Really looking for absolute beginner guide

[Jera1]

I am looking for information on the Internet about using redhat linux 7 (old system). However, I fail to find the one thing that I really really need information on, downloading and installing files. I dont know if I am not using the correct "word" while searching but I can't find any useful information on how to do this. I mean the first thing I want to do after my install is download programs such as firefox. So I download it and I am like now what? I notice it is a .tar.gz file so I look for that and figure out how to ungz it (if that is what it is called?). Now what? It created a folder named firefox with various other folders in it but I dont see how to open firefox. I am guessing that I need to do something else but now I am stuck. Maybe it is just me but when we work on our computers I think that most of us are downloading apps and installing them on our machine to use them yet I find it very annoying that no linux site I have visited covers this very basic thing. Well, back to looking for more sites to see if I can figure out what to do next.


Thanks,

Jera

[darth_tradd]

I found this how-to (http://www.start-linux.com/articles/article_131.php)

Hope it helps. BTW, try searching the web more carefully, this one's easy to find, just tried a "how-to install linux software" search in google.

[keyshawn]

well, there's a few options:

- Linux For Dummies
- a newer version of this just came out recently. It seems you want to learn the rudiments of the cmd [command] line, and this very much will help ya.

later on, once you've conquered that try reading "rute" which is an e-book found here - http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html

good luck, and also, when you have q's you wanna ask online, read this first - [i couldnt of have said what eric raymond said any better]
How to ask questions the smart way - http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

and of course, have fun
hope to see you around the forums,
keyshawn

[Jera1]

Darth_tradd

Thank you for your time and effort in posting a reply, it showed me that I was looking for the wrong information. Upon going to the link you sent me I read it, read it again and then attempted the commands to install the software. Well as I said before, I had unzipped it and was looking for a readme or install in the folder but none exists. So now I type configure I receive the following error
bash: configure: command not found
So I try the this
http://www.start-linux.com/configure
and receive this error
no such file or directory
well I must be missing something or misunderstanding something.

Keyshawn

I have linux for dummies 3rd edition and it basically has the same information that Darth_tradd so kindly produced for me. See above and you will notice that configure command is not found. The dummies book does not say anything about how to resolve that problem. Thanks for your time and advice, I have bookmarked those pages.


Thanks,

Jera

P.S. I even did a man configure and the reply from bash was : no manual entry for configure. It is not as tho I am not trying as going back to windows is not an option.

[happybunny]

maybe syntax error....

after unzipping, type :

./configure
make
su - (you need to be root for the next part)
(type root password)
make install


"should work"

Also: are you aware of RPM's (man rpm)? or apt (http://www.linux-mag.com/2003-10/apt_01.html)

[Jera1]

Well when I type ./configure it says ./configure: no such file or directory every time. If I can learn to install programs Ill be 50% of the way to being happy with linux.
I have read about rpm but not get app. I am trying to install firefox because I dont like netscape or mozilla as a browser.

Thanks,

Jera

[happybunny]

not sure the file you have but this is the steps that might work:

gunzip firefox.tar.gzip -- this will unzip the tar file
tar -xvf firefox.tar --this will extract the files from the TApe ARchive file
this also may have created a subdirectory you need to go into for the configure command next
./configure --the configure file should be in the tar and will do something (im no expert so i cant quiet explain)
make --this will build the installation
make install --this will actually install the package now.

I think firefox is very mozilla like...have you seen http://www.opera.com/

[happybunny]

http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3/stat/4/idpl/1198567/com/firefox-0.8-0.fdr.11.2.i386.rpm.html

on the left under download there are rpm's for you. I am downloading one now to see if it works in FC2


this is better:

http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3 and search for firefox

[darth_tradd]

Hi!

If you are using RedHat, you can install software by compiling it (using the ./configure, make and make install commands) or by using rpm. It depends on how you get your program. When you are in the downloading page of the program of your choice you can find several options to download: rpm's, tarballs and .deb may be there.

If you get the rpm file, you can install it by using rpm. The reference is maximum rpm (http://www.rpm.org/max-rpm/) . Read it carefully and you will be able to install your program (hopefully you won't have any dependencies problem) also you can check the manual here at JL (http://justlinux.com/nhf/Distribution_Specific/Red_Hat_Linux)

So, you have to know what you just downloaded, if it's a rpm you won't have to write ./configure, but try rpm -i yourprogramname.rpm

Hope it helps


------ Just saw happybunny's post. Follow his links to get the Firefox rpm's. Then use rpm following JustLinux manual. Hope it will be easy now

[Jera1]

happybunny

Thank you for your time and effort on my problem. I tried to do it the way you typed but I still get this error
bash: ./configure: No such file or directory
I find this amusing, I switched from windows to linux because everytime I remove a trojan, virus, adware, etc on windows another takes its place so I was always searching and reading the Internet to find out how to remove and protect from it happening again. Now in linux (redhat 7 cause old components) I have spent about 15 hours (10 without posting for help and five more today while posting) to try to learn to do the most basic thing with an OS, install apps. Ill read up more on apt but I have this feeling that to learn how to use linux I need to be able to get files and install them without using a special app such as apt or rpm. Once I understand how to go about getting and installing apps then I will start to use those apps. Well its late for me. Work in a few hours then school then back to searching for the elusive answer to one of the most basic things users do on the computers: Install Apps.



Late,

Jera

[happybunny]

i hear ya.

For linux to "take over", it needs work on the specific things regular users do, like install apps.

the developers have come along way in these efforts. When looking for apps, especially in Redhat, try and get rpms. They are self contained files that install as easily as window's apps.exe's, for the most part.

There are times when a specific app requires certain dependancies that can drive you nuts. Programs like apt (or YUM in Fedora or YAST in SUSE or Red Carpet) address these dependancies. When you go to install an app with these programs, they also install the dependancies for you.

good luck and keep at it. I have been using linux for a year or so now and one day, all of a sudden, I just got it and it all fell into place.

Linux is about choice. Choose your distro, choose your kernel choose your windows manager choose your browser choose your office suite, or choose to use windows and take what ever they give you.

[psi42]

The link above only pertains to installing programs from source. The firefox download is a precompiled version, so there is no need for compilation (the whole ./configure && make && su -c "make install" deal).

Inside the new uncompressed firefox directory, you will find one of two things.

Hopefully, you will just see a binary:
firefox

Run that, and away you go. :)



However, you might instead see only
firefox-installer

Because the mozilla people have, for some crazy reason, decided to include an utterly pointless installation step. Run that binary and follow the fun instructions. Then go to the installed location and run firefox.

:)

~psi42

[WayStar]

Hi Jera,

You've got a healthy attitude toward learning Linux. You posted that you are trying to use Red Hat 7 because of old components. Which components, may I ask? The reason I ask is that newer distributions rarely leave behind old hardware. I use almost entirely hand-me-down hardware, and so far I've only had one ethernet card become "too old."

If you could use a newer version, it might have the option of installing firefox, making it easier for you to continue learning.

Otherwise, my best advice is to follow the advice from happybunny:
gunzip firefox.tar.gzip -- this will unzip the tar file
tar -xvf firefox.tar --this will extract the files from the TApe ARchive file

Then "go into" the newly created firefox subdirectory:
cd firefox (or "cd [whatever-the-subdirectory-name])

Then look to see what files are there:
ls

If there are files with names like README or INSTALL, read them to see if there are special instructions. The standard is "./configure" -but not every program package uses it. Some have scripts to run that take care of installation for you, some have different scripts for different installation options. There are many, many ways to read a text file in Linux. My favorite is:
less README -this lets you read the file one page at a time

Hope this helps. Once you get past these initial hurdles, you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish using Linux.

-Waylena

[WayStar]

psi42, methinks you've just solved the mystery.

Woo-Hoo!

[pezplaya]

Originally posted by psi42
The link above only pertains to installing programs from source. The firefox download is a precompiled version, so there is no need for compilation (the whole ./configure && make && su -c "make install" deal).

Inside the new uncompressed firefox directory, you will find one of two things.

Hopefully, you will just see a binary:
firefox

Run that, and away you go. :)



However, you might instead see only
firefox-installer

Because the mozilla people have, for some crazy reason, decided to include an utterly pointless installation step. Run that binary and follow the fun instructions. Then go to the installed location and run firefox.

:)


~psi42

yes, you don't compile it. That is why he is having so many problems.

just

cd firefox
./firefox

that should be it.

[mdwatts]

As noted in your other thread here in /dev/random, please do not crosspost. Changing the subject does not count as the contents was still the same.

Review the JL Community Help Posting Guideline sticky threads to familiarize yourself with the forum policies.

[XiaoKJ]

Absolute beginner's guide?

even that will confuse my family -- they would rather stay with windows....:D

but again, do not seek beginner guides as they wouldn't help -- just go and get a linux distro, test out your lives and you will be very much better off.

HEY, Experience counts!

[Jera1]

Thank you everyone for your time and advice. I have not given up nor will I because I cant stand the trojan, virus, adware, and other problems. I noticed that the subject was not that good however I thought I posted it in the forum suggestions which is why I posted it in this forum with a different, more clear topic then the mod decided to lock the post with the better subject line and keep this one open along with telling me to not cross post. Hello, if I knew I had done it I would not have, you dont have to seem like a jerk and keep posting dont cross post in every one of my posts. I understood the first time and did not realize the mistake I made, and had you looked the other subject was better and you should have locked this one. Dont care if you ban me or whatever, I will always speak my mind and I think that you (mod) made a harsh decision without thinking. I feel you could have emailed me and told me what happened while locking both posts untill I responded to my email and maybe we could have discussed it. No matter what happens, thanks for the help.


Thanks,

Jera


edit:
P.S. mdwatts that means you also. I can read and dont need 5 people telling me not to crosspost. I guess if you are trying to be helpful that is useful but it was said once and I dont think that you are a mod. If the mod tells me I will understand. Please waste your time posting unuseful commits in someone elses posts, thanks. I mean if you are not posting something useful to my question I dont need your input .

edit:2
here are my system stats.


300mhz amd k6-2 proc
192 mb ram
voodoo3 pci video card
6 gig hard drive

I did have redhat9 fedora core but it ran way way too slow.

[psi42]

Originally posted by Jera1
you dont have to seem like a jerk and keep posting dont cross post in every one of my posts. I understood the first time and did not realize the mistake I made, and had you looked the other subject was better and you should have locked this one.



Then go to linuxquestions, they don't do anything like that, and their forum is a real mess as a result.


By the way:
http://www.google.com/linux?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=installing+firefox&btnG=Google+Search
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/releases/#install
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/releases/



:)
~psi42

[JohnT]

P.S. mdwatts that means you also. I can read and dont need 5 people telling me not to crosspost. I guess if you are trying to be helpful that is useful but it was said once and I dont think that you are a mod. If the mod tells me I will understand. Please waste your time posting unuseful commits in someone elses posts, thanks. I mean if you are not posting something useful to my question I dont need your input .

mdwatts is a mod as a matter of fact....and you really should read the forum rules about posting and try to refrain fron knee-jerk reactions to things your not cognizant of. And welcome to Justlinux.:D