i have just started using ubuntu which one of my friend gave me and he told me that all the players are installed in them, i wanted to play DVD on linux and when i installed it did not ask me which programs i want to install.
and after installation i have only GNOME no KDE and i have no players to play DVD.
now when i went to advance mode of ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS i showed me all programs and including Xine and MPlayer and when i click to install it gives me error of no permisssion

what do i do

you can try typing this into terminal emulator (command prompt)

sudo apt-get install xine

and

sudo apt-get install mplayer

Install Automatix2. It just works!

If you want KDE, look at Kbuntu.

Oh, also, you probably need to be logged in as "root" to install system-wide applications, and a member of the correct group to use them.

Note: I've never used Ubuntu, etc., so take my comments with a little caution.

PTrenholme was close. To install KDE do this When you use "sudo" you will be prompted for a password - the password is your own password.

This leaves me totally confused! Could someone please explain? May I summarize and ask you to correct me:

If you install Ubuntu first and then add KDE by entering code:
"sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop"
is the final result about the same as after installing Kunbuntu first and then adding Gnome? Or is it notably different, and how? Is the outcome simply equal to Ubuntu plus Kubuntu?

Would the result include both KDE and Gnome applications, and could you choose which desktop you prefer on a login to login basis?

Grateful for clarification,
Helmut