How do I make installation in LINSPIRE ????

[adzidzor]

Glad I switched to Linux and everything is working fine but still a newbie to it. I downloaded Opera Internet Browser but don't know how to instal it. In fact, I downloaded a few linux programs but installation is a big problem to me. At the moment I am using Linspire Live. Any help?????? Would appreciate help on all linux OS.....because I am still trying to adopt the best.

I found out Yahoo IM has a linux counterpart, will it work on any linux platform, or just the specifically mentioned ones like REDHAT, Debian etc....

What's the difference between the .rmp, tar.gz etc..extensions on linux files?


Thanks

[technobeast]

.rpms .debs contain precompiled packages that are ready to run whereas .tar.gz are plain sources and you have to compile them by hand. The advntage of the second ones is the size, and the fact that it is compiled on your machine for your machine.
For Opera. I think they had a tar.gz if you have dlded it start a console, unpack it:
tar -zxvf operafilename.tar.gz
change the directory:
cd operafilename
start the install script:
./install
now although it comes in a tar.gz it is not source, I think it's precompiled, static version and the install script only adds the shortcuts to /usr/bin:
p.s. yup almost

else
exec_dir="${prefix}/lib/opera/$opera_version"
wrapper_dir="${prefix}/bin"
doc_dir="${prefix}/share/doc/opera"
share_dir="${prefix}/share/opera"
plugin_dir="${prefix}/lib/opera/plugins"

and voila. It should be ready to run. type opera in console or execute it as command in X. Hope I explained this clearly. Good luck

[Wobbel]

Maybe this could be a helpfull site, lots of linux links there.

http://www.linuxlinks.com/

[adzidzor]

Tecno,
everything looks confusing to me...but I'll try it out and let you know what comes up.

Wobbel, I hope to make some sense out of the link. I'll visit them and see what they got for me.

Thanks guys

[technobeast]

OK a good place where you can always find something FAQ oriented is:
The Linux Documentation Project - you should have some of the how-to's into /usr/share/doc... or /usr/doc ... hmmm don't remember right now.

[adzidzor]

I signed up for CNR which makes automatic installations on LINSPIRE...quickest way out...Thanks

[inescapeableus]

Well you are entering a world where you really have to learn about what you are doing. I would stay dead away from Linspire considering they do not include a compiler in the distribution. Check out Mandrake to get your feet wet and take it from there. When you are installing applications you can download files that are called binaries. These consist of extentions like ".rpm", ".deb" etc. The installation of source is the best method of installation, and this will come usually as .tar.gz, .tar or bzip. Installation by source generally is installed by

1. ./configure
2. make
3. make install
4. ldconfig (as root)

Although as you advance you will want to change certain values while installing applications. Hope that helps you out.

[adzidzor]

Hi inescapeableus,
I am now into mandrake seriously, but still can't install some programs. Others have been successful but where as .tar extensions etc, not .rpm are still a hussle. I downloaded Azureuos...TkDVD and a few progs but have no luck in running the set up. Any help...please.

Assuming the directory is... home/kwaku/documents . All the downloads are in documents folder. What do I do. I tried your 4 points which I saw on a website, but had no start. The #1 would'nt configure, so automatically all that followed did not help either. [quote]

[greffov]

Originally Posted by inescapeableus

1. ./configure
2. make
3. make install
4. ldconfig (as root)

... or just emerge [application]

[greffov]

Originally Posted by adzidzor

Assuming the directory is... home/kwaku/documents . All the downloads are in documents folder. What do I do. I tried your 4 points which I saw on a website, but had no start. The #1 would'nt configure, so automatically all that followed did not help either.

what application are we talking about? and what does the configure script give as error message?

[inescapeableus]

I believe you are talking about Azureus? If so that is a Java based program and you need to have java installed to use it. I am not familiar with the other program. What errores are getting? Please post them. Also as Greffov pointed of if you have distribuation installer such as "apt-get" you can install programs with few simple steps.

[adzidzor]

Below is what I get when I tried to install a program.."unrar". 'Unrar' is the folder containing the program files.

"[kwaku@localhost kwaku]$ home/kwaku/unrar./configure
bash: home/kwaku/unrar./configure: No such file or directory"

"[kwaku@localhost kwaku]$ ./configure home/kwaku/unrar
bash: ./configure: No such file or directory"

Tried both ways.

I know probably I am not getting something right. 'Kwaku' is the user name not the root....and I have the 'documents' folder under 'kwaku'. Some progs I save under Kwaku and others under documents. I may be asking too much but I a newbie in this linux age and still grappling with the concepts. Please understand me.

I am at the moment downloading the Java for the Azureus program.[/i]

another program I want to install is 'TkDVD' it has an 'install' file in the folder. What do I do??? Looks like I've got a looooooooong way to go with this Linux thing. Thanks anyway.

[inescapeableus]

Ok what you always want to do when you download a application is to read the "readme" file. This will tell you how to install most programs. This file can also be named "install". with "rar" you want to type make; su; make install then you are done. You have no need to run "./configure" for this program. Linux is hard at first but once you get it the hang of it you will never go back. Let me know how Azureus goes for you.

[adzidzor]

do I need to type those commands(make; etc...) after I specify the directory in which the prog is... or just type them out?

I am using Gnome and it's frustrating me. I normally use KDE but I just upgraded my mandrake 10.0 to 10.1 and the KDE can't load. So I am forced to stick to Gnome. Is it that easy to just download KDE again and install to update the corrupted one?

[technobeast]

There should be several rpms probably for KDE (base, fonts, toys, multimedia, etc) - you have to install each. No worries to try I think because it's broken and trying to update it may only make it work not worse . Try to
Also when installing progs, when you untar the file and get into the dir /unrar/ always search for a file named INSTALL or Readme or something like that as inescapeableus stated. It will probably contain everything you need to install and configure the app.

Good luck