Linux noob needs help!

[Changoboy]

just installed Mandrake and I want to install 3rd party sw like Limewire, Firebird, games etc. I'm used to Mac and WinXP where you unzip, double click the installer and it will load. Linux has had me tied up for hours. I can unzip using Konqueror, but there isn't an installer inside the package. I try using a terminal and do it the hard way, "can't find file" error. What the hell? Do I have to jump through flaming hoops to install a stinking demo game? I've tried .rpm, .tar.gz, tgz, bin, zip....nothing. I would like to learn Linux, but DAMN. Why is this so hard? Any Linux wisdom would be appreciated.

 

[Changoboy]

Hmmmm, thought somebody in here would know how to navigate Linux. Guess I was wrong.

 

[Bleep]

Hmmmm, thought somebody in here would know how to navigate Linux. Guess I was wrong

No you were not wrong. It is sunday 4 days before christmass and people are doing other things, 4 hours and no help? maybe you do not have enough patience.
You may also be trying to install a windows program that will not run on linux without a helper program to run it. Wine will run a lot of windows apps. WineX will run a lot of windows games. Linux is not windows.

Bleep

 

[Kadarin]

Almost every software package that's intended to be installed on Linux will come with a Readme and/or Install textfile that will give you installation instructions. Failing that, the website you downloaded the package from should contain some info on what you're supposed to do.

I've tried .rpm, .tar.gz, tgz, bin, zip....nothing.

This tells me that you're not quite getting the concept, and I strongly suspect Bleep is right in that you've probably downloaded a game demo intended to be installed on a Windows box.