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Ubuntu problem opening files

Jazzy_B
Jazzy_B Posts: 1,810 Forumite
Advice for an idiot here. I bought one of the AcerA150's from Tescos. I wasn't very keen on the Linux Lite interface which came with the system. After looking round for alternatives, I opted to try Ubuntu netbook remix, and played with it yesterday. Last night I decided to instal it and this was easy enough to do.
I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Basically, I can't open any files I've downloaded, like Google earth. I've tried downloading different files e.g.bin files,zip files, tar files. When I look up how to open them, I'm faced with options of changing commands, which I'm not familiar with, but would be happy to try if I knew where to start.
I'm sure there must be an easier facility to open files just by clicking on them, but where it is I don't know.
Any help appreciated.
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Comments

  • Duk
    Duk Posts: 117 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ubuntu should come with a Package or Achive manager (Zip or Tar) or if you are comfatable using the command line interface (terminal) go to the directory where you downloaded google earth.. if this is your home directory just type

    cd /home/{yourusernamehere?}

    to run a .bin file use the command

    ./GoogleEarthLinux.bin (Case Sensitive)

    to extract a tar file run

    tar -xvf GoogleEarthLinux.tar (this will extract into local directory)
  • Jazzy_B
    Jazzy_B Posts: 1,810 Forumite
    I'll certainly have a go at this, but I can't work out where to go first.
    If you imagine you're talking to a three year old, Ill probably be able to work it out!
    I've found something called Terminal and tried your instructions, but I get "No such file"
  • gaming_guy
    gaming_guy Posts: 6,128 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    yes, you do need to enter them commands into the terminal.

    however, there is an easier way.
  • thomas01155
    thomas01155 Posts: 2,382 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    To get to the terminal assuming its the same as the Ubuntu 8.10 layout its Applications>Accessories>Terminal you need to known what the commands mean sudo means super user do, which gives you elevated rights to install and do other things.
    apt-get means Advanced Packaging Tool. Install means install :p

    Lots of free stuff to install can be found under Applications>Add/Remove
  • If you're downloading them with firefox then you will have problems. Firefox in linux cant for some reason work out what application to open from its extension.

    Download it, then use the file manager to find it, and double click from there.

    Try to look for deb files as they are easier to install, or even better use the synaptec tool to download.
  • bat999
    bat999 Posts: 1,932 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 26 April 2009 at 11:43AM
    Hi
    To unzip those rar and bin files with Ubuntu you need to make sure that the RAR package is installed.
    Click on
    System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager

    Then scroll down through the packages and make sure that RAR is shown as a green square. If it isn't, then mark it for installation and install it.
    :cool:
    When RAR is working properly, you just need to right-click on a file and choose 'extract here'.
    :cool:
    There is another package worth installing too, it's called 'ARK'.
    When it's installed it puts an entry in your accessories menu. It's a Linux equivalent for Winzip etc. So you can create your own zip/rar files.
  • Jazzy_B
    Jazzy_B Posts: 1,810 Forumite
    Thanks very much for all your helpful replies. I can't get home till later, but I'm optimistic that I can get things working.
  • gaming_guy
    gaming_guy Posts: 6,128 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    bat999 wrote: »
    Hi
    When RAR is working properly, you just need to right-click on a file and choose 'extract here'.

    i thought you needed UNRAR for that??
  • bat999
    bat999 Posts: 1,932 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    gaming_guy wrote: »
    i thought you needed UNRAR for that??
    Yes, I think that you're right.
    I've looked in my Synaptic Package Manager and both RAR and UNRAR are installed.
  • fermi
    fermi Posts: 40,542 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    bat999 wrote: »
    Yes, I think that you're right.
    I've looked in my Synaptic Package Manager and both RAR and UNRAR are installed.

    With the versions available via ubuntu that may be the case. The executables from the winrar site will allow extract/compress via just RAR (with different C/L options). But they do include UNRAR as well.

    To the OP: When you are trying to run the '.bin' file, make sure it is set as executable first. i.e.

    chmod a+x GoogleEarthLinux.bin

    then

    ./GoogleEarthLinux.bin

    But surely Google earth is available in the repositories?

    It is in Mandriva via PLF?
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