I am unable to install downloads from a Web Page??

You should give an example of a program that you want to install.

Note that applications for Windows will not run natively on Ubuntu (but you can run them through Wine). You have to download software that is packed/compiled specifically for Linux. For instance, the package system in Ubuntu is apt, which uses .deb packages. These can easily be installed.

hope this helps
-l3dx

Thanks for your response.

I can give you many examples but I will start with one. It is called Image
for Linux trial version 2.20a and I downloaded it from
terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-linux.htm After the download, I opened the
file and another icon appeared on my desktop. I opened that file and there
were 11 more files, none of which would install the download. Wouldn't this
be packed/compiled specifically for Linux? Anyway, this is typical of all
of the downloads I have done.

I have been using Windows sinse Windows 95 and I am not too Ubuntu savey so
I need a little more instruction on how to use Wine, apt and .deb. Like
where do I start? Ubuntu 8.04 is my operating system and is a Wubi
installation.

Thanks...Alex

On Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 11:50 AM, l3dx
<email address hidden>wrote:

> Your question #48456 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> l3dx proposed the following answer:
> You should give an example of a program that you want to install.
>
> Note that applications for Windows will not run natively on Ubuntu (but
> you can run them through Wine). You have to download software that is
> packed/compiled specifically for Linux. For instance, the package system
> in Ubuntu is apt, which uses .deb packages. These can easily be
> installed.
>
> hope this helps
> -l3dx
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Downloaded packages contain instructions for installation.

The example that you gave, Image for Linux, most likely includes a "Readme" file that explains what to do. Use your Text Editor to open it.

Detailed instructions for installation on Ubuntu are on the website:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=279

In Windows, everything is done for you so that you do not have to waste any time thinking. Linux works differently resulting in a very secure operating system.

You really only need to back up your Home directory, which will fit onto a USB stick of reasonable capacity or an external USB drive.

Thank you for your suggestions. Firstly, there were 11 files in the
download and none of them were a read me file. I opened all 11 files
individually and there were no installation instructions or any way to
install the program. Second, as you suggested, I checked the Web site and
read the TeraByte instructions. I don't think Bill Gates or Steve Jobs
could understand those instructions. Did you read those instructions?
You said that in Windows, everything is done for you so that you do not have
to waste any time thinking. Thinking is never a waist of time, but those
instructions sure are. I can't believe I have to go through all of that
every time I download something using Ubuntu. If you don't mind, here is
what I would like you to do. I assume you are using Ubuntu because you
responded to my question on Launchpad. When you download a program from
the Web, exactly what do you do to install it? Please, be specific and in a
layman's language. If it depends on what type of file is being downloaded,
just pick one for an example. I would really appreciate a well defined
answer so I can install downloads on my Ubuntu operating system.

Thanks for taking the time to help...Alex

On Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 2:47 PM, Andre Mangan <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #48456 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Andre Mangan proposed the following answer:
> Downloaded packages contain instructions for installation.
>
> The example that you gave, Image for Linux, most likely includes a
> "Readme" file that explains what to do. Use your Text Editor to open
> it.
>
> Detailed instructions for installation on Ubuntu are on the website:
>
> http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=279
>
> In Windows, everything is done for you so that you do not have to waste
> any time thinking. Linux works differently resulting in a very secure
> operating system.
>
> You really only need to back up your Home directory, which will fit onto
> a USB stick of reasonable capacity or an external USB drive.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456/+confirm?answer_id=2
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Alex, yes, I use Ubuntu and have done so for several years. I very rarely download anything from the web because whatever I want is already in the Repositories and can be downloaded from there.

I understand your frustration at not being able to download and install in the same way that you have done for years using Windows.

Under "Applications", "Add/Remove", you will find most of the programmes that you might like to have and from there they install almost automatically. Add/Remove is a simplified version of Synaptic which you can access via System, Administration, Synaptic Package Manager. There you will find many hundreds (I have never really counted them) of applications that you can install easily. All the instructions are there but if you need help, I will gladly provide it.

Generally, the files to download from the web are .deb files (Ubuntu is a Debian system). There is an installer built into your system and a double click on a deb file will launch the installer and install the programme for you. You can also download .rpm (Red Hat) files because a translator (alien) is built in.

Some programmes are command line programmes and even though you have installed them, they are nowhere to be seen until you type the name of the programme into the terminal.

I do backups without any programme from the web. Such programmes are not needed in Linux.

I hope that will suffice for the moment - I don't really want to write a book ;-)

Thanks for responding:

If I hear you correctly, basically what is in the Add/Remove, is all I get
unless the file from the Web is supported by Linux. Oh well!
About writing that book. It might be a best seller on the Ubuntu list
because of computer idiots like me. Write it!

Thanks again and have a great Ubuntu experience...Alex

On Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 8:13 PM, Andre Mangan <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #48456 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Andre Mangan proposed the following answer:
> Alex, yes, I use Ubuntu and have done so for several years. I very
> rarely download anything from the web because whatever I want is already
> in the Repositories and can be downloaded from there.
>
> I understand your frustration at not being able to download and install
> in the same way that you have done for years using Windows.
>
> Under "Applications", "Add/Remove", you will find most of the programmes
> that you might like to have and from there they install almost
> automatically. Add/Remove is a simplified version of Synaptic which you
> can access via System, Administration, Synaptic Package Manager. There
> you will find many hundreds (I have never really counted them) of
> applications that you can install easily. All the instructions are
> there but if you need help, I will gladly provide it.
>
> Generally, the files to download from the web are .deb files (Ubuntu is
> a Debian system). There is an installer built into your system and a
> double click on a deb file will launch the installer and install the
> programme for you. You can also download .rpm (Red Hat) files because a
> translator (alien) is built in.
>
> Some programmes are command line programmes and even though you have
> installed them, they are nowhere to be seen until you type the name of
> the programme into the terminal.
>
> I do backups without any programme from the web. Such programmes are
> not needed in Linux.
>
> I hope that will suffice for the moment - I don't really want to write a
> book ;-)
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456/+confirm?answer_id=4
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

From your replies I get the impression that you do not "hear" me correctly at all.

"... what is in the Add/Remove, is all I get ..."????

Just for fun I counted the number of applications starting with A in Add/Remove - there are 92. Perhaps, if you count all the rest you will see how many applications there are ... and that is only one of several repositories that you can access.

As for your comment "unless the file from the Web is supported by Linux" - well, of course.

You can install applications written for Windows if you use virtualisation software such as VirtualBox and install Windows - VirtualBox is in the repository. You can also use Wine, a Windows Emulator - it is also in the repository.

Thanks Andre, if you write the book, I'll buy it.

Alex

On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 5:20 PM, Andre Mangan <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #48456 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Andre Mangan proposed the following answer:
> >From your replies I get the impression that you do not "hear" me
> correctly at all.
>
> "... what is in the Add/Remove, is all I get ..."????
>
> Just for fun I counted the number of applications starting with A in
> Add/Remove - there are 92. Perhaps, if you count all the rest you will
> see how many applications there are ... and that is only one of several
> repositories that you can access.
>
> As for your comment "unless the file from the Web is supported by Linux"
> - well, of course.
>
> You can install applications written for Windows if you use
> virtualisation software such as VirtualBox and install Windows -
> VirtualBox is in the repository. You can also use Wine, a Windows
> Emulator - it is also in the repository.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456/+confirm?answer_id=6
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/48456
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Thanks Andre Mangan, that solved my question.