Ok so far i've already installed a couple of linux installations one of which is Mandrake 10. Now I'm just wondering exactly how does it work as in installing programs or drivers? I've downloaded for example Firefox or nvidia drivers how do i go about installing these in Mandrake?

Now I'm new to Linux but I do plan on installing all the main distros in the next month so I was wondering exactly how does it work? Does the Linux OS have a similar file to exe that will self install?

What extensions are the the most popular and how are they installed?

Lots of questions I know and I'm not sure if this is a global question that would apply to most distros. Where do the programs install?

well... Mandrake uses the RPM package system which is similar to window's .exe files. Basically you just double click the package or single, not sure what the default is set at and it will extract the package to wehre it needs to go, some packages need further configuration, some dont. Another way to go about installing a package is to open up a console browse to where the package is contained and do the command rpm -ivh (I think you might wanna double check) blahblah.rpm to install it then you can do a similar command -uvh (again double check) to update a package. As far as tar files go its similar in the console you use the tar command along with the parameters you need to set (I think if you just type in tar -help in the console it will give you them all) But most places with any sort of programs will give you the directions you need and by reading through a few of those you'll get the hang of what you need to do to install something.

Oh and for the nvidia drivers specifically.... you need first remmeber where you saved it to, and make sure you have your kernel source packages installed, they should be on the mandrake discs. Anyway just open up a console switch to root (su root then it will prompt for pass). Then type init 3 and then X will close, kde or gnome whichever you're using and be brought to a command prompt. Then you cd to where the driver file is saved, should be called something like NVIDIA-5336-1.0-pkg2.run somethin along those lines, and you just do sh <driver name> and it will start the extraction and install, it'll ask you to accept or press ok a couple times then it'll finish. Then.. you type in... sax2 -m 0=Nvidia. and then to finish up you just type in init 5 and X/Kde/Gnome will start back up and you should get an Nvidia splash screen. Check in your hardware manager whatever and check the settings of your video card to make sure hardware acceleration is enabled, if it is, you're all set.

that simple hey hehehe ok thanks troa I'll give all that a shot later when i wake up I'll most likely have many more questions along the way so i'll post them all in the linux section hehe

yep that simple heh.

actually I think I'm wrong on the last part of the video drivers.. I think thats only the procedure for Suse, I think in mandrake you have to manually edit your XF86Config-4 file. If thats the case and it doesnt work how I suggested initially I'll give ya the steps for the "mandrake" way.

I wish Linux was like Windows in that you just click something and it installs or does what it needs to do. Although the .rpm packages are a big step foreward. Someday I think it will work that way

well its a bit of pain but i'm starting to get around it ... now i downloaded UT2004 I've tried everything to install it i'm just not sure what to do.

The file name is ut2004-lnxded-demo-3120.tar.bz2

I've tried to extract all the files but i still cant find any .run or any file its just folders anyone installed UT2004 on linux? If you can help me that would be great btw give me each step like you are teaching me how to walk hehehe especially when it comes to the console commands, thanks.

umm, are you sure its not .run.bz2? cause thats how all the demo files I'ves seen are labeled. To install the .run.bz2 files all you do is exit X (init 3) run bzip2 -d <filename> wait for that to finish, probably take a while, then sh <filename> same as with the drivers. I know you can download the 64-bit run file versions off the unreal site. I'm not sure on the .tar install.

Look for a .run.bz2 file if you can.
http://www.unrealtournament.com/ut2004/downloads.php

oh I see why its a .tar.bz2 file that you have, you actually downloaded the dedicated server installer, go to that link and download the client silly