how do i open/install a downloaded program?

You don't have to be a programmer to use Ubuntu. Just like you don't have to be a programmer to use Windows or Mac......

You won't get Norton anything installed, they are windows applications and will not install on Ubuntu. What is the name of the app you used to backup? Why did you not just copy the data to a USB storage device rather than using some software?

i understand that you don't need to be a programmer to use ubuntu, but it seems to me that some things have to be coded in the terminal to operate, as i did to install java, whereas in windows it is easier as you just have to click on the right things. i used the norton backup because that is what i had available at the time- i didn't have a usb storage device. i had the norton security suite for anti-virus protection, and one of the features of that suite was the data backup, which at the time i thought was a good idea. the norton security suite was a feature that was included with the internet provider i was using at the time. after intalling ubuntu on my computer i went to the comcast site to see if i could get the security suite again so i could get my data back, and i thought it might be possible since they had a version for mac, which is the one i downloaded. if it is possible i would like to get this data back on my computer, if not then so be it, not much i can do i suppose. thank you for your time.

They aren't 'coded into the terminal' you are just typing commands. You can do that in cmd.exe in WIndows or the terminal in MacOS too. o difference at all...

What files do you have for the backup?

pardon my misinformation, or poor choice of wording. i realize that you can type commands in windows as well, it's just not necessary to do very often, at least in my experience. the files in the backup are a few documents created in microsoft works, some pictures, and music that was ripped from cd's or downloaded, mostly by isohunt. the program i downloaded is norton_internet_security_4_mac_en.dmg. nothing crucial so if it's not possible or too much of a hassle i'll just forget about it for now.

That is a Mac file, not for Ubuntu. What file names do you have, it may give clues.

the files are on disks which i cannot access without the norton program, so nevermind, thank you for your time

But you can see the file names, can't you?

when i put the disc in, this is what comes up on the file manager: N360_backup , ARestore.exe , ARestore.loc , Autorun.inf

So you CAN access the files, or you wouldn't be able to see the filenames. That's all I was asking for wasn't I...?

Isn't 'N360_backup' a folder?

i CAN SEE them, but i can't do anyting with them, which is what i was asking for, which i'm now regretting

Yes, that's ALL I was asking, what did you think

"What file names do you have, it may give clues."

meant???

Is 'N360_backup' a folder, as I asked earlier....

yes

ok, what files are in the folder please?

inside that folder is another folder, {4EEF308A-20CC-48BD-8956-FCE10C1528D8} which contains more folder that are numbered or lettered along with one designated DiscID.dat

i appreciate your time and assistance, but i have decided that it's really not worth all this time and agravation, so i am going to drop it and deal with it some other time. thanks again, have a good day.

Hi David,

I suspect you need to do the following procedure to recover your files.

I don't think there is a quicker route..... If I were you, I would never use Norton 360 in the future.

0. Copy your personal Norton 360 backup files to an external USB harddisk
1. repartition the target computer so that you have 3 partitions (C: partition, D: partition and E: partition)
2. install Windows on the first partition (C: drive)
3. format the second partition as the D: drive using Windows
4. install the Norton 360 application on the D: drive. Copy the backup files from the external USB harddisk to the D: drive.
5. follow this procedure:
http://www.royalgeeks.com/blog/how-to-restore-a-norton-360-backup-made-on-another-computer/
6. Once the backup files have been restored to the C: drive, you need to move the restored backup files back to the D: drive
7. Then you need to write down the sizes of the C: drive and D: drive and E: drive on a piece of paper
8. Install Ubuntu onto the C: drive using the Ubuntu LiveCD. Make sure to let Ubuntu format the C: and E: drive and mount the D: drive as your new /media/windows partition for Ubuntu. Make sure to NOT format the d: drive (= /media/windows partition) when installing Ubuntu. Format the C: drive as an ext4 root (/) partition. Format the E: drive as an ext4 /home partition.
9. Boot into Ubuntu
10. You should have access to the restored backup files via the /media/windows directory.

Here is a link to a list of Ubuntu guides:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ExternalGuides

Hope this helps,

Mark

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.