Help

smith.p.sean · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:50 am Post subject: Help

Hey, Im a noob to Linux and I have a couple of questions. Right now im running a dual boot system with XP Pro and Mandrake 10. I am very pleased so far with linux except for one thing. I have noooo idea how to install anything. Im attempting to install WINE so that i can use some of my favorite applications. Can anyone maybe point me to a complete noob guide to install or if you have time on ur hands post here because I have almost no idea about the commands im told to run or anything. Please help a noob in distress who wants to pull away from windows!

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FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:00 am Post subject:

Try this website you should find some kind of helper/FAQ on there.

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en-us/

ladyseb · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:06 am Post subject:

All right... which distro are you using? Also, do you have a windows environment yet (if you move your mouse around...is it there...that's usually a good indication)?

Was that webpage helpful, or do you still have questions?

smith.p.sean · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:18 am Post subject:

yea, Right now im actually in italy away from my comp sniff sniff but im using Mandrake 10 and i have a workable environment. Im only having trouble at attempting to install stuff. Any help on that would be great. I wont be able to try it for a week but it would be appreciated.

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

Whoa!.....hows italy?
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ladyseb · Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

I see now that you had already said which distro... my apologies. (: Okay... I haven't used Mandrake in years, and I have not used 10 at all.

However, give me more information on the errors your getting...or what is the exact problem when you try to install (programs, I'm assuming).?

I'll talk you through a bit of the common way to install stuff though on your system...

So you'll usually have files (that you can download... hold SHIFT and left click the link) that are .rpm or ..tar.gz or .tar or .bz2 or some variation thereof. RPMs are already compiled packages, so you might want to get those...otherwise you have to compile from source. I assume you're using either GNOME or KDE...which? KDE uses kpackage to handle RPMs. If you double click on an RPM in the file manager...kpackage should pop up. Remember you need to be root to use kpackage to install. (Typing "su" in a virtual terminal and then typing in your root password will allow you to act as root... su=super user... you can also type "kpackage" at the prompt and use it via terminal)

Some commands to know-- (in terminal)

rpm -i [packagename] (this installs the program)
rpm -U [packagename] (this upgrades an installed program with the newest version)
rpm -e [packagename] (this unstinalls the program)

Find .rpm by going here... http://rpmfind.net/

You can also install from source. Each of the tarballs (tar.gz, .tgz, .gz...all those) contain programs in source that you need to compile and files like readmes. Read those files and follow the instruction they give you...they're helpful.

Commands to know:

/configure
make
make install

If you really want to compile from source, there are plenty of sites to help newbies. I'm also willing to talk you through it, but the RPM way is much easier for someone new to Linux.

Let me know if that was helpful at all...or if you have any more questions!!