program install in linux not what expected.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

Well I setup my linux (debian) to go on the internet.
after some confusion I got it working. I wasn't much impressed with the browser so I downloaded firefox for linux ver 1.0.6 it came as a installer
tar.gz. now I downloaded it to a folder I made and clicked on the file
and it made another folder and extracted the files to that folder.

ok now what I said to myself.

I went into the folder to look for a file to click on to get things going.
hmm all sorts of strange names I chose the firefox bin file........
why heck I don't know, any way it installed and it worked just fine.

ok now the question were did it go?
after rebooting it wasn't in the applications list.
after a while I looked in the folder it had installed too clicked on
firefox (shellscript) and up comes a window asking me if I want to
run the file I click run and it works.

ok so I think I did something wrong first how do I get it in the applications list?
I made a link to the file but have no idea were or how that works.
I am thinking maybe I should uninstall it (have no idea how) and reinstall
it.


help:)

[ultrabuzz]

Well, I'm not a debian fan nor am I a apt-get (or any type of packaging tool) fan. However, since you're new to the whole idea, you may consider getting your software as prebuilt packages for your distro. Google up apt-get and how to use it then locate a reliable mirror that has current deb packs. It will get your through until you learn enough to build your own.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

thanks for the info I have looked into that a bit.
been doing some reading and uninstalling seems easy enough.

I am just having a hard time finding answers to problems
I am having. seems the info I get is either wrong or not for the
distro I am using. command line is great if you are told were to
use the command how and why. I jumped in with two feet
so I better start swimming lol.

[Cat person]

You should have a menu editor (Applications/System/Menu Editor), you can add things from there. A really good forum where they have patience with any type of Linux question is Scot's Newsletter Forums, All Things Linux section. You'll have to Google it, I just wiped my bookmarks! :)

[tsehou]

I think the command for debian to install firefox automatically is:

apt-get install mozilla-firefox

That should download the latest version of firefox, install it and create the menu links automatically.

In linux from my limited experience, if you download firefox manually, or any other program, and install it; they generally won't create menu icons, you have to do that manually.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

thanks CP I knew there had to be a way to fix up my mess:)
going to look into that forum.

tsehou I believe you are correct there is a program that dose that.
I should have thought things through more. I am like a kid with
a new bike if I am not careful I am going to get a flat:)

[Ken_ver_1_5]

well I have been working with this problem for a bit and now its fixed.
I first deleted the firefox I had and brought up the synaptic package manager.
selected firefox and bobs your uncle its working correctly.

[tsehou]

well I have been working with this problem for a bit and now its fixed.
I first deleted the firefox I had and brought up the synaptic package manager.
selected firefox and bobs your uncle its working correctly.

Synaptic package manager is the gui interface for apt-get, so its probably easier to use that for people not inclined to use the command line.

[Digiital]

This is why there isn't more people running linux :)

Anyways, the best bet is to get the package for your distro. the other thing you can do if your looking for the location of a file is to do this:
Open a command window
Login as root
You can then issue the command(minus the #) : # locate -u
Wait a min or two. Then you can do a: # locate firefox
Should display where firefox is located. The other is : # whereis firefox

Hope thats helps somewhat

[Ken_ver_1_5]

I tried the command line first it was a no go probably syntax.
so I went for the gui:) thanks again for your help

[Superman3332001]

Shortly after i posted the message I found out in the kubuntu version they had one in the package manager called kynaptic. Also when I installed it works perfectly and it also updated alot of security issues that needed to be delt with. Which i was really happy with

[Ken_ver_1_5]

good to hear you got things going:)