Hi i have never ever ever used linux before. I installed ubuntu linux on my second computer becasue windows 2000 packed up. I think it is great for free, not up to the standards of windows but i still love it. But seeing as i have never used it before confuses me. None of my media players work so i reinstalled ubuntu and that didnt help so i downloaded REAL PLAYER for it. Now because i am new i have NO IDEA on how to do anything. So i have this file on my home space but i don't no what to do with this please may you give me complete step by step instruction on how to do this, or i may have to revert back to WINDOWS. The help would be much appreciated but rember i have the file and dont have an idea on what to do with it!!! Thank you very very much 04jransomp

http://easylinux.info/wiki/Ubuntu

The guide will help you install the programs that you probably want. You can also use the automatix program to install all of the programs wanted regarding a simple and easy fashion. The automix program makes install trouble some programs like Java, plugins, media players, and codecs a breeze.

Basically if you want to install programs via Ubuntu . Here are the commands.

sudo apt-get install "program name"

You can also use Synaptic which is located under

System-->Administration-->Synaptic Package Manager

can you be more specific than "None of my media players work".

Can you give an error message or output from if you run the program from a terminal.

Often media player problems are caused by you missing a plug in or a codec.

Do you understand the basics of apt-get?

It is something about the gst-register and using synaptic i reinstalled it but did not work i am very stuck!!

And please brainthegreat can you tell me were to input the commands?

The place to input commands in linux is called a terminal. The lovely CLI.

There are a number of different terminal applications, which one you use is a matter of preference. I'm not on a Ubuntu box at the moment so things may wiggle round a little but in gnome if you select from the menu system>terminal>terminal you will get a box open up where you can dipe in commands similar to running cmd under windows

Isn't there also add/remove programs?

you can always use synaptic

if it isn't installed you can get it with apt-get
make sure you are root first. use su to change to root.

So if I downloaded Firefox, I should type:

sudo apt-get install firefox

Does it matter:
1. where the program is downloaded
2. do I have to type just firefox or do I have to put the complete path?

Thanks.

No

For firefox you only have to type firefox. for other applications you may have to type other things. This is why i reccommend installing synaptic, that way you can use ctrl+f to search for applications, then double click them to select them to install and click the apply button.


I reccommend looking here for a nice collection of how tos:
ubuntuguide.org

For notes on synaptic look here:
ubuntuguide.org synaptic instructions

I see synaptic is friendly but...
I go to Help..About..Firefox and I am at 1.0.7. The latest is 1.5 or 1.7. I downloaded firefox-1.5.0.1.tar.gz. On the desktop icon it has tz on it.

In synaptic, I go to Package...Force Version but it is greyed out.

So do I have to use the make and install commands? If so, could you clarify when?

Thanks.

For 1.5 go here:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/firefox