you did the typical install).

I did this in console because it's "harder" and you can appreciate that. Also, it gives you experience in working with it, and helps you understand what's going on under those pretty gui windows. With other files you might have to type './configure' and 'make' to compile them as well. The advantage to using firebird/mozilla is that they're prebuilt a little, so you can just run them, and they don't need to do a full install, which means you can run as many versions side by side as you wish.

For more information on some console commands, you can type 'info' and bring up a host of information. Use 'q' to exit it, and [enter] to select topics next to the colons. 'info coreutils' is a good place to start.

As for most installations, you can usually do them through mandrake control center, because they're in the .rpm format.

Anyway, good luck!

great input from scott_R, but i also think there are some places you should go to and spend time reading online guides... A good one to start out with is

http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html

make sure you check out the rest of the site too on other stuffies.

For installing source (tar) quickguide
tar -zxvf <file>
cd <dir>
./configure (if they're any files missing or errors, fix them)
make
su (type r00t password)
make install


good luck buddy

......... adding to that - when installing from Tarballs always make sure you read the install or read me files if they are there - you'll find them in the extracted directory - once you've cd'd into it, do a ls to get a listing of what's there and if they are there, have a quick read just in case there's any quirks.

I keep making this post all over the place, but...

Have you visited Easy Urpmi at:

http://plf.zarb.org/~nanardon

?

You install Mandrake RPMs by using Mandrake Control Centre > Software, but if you follow the instructions at Easy Urpmi including adding PLF, Contrib and Texstar to your Software Sources, you will find a load of extra things available so you won't have to use so many tarballs. However you will need a fast internet connection.

DAVE

Thanks to all of you for your input. I will work through this and "get" it, I am sure. I am the type who needs to SEE it done once, and then the rest becomes a snap. So if I can figure out this first step, should be on my way.

BTW: I can browse my other partitions and open .jpg files and so on. Is there a way to view .avi or .mpeg files in Linux?

Just play with it. If it breaks reinstall and start over. Tell us what it did, we will tell you what went wrong and have a good laugh to boot. You get to learn something and we get to help you understand where it went wrong and a good laugh for us.

What's wrong with that?

later

.avi and .mpeg files? YES.

See my earlier post. You will need to get plf, contrib and texstar on your software sources. Now get "mplayer". If you are using KDE desktop, also get "kmplayer" which puts a nice KDE wrapper on it.

DAVE

yup

There are tutorials for installing software pinned in these forums. Take a look in the "general", "software" or "newbie" forums, I forget which it's in....

hackers_,

I appeciate your support.