Guest GreenfieldMusicman Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 Hi everybody, I am new to linux (I got fedup w/ Windows and decided to erase windows and put Mandrake 9.1 on my computer). Unfortunately, I can not figure out how to install tar.gz source files. I did some research and found out that to "CD a directory" means to change the working directory. But I am unsure how to go about doing that, and pretty much everything else. If someone could possible go into specifics on how to do things, and email me (at: musicman@musicunlmtd.com) or post them on here I would greatly appreciate it. I realize there is a lot of posts on this, but they still don't make sense to me. When someone says, type make, I don't know where I am supposed to type it. I know there is some pretty cool free software fo Linux, but unfortunately I can't install it until I Figure out how to. I know how to install .rpm files (thats pretty easy) but most software for linux are the tar.gz files. I am know quite a bit about computers, but Linux is new to me, and I need help. Thank you for your time and effort, -Jon P.S. I do know how to extract the files though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidzoo Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 This is mentioned a few other places here, but typically to install software from tar.gz files after it is extracted you need to follow these steps: As your normal user, open a terminal and cd to the directory created when you issued the tar -xzvf filename.tar.gz command Type ./configure Then, when that's done, type make After that's done and assuming there are no errors, su to root and type: make install This will install everything for you. Assuming there were no errors, you will now be good to go. I realize that's a very basic explanation, but that's really all you need to do to install a program from source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peet@Mandrake Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 Configure your mandrake whit http://plf.zarb.org/~nanardon/urpmiweb.php and you have no more problems to install software. Next go to your MCC and software/RPMdrake and search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidzoo Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 Configure your mandrake whit http://plf.zarb.org/~nanardon/urpmiweb.php and you have no more problems to install software. Next go to your MCC and software/RPMdrake and search. That is an easier way, but not everything that you might want to install is in urpmi (example is the fluxbox devel version) Also, and easier way to install software using urpmi is to open a console, su to root and type urpmi <packagename> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilimanjaro Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 I am in the process of learning the same thing. cd /home/kilimanjaro/updates/open-office you have to go(cd) to the directory where the file is. In this case it is in open-office tar -xvzf {OOo_1.1.0_LinuxIntel_install}.tar.gz In the parenthisis(don't include them) is the file name for this progam it made another file witch I then had to cd /newfile cd /OOo_1.1.0_LinuxIntel_install and then it is either ./install or ./configure I'm not sure which I try one or the other and see what works. I'm not sure if this is very clear, but it can be very frustrating! I have been learn how this work over the past few weeks. If you are new it is much easier to start with rpms if you can find them. Rpms you just download and then clivk on them. The hard part is making sure you have all of the dependentcies. If it helps you can check some of what I have been going through at http://mandrakeusers.org/viewtopic.php?t=8425 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qchem Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 One thing I'll add is to always read the README that comes with most software, theres usually installation instructions in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnubie Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 Hi everybody, I am new to linux (I got fedup w/ Windows and decided to erase windows and put Mandrake 9.1 on my computer). Unfortunately, I can not figure out how to install tar.gz source files. I did some research and found out that to "CD a directory" means to change the working directory. But I am unsure how to go about doing that, and pretty much everything else. If someone could possible go into specifics on how to do things, and email me (at: musicman@musicunlmtd.com) or post them on here I would greatly appreciate it. I realize there is a lot of posts on this, but they still don't make sense to me. When someone says, type make, I don't know where I am supposed to type it. I know there is some pretty cool free software fo Linux, but unfortunately I can't install it until I Figure out how to. I know how to install .rpm files (thats pretty easy) but most software for linux are the tar.gz files. I am know quite a bit about computers, but Linux is new to me, and I need help. Thank you for your time and effort, -Jon P.S. I do know how to extract the files though. I was in this position a few months ago. First extract the files into their own directory, then go into that directory and right click and then click "open terminal here" and thats where you type in the commands. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilimanjaro Posted October 6, 2003 Report Share Posted October 6, 2003 Hey!!!! Gnubie I didn't know you could open a terminal in a directory. that is pretty slick! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnubie Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 Hey!!!! Gnubie I didn't know you could open a terminal in a directory. that is pretty slick! Thanks Yeah it saves you having to CD into that directory. It was actually how I first learned how to use the terminal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreenfieldMusicman Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 Ok, thank you everybody for the quick reply. I am still a bit confused with what to type in the terminal. I apoligize to all, this probably seems a bit repetitive. But could someone type step by step what I'm supposed to do... (i.e..... 1) _________________________ 2)_________________________ 3)_________________________ Thank you, -Jon I can't wait to use some of the cool software in linux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreenfieldMusicman Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 P.P.S. If anybody knows a good site for drivers (especially PCMCIA), please post it in here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 GreenfieldMusicman: Welcome to the board.:D After a search in my browser bookmarks I found these two links where you can find some detailed information about handling linux/unix compressed files. It has already helped a lot... [*]Go here [*]and here Good Luck :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystified Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 As someone mentioned there's often a readme file which will "usually" give instructions on installation. 1. It's hard to cover every situation but assuming you're already in that directory and you have a terminal open type the following at the prompt: ./configure 2. Wait until it's done and if you have no errors then the next step is to type: make 3. After that's finished in the terminal type: su root password You have to be root user to install the program. 4. As root you will type: make install Hopefully all is well and your program is installed correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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