NEW to Ubuntu and Linux. Rhythmbox and MP3s?

PS: I've tried looking at the answers but some of them don't look like they're written in English, please help in plain english so I know what I'm supposed to do!

Thanks

Hello George,

to listen mp3 you must install some additional packages, here is what to do:

gnome-panel ->system ->administration ->synaptik-package-manager search and select the following packages:

gstreamer0.8-mad

for a preview in nautilus search and select:

mpg321

to create mp3 with grip search and select:

grip, lame, vorbis-tools

hit the apply button and thats it.

br
Mathias

Please bear in mind I'm very new new NEW to Ubuntu Linux.

What are the exact steps I need to take to make this happen?

Do I try this through the graphical interface or through the command line? If it's through the command line, what are the exact commands I have to type in (I'm still learning).

There's not a control panel for adding drivers (I'm migrating from - first - Macintosh, then Windows XP).

Any guidance will be appreciated!

If you follow the directions on (http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/index.html), then you should be fine. Also, Ubuntu has more information on restricted formats if you need more informations(https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats), and converting to Open Source music, which may make your life easier(https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/ConvertingToOpen).

Thanks, I'm glad someone thought of the new user! I'll try it tomorrow at work (that's where I have Linux set up).

Oh, should I be logged in as "root" during all of this (nobody has ever mentioned it and I just thought of it)?

Or just my normal log-in is fine to accomplish these things?

Will this also let me solve my Intel 82845G Graphics issue (I cannot make use of the driver I downloaded from intel.com, it just sits there looking like a bunch of strange files that nobody understands)?

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats has all of the information for playing restricted formats, like mp3.
This part should get you up and running with most popular restricted formats.
Ubuntu 7.04
      Click Applications → Add/Remove. In the top right, change the setting to All available applications. Then select Other in the left panel and then select the Ubuntu restricted extras package. Click OK.
      To play most DVDs you'll need the libdvdcss2 package. This package is available using Medibuntu. This is a third party package, and not supported by Canonical.

As for being 'root', as long as you have admin privileges you will be fine, for more information on this, please refer to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

When I try this (and I tried even logged in as Root) I get a message saying "Can't get exclusive lock" or "Cant get executive lock" (some message like that).

What's going on? I haven't been able to modify the system, the only thing that has run has been automatic updates.

The exact error message is "Unable to get exclusive lock. This usually means that another package management application (like apt-get or aptitude) already running. Please close that application first."

HUH??? What is it talking about??

Thanks williamts99, that solved my question.

Automatic updates wouldn't run for some reason but that issue resolved itself without me having to do anything (strange)....once updates were done, I could select and download what I needed. It set itself up and now I can listen to my music in Linux!! YYYEEAAA! :) :) THANKS!! :)