How to install Linux / UNIX *.tar.gz tarball files

where do i put this code???????
i hate linux, and i dont want to….
all i see is people saying yeah the command/code to do this is so&so, but they never say where to put it!!!!
can someone email me, step by step process (with pictures, if you can) of how to install tar.gz files onto linux please…

my email is trenta91@gmail.com

Thank you

Ben,

You need to install all development packages and compliers.

Joh,

Use gnu tar or tar command without z option under Solaris UNIX:
tar xf file.tar
If it is tar.gz, enter:
gunzip < file.tar.gz |tar xvf -

how to use commands apt-get, rpm and yum & what do they mean

./configure
bash: ./configure: No such fire or directory

Ive seen a few people tell me (for different software) to use ./configure, but its not reconized.

(Im using Ubuntu…)

Hi,

I’m using Fedora 8 and I’ve just installed wine 1.1.10 as a .tar.bz2 file. I’ve figured out how to unzip it and put it in a folder, but of course, I have not been able to install it or anything. I don’t think I have the right compilers, because it gives me this:
$ cd wine-1.1.10
$ ./configure
checking build system type… i686-pc-linux-gnu
checking host system type… i686-pc-linux-gnu
checking whether make sets $(MAKE)… yes
checking for gcc… no
checking for cc… no
checking for cl.exe… no
configure: error: in `/home/hyperion/wine-1.1.10′:
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log’ for more details.
[hyperion@amethystium wine-1.1.10]$ make
make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.
$
So, those gcc, cc, and cl.exe files it’s looking for…are those something I need? Am I able to yum install those? What commands do I type in if I do that? I think I just have GNU and that will unzip stuff, but, of course, I can’t install the program with that I don’t think.

Alan

Hi,
Omega,
I can’t install tar packages,
Is there a solution to resolve the problem “./configure: No such file or directory” i am using Ubuntu too

how do i open the place to type in the command lines?????
very new to linux, using the acer one linpus linux and is all very confusing.

much help would be appreciated.
imeldapitt@btinernet.com

Hi,
Linux can be hard. There are many different “Distributions” each distribution is constructed to meet different peoples needs. You will have to search online and review “linux distribution” and see which one sound like it is for you.
The easiest way to install applications is to use the tools that come with the distribution you decided to install on your computer. The tools are “apt-get”, “rpm” and “yum” and more. They are included in the linux distribution to make installing easy.
I am using OpenSuse 11.1 Gnome and they have graphic tools for installing files. I usually google “OpenSuse 11.1″ and the name of the app I am looking for.
If you download “source” you are downloading programing code that needs to be turned into binary executiable code to run. This can be very difficult and requires that your linux has the developer packages installed. This may be too difficult for the casual Linux newbie.

i have problem with redhat linux installation
during installation “8254 timer not connected IO APIC ‘nopic’ error ”
massege appear what can i do while i have updated version of karnal 2.6.27-11genric
and new version of BIOS

please! give me best soluation….

Hi I am new to linux-although not that new. I downloaded linx – only with CLI.
Now I want to install X. But whenever it try to make a package it says:
**make Nothing to be done for ‘all’ **

Please guide me to a book or website to understand the process of make…?

For all those who are new to linux and say they hate it switch back to mac or windows there are many people happy to help you on the web but if you are unhappy you should really switch back and if you don’t know how to find the command terminal you should really switch to windows with its supposedly “user friendly OS” and if you are on the fence read this http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm and join linuxforums.org here is some also key reading for new linux users from that oh so helpful forum site http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/linux-newbie/57918-all-new-users-read-first.html hope that helps

“For all those who are new to Linux and say they hate it switch back to mac or windows ”

Well……. you have to try it before you now whether it sucks or rocks !!!! and my conclusion is that Linux distributions are for people who only wants to read email , chat ,read the news and using the “office” pack every now and then . There are many Linux distributions that full fill that kind of need only when you have to install programs you are more or less in deb shit . Also I have experienced that there are no drivers for a lot of new hardware and if there happens to be , then its more than a double click to get it installed. Linux people seem to make a big issue out of that it runs on everything you can find in the dump yard instead of the latest new stuff . I had problems last year with two motherboards and Ubuntu . Maybe focus on what makes life easier using their computer would be better . I don’t call it freedom when you can only install software with build in package installers. Using apt-get , yum and others with command line is a nightmare typing exactly the program you want included version number is not that funny . There is very good a reason why people get very aggressive trying a Linux system and its called Windows and it ROCKS I must say after playing around with just about every distro within the last two weeks . The extra time i spend to understand just a fair bit of whats going on , I could have worked and made money to buy 20 original Windows Cd’s . It was interesting though . I lost some of my hair and my eyes are still red . I give it a try every year , when I have time but for now . Bye bye Linux world though its for “FREE”

Ps. Thanks for the links . It was in fact very qualified help I got and it was needed here in the jungle of blocks and amateur sites which often lead to more confusion.

Jannik

Jannik,

I don’t mean to sound like an asshole but the fact is that linux doesn’t want users like you. Linux is for those who want a smooth running operating system that have the knowledge to tear the OS down and rebuild it the way they want it obviously you do not possess this knowledge.
As for Windows “rocking” it just doesn’t I mean the viruses written for windows have much more potential to destroy your entire system than those written for Linux(in fact it would be a .000000001% chance that somebody could destroy one linux computer with one worm while the slammer worm destroyed thousands of windows computers in relatively no time and with relative ease. I don’t assume you will understand this but for all else out there it is good to know.
Windows is designed incorrectly for the functions it promises to its users of today. Windows is monolithic and entirely over interdependent thus one program is hacked and destroyed all programs fail where as linux one program is hit with a virus that one program is done and you reinstall. Many hacks are executed using web servers but since Linux makes the web server its own user someone who hacks a linux computer through a security hole in a web browser can only make the web browser fail and can’t gain any real control of the computer.
Windows also depends on RPC(remote procedure call) in unnecessary situations. RPC allows your computer to access other computers over the internet looking for answers and one small hole in a server security network and bam a worm will get thousands of comps because of the constant unneccesary use of RPC. Linux is designed to use RPC only as a last result otherwise its direct access which prevents other outside parties access to your comp. Seems logical right you don’t want other people accessing your files frequently thats not very secure hence the Linux design.
Linux also seperates all users and their dedicated files so if one user gets a virus(which is still unlikely and very uncommon) and all of that users files are corrupted the other users remain intact as if nothing had happened thus the computer is still intact and recovery is much easier.
Linux also has much better security programs available that make it much harder to crack. Plus the added bonus of being able to change your OS with a few minor programming lessons you make your OS completely unique. Now what is harder for a lock pick to unlock the lock that 90% of the world uses or the lock that only 1 person in a 6 billion person world uses. Its logic really. Windows is so popular why would Microsoft care to fix these issues when their product already sells so well. Thus the free product used by those who want a supreme OS is always being changed an upgraded in major ways and fixed. However: as I said at the beginning linux doesn’t want you Linux is not an OS that is sold to make large profits by large Corporations linux is something you CHOOSE to have and if you don’t want it and all you want to do is say that it sucks the Linux user community will not miss you and don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. And as always it is OK to not like Linux use Windows use Mac use what suits your needs and what you want I prefer the security the wide range of choice I have and the ability to power use you may not and that is fine. Please read the links I posted above they are informative and will help newbies learn the ropes and help those considering linux decide if it is for them and which distro is for them.

Yours Truly,
The Caped Crusader(definitely in know way is this a comic book reference or nerdy remark lol)

The thrill of learning… Yup yup, I can do things in windows by just pointing an clicking… I work hard for my cash so wonder which is really harder… The point an click in windows, or taking a little time to learn to do within linux… My ignorance is a blessing when I have the willingness to learn…

I find my time better spent learning than spent crying “I can’t do it”…

Linux is only hard because people are not used to it……they forget how frustrating Windows was when they started….it is the beginning of a new journey. They need to go into it with an open mind and let go of the Windows methodology in order to progress in Linux…this appears to be the first and most important step The potential for doing creative things is much greater in Linux and the things people share with you in the Linux Community is because they enjoy doing just that…sharing. Nobody is trying to rip you off in Linux like many of the Windows based vendors.costantly vying for your attention and money by every known dirty cyber-trick in the book..

I too wish Linux had .exe files and those tarballs are a PITA….that’s why I’m here looking to find answers. This is the beginning of my learning curve to turn my computer into what ‘I’ want it to be and not somebody elses idea of what my computer should behave like…only in Linux is this possible due to its open-source nature.

If it helps anyone the best and least painful Linux distribution for people wishing to migrate from Windows to get up and running will most likely be Mint 6 in the Main Edtion because it contains all necessary codecs, most proprietory graphics drivers and all of the main applications you are likely to need. Get the Gnome version and avoid the KDE version for now because it is still a work in progress in Mint. I have Mint with Gnome on my Toshiba Laptop and everything just works….I came off Xp 2 weeks ago and the sense of peace and stability emanating from my computer now is nothing short of amazing after the constant irritations of Windows. If all you want is a stable, out-of the -box operating system to do normal everyday tasks this is your best chance in Linux….this is the Mint team’s stated aim….functionalility and stability ‘out of the box’.

Because Mint is not giving me any problems or demanding my attention every 5 minutes compelling me to waste time performing some pointless action to it not of my own making I have the mental space to create my own like trying to research and install those ‘lovely’ tarballs!

As long-winded as some of the techniques undoubtedly are in Linux (like installing tarballs) I am sure there is reason and method behind this apparent madness!

It has been interesting reading the different viewpoints because I agree with both sides..For me personally ..comfortably familiar though Wijndows is… it is commercially corrupted beyond redemption. I can’t stand my tv either for the same reason…that’s going as well!

Nope… didn’t work.
Yet again, another ‘oh so easy’ how to guide for tarballs that doesn’t work. I’ve had ubuntu 7.10 for about 9 months now, and I still can’t install these damned tarballs. Now don’t get me wrong, I really like Ubuntu, and i want to support it, but these tarballz and terminal crap is infuriating. All I want is flash player 10, which would be a few clicks on windows or mac. THATS WHAT PEOPLE WANT! EASE OF USE! Why am I transported back to the mid-eighties with ubuntu’s terminal, and when will the powers that be at linux actually recognize this is the major put off for new users. I tell all my friends how awesome linux is, virus free, stable and super fast. They see it and they want it, but ultimately I dissuade them because I know they couldn’t deal with the terminal crap. Ubuntu must learn to deal with humans, not the other way around, if it wants to claim ‘it’s for humans!

You should try OpenBSD, its got wicked screen savers.

-Theo

I forgot to mention….make sure you select ‘ALL’ in the program categories list first in the left- hand box otherwise it won’t show up!

I am very happy with linux I use a cady and removable draws I have one 80 gig disk running mandrive another running suse and another running windows xp if there is something I can not do on linux I change draws simple as that, and I never go on the net with windows ever.
And dont any one beat them selve up I have never been able to install a tarball, and I have been using linux for about a year now The only fault I see with linux is to many diffrent distributions.

I’ve given up on tar files for a while….it seems to me you have to start right from the beginning with learning the terminal and its commands before you can install them..I don’t have the time or inclination at the moment to learn it.

Linux , at this stage in its evolution, is strictly for people who enjoy computers as an end in itself unless you are happy with the tools already installed by default or from the repositories. Too restrictive for me personally.

The lack of clear documentation specific to these files presented in a way that is understandable to me (and a lot of people here apparently} has severely dampened my enthusiasm for using Linux.

I am sure out there somewhere, someone has written the definitive, clear and simple HowTo for tarballs but I have not found it yet.

I write this from a Vista machine having installed umpteen programs without thinking and only go into Command Prompt if there is no GUI facility for something.

I have learnt much with my Linux machine that I have been able to transfer to Windows but in the end a computer, for me, is only an appliance to be used and Windows, despite its many flaws, gets the job done.

I have the choice of both systems at my disposal and at the moment Vista is kicking Linux into the dust for ease of use and application setup

What you gain in one area you lose in another.

The complexity of program installation, outside the repositories, in Linux is its biggest obstacle towards wider acceptance and usage.

When i try 2 install driver for lan card it gives me following error msg
Makefile:24:*** Linux kernel source not found.Stop
Can any1 help me?
I m using linux 9.

Jorx.

Your comments are interesting…and true…for you. Everybody elses comments are true…for them! If you are happy to use Linux within the relatively tight confines of the repositories it’s ok, but if you want to use to programs from elsewhere a lot of prior knowledge is required to install them that a lot of people here (including myself) are not prepared to learn or can’t because of the lack of decent, understandable, documentation on things like these tarballs that can be grasped by the majority, who at the end of the day, were brought up on Windows, with all it’s associated terminology and methods.

Changing over is too much effort for too little gain unless, quite rightly of course, you enjoy the challenge of learning something new. For most people though a computer is just an appliance to be used, like a vacuum cleaner, and most people would not want to read a 500 page manual on how to get the best out of it!..this is Linux at the moment…it isn’t automated enough for most people.

Your comment on the ‘ bigger picture’ is misinformed in my opinion…the ‘free’ distributions, like Linux, is riding on the back of the commercial ones because it is Windows and OSx that stimulates the development and production of new technologies…Intel. for example, is not going to invest BILLIONS of dollars making chips for a free distribution for no return…is it?

Linux cannot exist without Windows and OSX but they can exist without Linux!…this is the reality.

On your last comment I must take issue.

I’d like to add something for all the other frustrated Linux wannabes out there – like me. I’ve been trying to make Linux work, due to regularly bumping my head on the bad practices and business manners of Windows. I’ve been trying for 10 years. I finally got it to work in the last few months.
Now I’ve had good experience with three distros, each being able to detect my hardware correctly, including wifi. I’ve also been able to easily update my desired programs thru the gui interface in two of those. One thing I notice in the problem distros above is that they are earlier releases, eg. Ubuntu 6 or 7 or 8. Fedora 10 and 11 are out, Ubuntu 9 is out, and Vector Linux 6. In all three distros I was able to get Firefox, Flash, Java (Sun), wine for a couple of irreplaceable windows favs, Open Office, a firewall (enough to make my box as secure as my Win with firewall), anti-virus, and a couple of other programs I can’t live without that also have Linux packages as well as Win.
Linux is, in some ways, more like the Windows of the 90’s – a bit more wild-west WHEN you have a problem. And the command line is NOT friendly, and it WILL take you more than 20 hours to figure it out. Try one of the newest distros, like the three I’ve mentioned. If your hardware is old (>=5 yrs), and it doesn’t get detected, find a linux meetup and take your computer. Once you’ve fixed the initial problems, I’ve found the learning curve to be much smoother. The new distros have allowed me to get the computer up and running so that I can delve deeper when I want to – but I don’t HAVE to.
I remember it was only a few years ago that Windows (up thru 98) had the same sort of hardware issues. Win2k still had oodles of networking issues. WinXP had far fewer issues, but they still occur, and when they do, they can be a bitch. And Microsoft keeps making our stuff obsolete every two years.
Linux does require a learning curve, but the distros are finally maturing to the point where “they just work”. If you’re a fellow noob, and you don’t want linux to pwn you, I say avoid the command line, get a new distro up and running, and stick with that distro’s gui tools for a while. Oh, and btw, Vector is a superb distro, but it does require some command line. I’m a noob, and I’m getting it to work, but if it flakes, and ./configure gives me an error? I’ll be lost. So far I haven’t had that.
Best of luck, Baraboo

I like Linux a lot it is a good o/s but the problem is to many distributions and lack of standardization particularly with software installation, that´s why so many people go of it after one try, I have helped some people to get started but they give up when they find software installation to complex.and with so many brilliant people using Linux I am sure these problems could be sorted and when it is Linux would be the o/s of choice for millions.

Ah, tarballs… I remember when I had problems installing those. And on slackware, no less, where the only way to install new programs is through tarballs! (Excepting installpkg, actually.) But yeah, I remember how I used to bitch and moan about not being able to do something as simple as install a text editor. It’s quite funny, actually.

First thing you guys should know about slackware linux(and any distro, really) is that there is no one size fits all for every application. The best thing to do is to read the README.txt file and the INSTALL file when looking at how to do stuff. The documentation is KING in linux. Remember that.

Another thing: when installing from tarballs, you should learn to have mastery over your $PATH variable. I mean it. Sometimes the simplest of things can be resolved by changing the path that make searches on. This is especially useful for people from windows, who are used to putting a file anywhere on the filesystem, and then expecting it to run or be opened just like that. In a console, the commands you use follow the $PATH variable, which shows them where to look. If your path variable doesn’t include the right directories, then you need to change it.

Now then: To all those people who want to go back to windows: Go. I don’t give a fuck whether you want linux to work or whether you are satisfied with linux. I am, and I don’t need drooling village idiots e-mailing me demanding I take time out of my busy schedule to answer their noob questions.(One person actually wanted detailed instructions e-mailed to her, complete with visuals, and in Microsoft word format!), The world doesn’t revolve around you, you know. And that’s the point with linux: It’s made for people that love to explore and figure things out. It’s computing for it’s own sake. So if all you want to do is surf-the web and use your e-mail. Then go ahead and stick with windows.

If you want to learn to use linux first find a user friendly version, I find mandriva a good first time O/S as it is very easy to install and tweek to your own prefered settings.
Then install the compatible package manager for your O/S of your choice,if you purchase your mandriva O/S it comes with all required proprietary drivers and the mandriva people will give good support via an Internet connection, then search the net you will find all the instructions on installing tar files.but be patent linux is not windows, but when you become capable with linux you will be punching the air I promise.
PS If newbie users ask for help don´t treat them as time wasters, some proficient linux users seem to subscribe to a philosophy of shoot the messenger to people that encounter problems with linux and ask for help, so I say to them stick with it and you will surly get there.

Linux is not easy but is free!!! I love it and I’m learning it little by little thanks to the Linux community!

hi all
Please ! anybody just give us a simple step by step process of installing a small tar.biz, .gz or zipfiles in SUSE either through command line/terminal. coz its kind a DOS commands
guys try ur explanation & we’ll try our understanding of it.
Thank you all in advanced !

rob,
you’r right but tell this to people that they think it easy to release from the monopolisms that microsoft have it is dificult. I tried always to find .deb file that are more easy to install it is just doble clik and install. But is this not the case for you just join in http://www.ubuntuforum.org and feel free to ask anything you don’t understant.

ROB!
What distro (distribution,make,version, whatever you call it) are you using?
I am using Debian, so Ubuntu (etc) and other distros will be similar:

To open a console aka terminal:
In MY top panel (that is, the strip across the top of the screen with buttons, menus, and a clock), I select
Applications –>Accessories –>Terminal (or Root Terminal)
(there will always be more than one way, sometimes 10 ways, to open a terminal)

That will open a lil screen with a prompt. The prompt is built with your username (aka usr) @ network name. You set up all that info when you originally installed your distro.
MY prompt looks like this:
nrc3@LORAXNETWORK:~$

When a tutorial or forum instructs you to “add this” or “type that”, it means:
open a terminal,
type each of these commands, one-by-one, hitting [Enter] after each one. Don’t try to add code aka commands without a prompt.

Be mindful of your directory (“folder” in winderz lingo), as a mistake in directory will cause headaches and lead nowhere. A directory is, oh, anything, like:
/home/user/Desktop
Remember, wherever you see “/user/”, regarding commands and directories, IT IMPLIES THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOUR USER NAME GOES THERE.
For example, the file path to MY Desktop is:
/home/nrc3/Desktop/
A directory aka folder on my Desktop, full of mp3’s, named Neal’s Music, looks like this:
/home/nrc3/Desktop/Neal’s Music/

In my terminal, my Desktop prompt looks like this:
nrc3@LORAXNETWORK:~/Desktop$

Let me explain it this way, when I open a terminal, my prompt is:
nrc3@LORAXNETWORK:~$
But when I need to make sure that I am in the proper directory, say I’m working on a tarball on my Desktop, I will add:
cd Desktop,
which causes the terminal to focus on the Desktop directory, and gives me the prompt:
nrc3@LORAXNETWORK:~/Desktop$
Got it?

If I then need to change directories, I use the command:
cd
to change directories. cd by itself will give you your basic user prompt back. If I need to go to the /home/ directory, I type:
cd /home
which puts me in that directory, and my prompt looks like this:
nrc3@LORAXNETWORK:/home$

Simple? Sure. Simple enough. It’s only different from what you are accustomed to. DO NOT give up. You need your community and we need you!
Also, please sign up at LinuxQuestions.org
Go ther and you WILL learn this!!!

Good Luck!