Installing New Programs

**exribit** · 10-31-2006

I am new to linux; acually I had only just downloaded and installed Kubuntu. Anyways, I downloaded Firefox for Linux and I don't know how to install.

I was there for about an hour looking for the .exe file or anything I could click to start an install, but unfortunately couldn't start the install.

Could someone please guide me through executing an install or at least post the link to some threads that teach individuals how to install new programs on a Linux OS.

***Dapper Dan*** · 10-31-2006

Hi exribit and welcome.

Linux doesn't use .exe packages, those are for Windows. Linux uses a variety of ways to install packages depending on which distro you use. (K)Ubuntu is based on Debian which uses .deb packages that can be installed with a program called apt-get. You run this from the command line as "sudo." Open a terminal and type:

Code:

sudo apt-get update

It will ask for your password. Enter it and press enter. After updating is completed, do:

Code:

apt-get install synaptic

Synaptic is a handy-dandy "GUI" for apt-get. After synaptic is installed, open it. From the command line...

Code:

synaptic

...and press enter. If all goes well, Synaptic will come up. Search for "firefox," then use Synaptic's very inuitive interface to install the firefox web browser on your machine. Hope this helps.

You might want to read what's at the link in my signature. If you read all of it you will be way ahead in your new adventure with Linux. Good luck.

**exribit** · 10-31-2006

Originally Posted by Dapper Dan

Hi exribit and welcome.

Linux doesn't use .exe packages, those are for Windows. Linux uses a variety of ways to install packages depending on which distro you use. (K)Ubuntu is based on Debian which uses .deb packages that can be installed with a program called apt-get. You run this from the command line as "sudo." Open a terminal and type:

Code:

sudo apt-get update

It will ask for your password. Enter it and press enter. After updating is completed, do:

Code:

apt-get install synaptic

Synaptic is a handy-dandy "GUI" for apt-get. After synaptic is installed, open it. From the command line...

Code:

synaptic

...and press enter. If all goes well, Synaptic will come up. Search for "firefox," then use Synaptic's very inuitive interface to install the firefox web browser on your machine. Hope this helps.

sudu? terminal? inuitive interface? Woah, makes me want to stick with Windows.

I'll copy this text you placed and play around in with (K)Ubuntu and attempt to install firefox. I would use the browser that come with the OS but it's way too slow.

Thanks for the help Dapper Dan.

I'd be sure to give that a read too man, thanks.

***Dapper Dan*** · 10-31-2006

Originally Posted by exribit

sudu? terminal? inuitive interface? Woah, makes me want to stick with Windows.

Did you know everything about Windows the first day or two you used it? Or did it require a period of learning? You can look these things up with Google.

**exribit** · 10-31-2006

Originally Posted by Dapper Dan

Did you know everything about Windows the first day or two you used it? Or did it require a period of learning? You can look these things up with Google.

Yeah, good point; no, I didn't know what I know now when I first began Windows. Anyways, I tryed what you said and the first script worked (sudo apt-get update), which prompted me for my password - I entered and it downloaded the required things. However when I typed (apt-get install synaptic) it gives me an error message; I'd have to reboot to get the message but it said something about it being invalid.

Anyways, I'll read some more around these forums and see if I can learn to open and install this software I would like to run.

***Dapper Dan*** · 10-31-2006

I forget about Ubuntu, but you might have to type in 'sudo' before every command as in:

Code:

sudo apt-get install synaptic

...and so on.

**Marsolin** · 10-31-2006

Kubuntu uses comes with a program called Adept that is already installed. The easiest way to use it to install Firefox is by selecting Add/Remove Programs from the launch menu (equivalent to Start menu in Windows).

Enter your password when prompted. Type firefox in the search bar at the top and select Any Suite from the drop down next to it. Select Firefox and click Apply Changes to install it.

You didn't specifiy what file type you downloaded originally, but if you downloaded a file with a .deb extension it's very easy to install with Kubuntu. Open up Konqueror (the file manager) and go to the directory you saved the file to. Right-click on it and use the Install menu.

I hope one of those methods helps.

**exribit** · 11-01-2006

Thank you for the information guys.

I managed to get the Firefox browser with your assistance and everything is working great - except for one little hick-up. Now, everything on my screen is like twice the size of windows. For example, this is the size of the google logo when acessing their webpage:

It may look smaller to you, but to me - it's big compared to that of Mozilla browser pictures in windows.

If I could someway capture the screen I would show you my desktop; I aint complaining but is there anyway to make things smaller? If there isn't, well I'm happy enough, this linux OS seems a hell of a lot more powerful then XP.

Again, thanks for the help.

**Marsolin** · 11-01-2006

Originally Posted by exribit

If I could someway capture the screen I would show you my desktop; I aint complaining but is there anyway to make things smaller? If there isn't, well I'm happy enough, this linux OS seems a hell of a lot more powerful then XP.

You can use KSnapshot to capture your screen or just a window. It's listed under the Graphics menu in Kubuntu.

I'm not a Firefox user so hopefully someone else has some idea on the settings.

**exribit** · 11-01-2006

Does this look right to you?

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