Linux newbie here. Help.

linktoinsanity

linktoinsanity

linktoinsanity

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Hi all, I have just installed Linux (Mint 7 distribution) onto my laptop, but am currently having trouble getting anything working on it. I have downloading avast antivirus (as a start) for linux but the archive manager cannot read the rpm file. "Fine" I thought, I'll download the gz file and install it that way. Thing is I don't know where to start. I would rather have the command line that I need to type. My linux knowledge is quite limited, I can browse the structure but that is about it (not counting through the graphical interface).

Main Questions

1) How do I extract a file through the command line?
2) How do I install the contents through the command line?
3) How can I get Wine working? Usage?
4) How do I change the fonts for things like Firefox?
5) Finally, assembling a library from source code. How would I go about doing this?

Those three questions answered should give me a good start. I have googled it but the things that come up don't really help.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Ok so Avast for *nix. Why do you need it? to scan shares attached to a windows system? you generally won't need an anti-virus for a Linux distro. Permissions will prevent a lot of headaches (things only executable if need be etc.) You need to read up on permissions - http://www.freeos.com/articles/3127/. Also get used to the mapages, typing "man command" with respective commands gives you a lot of information on them.

1) "tar -zxvf file" - "man tar"

2) i imagine it is source, and will need to be compiled, there will be a README file, look through it with "less README" - "man less"

3) http://www.winehq.org/ - best place to find out Mint probably has a package manager that can isntall it.

4) Firefox has it's own fonts in its preferences? you can also change them through your WM/DE

5) What libraries do you need? surely it comes with/has access to them, if it's quite obscure then you'll need to download the source and any dependencies you will need (should tell you in the README of the package or on the website you got it from). then look into ./configure, make, make install those are the basic commands, with extra flags etc. as needed.

Expect a LOT of reading and frustration at first but it all becomes clearer as yuo persevere
 
Mint is based on Ubuntu/Debian so installing wine should be as simple as:

sudo apt-get install wine

In a terminal. Alternatively you can install it through synaptic or aptitude.

IIRC to use wine, find a windows executable or installer and save it somewhere on your linux box. Type:

wine nameofexecutable.exe

And it should fire it up.

Configure wine by using winecfg (again in terminal, unless it puts an entry on your WM menu these days).
 
Wine seems to be running now guys. Thanks for your help. I'll look at the other options. With regards to avast, this is a temporary install whilst I try out different distributions of linux so installing it is more practice for installing programs onto linux. Also, Linux does not = completely safe, so I'd rather have an AV on there at this time. Thanks again.
 
In Mint don't forget "MintInstall". Its a nice app that gives you an easy way to install popular software.

CLAM AV is the usual AV associated with Linux. That is installable through Synaptic (standard Ubuntu package manager) or MintInstall.
 
LinktoInsanity said:
Also, Linux does not = completely safe, so I'd rather have an AV on there at this time. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with that.

Would also be a good idea for a firewall (IPTABLES) and rootkit scanners (chkrootkit). You can either setup IPTABLE rules manually, or use a UI like gaurddog or firestarter. Mint may infact come with 1/both.
 
LinktoInsanity said:
Hi all, I have just installed Linux (Mint 7 distribution) onto my laptop, but am currently having trouble getting anything working on it. I have downloading avast antivirus (as a start) for linux but the archive manager cannot read the rpm file. "Fine" I thought, I'll download the gz file and install it that way. Thing is I don't know where to start. I would rather have the command line that I need to type. My linux knowledge is quite limited, I can browse the structure but that is about it (not counting through the graphical interface).

Main Questions

1) How do I extract a file through the command line?
2) How do I install the contents through the command line?
3) How can I get Wine working? Usage?
4) How do I change the fonts for things like Firefox?
5) Finally, assembling a library from source code. How would I go about doing this?

Those three questions answered should give me a good start. I have googled it but the things that come up don't really help.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

1)
Code: 
# tar -xvf [filename]

2) usually
Code: 
# cd [extracted_folder]
# less README
# ./configure
# make
# sudo make install

3) maybe http://www.winehq.org/download/deb, may be in the repo's I can't find a way to search without installing mint tho, FAIL!

4) Is there an msttcorefonts package in the repos?

5)
Code: 
./configure && make && sudo make install
 
I preffer checkinstall myself (for stuff that isn't in the repos or available as banaries/debs), but it just complicates the process of building for newbies, especially if they don't really get the idea of package manager yet.
 
Have a look in the Package Manager for RESTRICTED EXTRAS - that normally takes fonts and stuff down with it. To change fonts in FireyFawx, just go to Edit, Preferences.

That's one thing you will notice - 90% of the time, where in a windows box the app has it's options under a Tools menu, in Linux it tends to lurk under the Edit menu.

Also, yes, Aptitude is the default installer for Mint, it's quite nice as they go, I use Ubuntu and find it generally pretty infalible - very good at sorting out your dependencies and whatnot.

FWIW, I know some people have a problem with Ubuntu fo being a bit 'Linux lite', the support forums are pretty indepth - in fact, it can be worth popping 'ubuntu [problem]' into google if you come across something in Mint - both use Debian as a backend so the main infrastructure is not disimilar. dont' follow Ubuntu guides to the letter for Mint obviously...;)

And on the subject of WINE, you might not need to worry about that for much longer, in terms of compatabilty problems etc. Virtualbox [google it] V3 is getting better and better in terms of it's breadth of abilitiy - such as hardware DX9 support that taps straight into the GPU, rather than the current
'pass the DirectX calls through OpenGL, thentry to do what DirectX wants, send the signal back to the guest OS as a DirectX call, overlay the OpenGL display on the guest, oh crap it broke'.

It's flakier than a flaky thing at the moment [Windows FileProtection not letting you change d3d9.dll, for example to get the hooks in] but I'm pretty confident in a few months you'll be able to have hardware accelerated DirectX9 apps running near native speed in a Windows guest on a Linux host...

Oh, and don't worry about AV just now, unless you are downloading seriously dodgy wares, or you have upset the boss of the local computer crime syndicate, the chances are that you don't need to worry. I;ve been running Ubuntu for four years and never had a sniff of anything iffy. As long as you have a good hardware firewall, you should be fine...Clam AV is the way to go though if you must, it's well documented.

Enjoy, Oh, and turn on Compiz....
 
On the subject of compiz, you can change the settings with compiz config settings manager.

This is very daunting, only change one setting at a time, see what effect it has, if you see no change, put the setting back before you continue.
 
LinktoInsanity said:
Hi all, I have just installed Linux (Mint 7 distribution) onto my laptop, ...
Click to expand...

Linux Mint 7 is just Ubuntu "Jaunty Jackalope" 9.04 with some bells and whistles. This is useful to know if you need any .deb software packages specific to your distro. Most websites will tell you how to install for Ubuntu 9.04 + half .deb packages for it. The Synaptic package manager in Mint takes a slightly different syntax for the repository addresses but it isn't hard to figure out the differences...

You can install MS fonts etc. quite easily into Ubuntu as in:
Restricted Formats
I think when I installed Mint 7 it had a Flash Player and codecs but I don't think it installs the fonts... Can't you install themes in the Linux version of Firefox - I think so??

I trust you are using the 32-bit version? I just ask because my experience seems to be that the 64-bit version is hideously broken at present... Hence why I am back to using Windows XP x64... :(

Bob
 
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