Installing software in mandrake 7.2

[ATGJDR]

I have looked in the Running Linux 3rd Edition,the Mandrake Manual, the how to books that came with Mandrake. And call me stupid but I cannot figure out how to install software. While I can install any packages that came with the system by using the package manager I cannot figure out how to install the soft ware that I have down loaded. I have spent day's trying to fiture this out. to be sure I do not ask until I have to. Can anyone let me in on the secret? Windows guy not used to rasseling the system to the ground to get it do something I give up. Please Help....


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Delighted and Intrigued by things unseen.

[mikek147]

It depends on how the program was packaged. If it is a tar.gz file, you mv the tarball to some safe location and do either tar xzvf package.tar.gz. This will unzip and untar the package creating, usually, a subdirectory by that package name. I usually do this as a regular user in my home directory, then su to root only for the install portion of the make sequence. Then the steps are generally the same of:

./configure
make
make install

Always read any Install or README files that may be part of the package of any specific instructions for that package.

If they are rpms, then I think the method is rpm -i package.rpm. I'm not all together sure about the rpm's, so maybe someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.

If they are deb files, then the command is simply dpkg -i package.deb.

If you have something other, just post back with any particulars. -mk

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If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

[ATGJDR]

Thanks I am downloading the most recent version of Mandrake 7.2 so I can get my Nvidia card to work and reconfigure my printer to work a little better. Will get back to you when I can try the install at roughly 1mb/sec it will take about 2/hrs. Many, Many, THANKS
Andrew

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Delighted and Intrigued by things unseen.

[ATGJDR]

I have tried for three day's to install a program for my DSL on Mandrake 7.2 it is a zip file. I could open it and install it in about 6 clicks if it were in windows Mandrake usualy uses RPM for files I think but my DSL provider has sent me this. I Do I can't even open the Read me file. When I open mnt the Floppy the /mnt/floppy/enter.zip - Archiver opens all the list of contained files with size method size now ratio timestamp CRC. I have tried all that I dare to do I cannot find any information to read. I cannot even search the help files as it say's I have to load the searcher Right!!! Like I know how to do that. Three days on a 50 cent floppy I'm begining to question my sanity....Immesely Frustrated and stressed I'm going to bed. If there is any one that can help please do. I will tackle this again in the morning.

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Delighted and Intrigued by things unseen.

[scott2000]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, I don't think you can run a .exe file on a linux system. If you can see the readme and it is in .txt format you sould be able to read it if it is in .doc format you are out of luck as far as vi or emacs is concerned.

It looks like your DSL provider gave you a disk that works for Windows only.



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The more you know,
the more you know you don't know

[ATGJDR]

No Scott you are right I learned early on that Linux will not read .exe. but I do not have any .exe on the disk. It is in a zip and I have so far figured out how to read the files README... AND once the files are opened they reveal themselves as tar.gz but I couldn't figure out what Mike meant by moving the tarball to some safe location. In the read me file I can put the directories were I'm told to but I cannot figure out how to edit the pppoe start file after 3 day's I am now to the point that I can read the file but in the userchangable area nothing can be changed where I'm reading the file I have tried opening it in the shell and cannot. The things that frustrates me the most is that I can not find anything on installing such things I have three books that came with Mandrake and they don't seem to say any things about it. I recently had a break through in that I was able to install these books from the cdrom by draging the desired file from the cdrom directory onto the home or desktop directory window that opens in Konquerer, these books are now installed on my hard drive. Even though these books were part of the Mandrake 7.2 they would not install or be seen in the Mandrake rpm package manager. I was pretty proud of myself when I stumbled on how to first read the books and then actualy install them on the hard drive. The DSL Software install has deffinatly got me befuttled. To the point that I have called the Provider to send a tech out here or write me with specific instructions.

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Delighted and Intrigued by things unseen.

[ATGJDR]

Victory!!!
No I never did get the software to load. But : I am now typing and communicating from Mandreke 7.2. HA HA...
It took the provider 3/hrs. to configure my Windows software for a static IP address so that they didn't have to load the software. Why? Because they couldn't do it either. HA HA!.... from what I understand the statc address is better and more stable than pppoe. and there is no need to load software for the specific provder. I will again try to install software but this time for my DVD player. I'm now using the konquerer,web brouser does anyone know how to get rid of the home file list on the left?

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Delighted and Intrigued by things unseen.

[ATGJDR]

Never mind I figured my last question out. If I don't want the file list all I need to do is use the Konqueror web browser instead of the Multitasking home Konqueror.

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Delighted and Intrigued by things unseen.

[mikek147]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. But what I meant by a 'safe location' is in a users home directory. You don't want to put package source into /usr/src or /usr/local unless the package specifically wants it there. It's far easier to download software into ~/<user>, tar xvzf <package>, configure and make in the directory that was created, then su to root for the last 'make install' step.

Once you've installed the program, and you're satisfied that it works, you can remove the directory that was created with the tar command and gzip the original tar file, saving it until you download a newer version.

Sorry I wasn't too clear on that. Glad to hear that you resolved your problem. -mk

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If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.