Hi I m new to this Linux

[vasan]

Hi.. Friends.. I m absolutely new to linux.. I don't know anything in this OS. Please help me.. I need to know some basics..........

[IroniK]

Welcome !

At first, what would you like to know ?

[vasan]

I would like to know how to install a software in linux. I have downloaded software but its in a source format. I don't know how to install.. Plz help friend..

[IroniK]

Hmm...

What is the kind of extention of your file ?

[vasan]

Its .tar.gz format.

[L4Linux]

In 99% of the cases, you don't need to install from source code. You use the "Package Manager" instead, which downloads and installs the programs for you. Which distribution do you use, so we can give you specific tips on how to use the package manager?

[vasan]

I don't know what distribution is... Sorry sir.. How to find that???

[vasan]

its .tar.gz format

[Jonathan183]

I don't know what distribution is... Sorry sir.. How to find that???

When you first start the computer what options do you get ?
Can you open a terminal and type

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

and post the output here. Or use a filemanager to go to the file /boot/grub/menu.lst and paste the file contents here.

[vasan]

This s what i got sir.. Thank u for ur reply..

# grub.conf generated by the Sabayon Linux Installer
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You do not have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel real_root=UUID=66cd6d21-08c9-44e9-85a0-7b84b6c76725
# initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel
#boot=sda
default=0
timeout=6
splashimage=(hd0,4)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title Sabayon Linux x86 (genkernel-x86-2.6.27-sabayon)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.27-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=UUID=66cd6d21-08c9-44e9-85a0-7b84b6c76725 dolvm quiet init=/linuxrc splash=silent,theme:sabayon vga=791 CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 resume=swap:/dev/sda6
initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-2.6.27-sabayon

title Sabayon Linux x86 (genkernel-x86-2.6.27-sabayon) (safe mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.27-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=UUID=66cd6d21-08c9-44e9-85a0-7b84b6c76725 dolvm init=/linuxrc CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 resume=swap:/dev/sda6 nox acpi=off ide=nodma vga=normal
initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-2.6.27-sabayon

title Other Operating System - Microsoft Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1