New to Linux, Installed Mandrake 10, Now have questions

[K777]

I have just install mandrake 10
Now I want to study how to use linux. I don't know anything about this system. can you help me?
How to install yahoo massenger? how to run program?

[twistedcranium]

Hello there K777, Glad to see that you have started to try out Linux!

To install most programs you will need 'root access'. If you know the root user's password, then you're set.

First get the latest RedHat RPM of the Yahoo Messenger by going to
http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/download/unix.html

I believe that Mandrake supports the RedHat RPM 'installer' format and this is what we'll use to install the program.

After downloading the program you'll note a set of instructions that Yahoo provides on the download page:

1. Save the appropriate file listed below to your machine.
   • RedHat 6.x (837b5919bffabae74386bcbc2a602daf)
   • RedHat 7.x(8d6ebad8eee0260ef9f53a535ced5f68)
   • RedHat 8.0(c1c43d6dde97d2bad13140b25b044d98)
   • RedHat 9(325e37fe50a7beb32d740da5d7467751)
2. Log in as root and type
   rpm -i <filename>
   with the appropriate filename depending on your version to install the application.
3. Run /usr/bin/ymessenger from X Window to launch the application.

After downloading open a terminal and type
su -
and then enter the root password when it asks for it

Then change directory to the directory where you downloaded the installer:
cd /home/username/
(assuming that you downloaded to the home directory of the typical username that you use)

once there type
rpm -i rh9.ymessenger-1.0.4-1.i386.rpm
(as long as that matches the name of the file downloaded, if not adjust this line)

and then from there follow the GUI prompts.

After the installation, you can close the root session terminal window and then at terminal window of your typical user type
ymessenger
(or if that doesn't work, type)
/usr/bin/ymessenger

and it should start the program.

[K777]

Hi twistedcranium !
Thank you very much.
It worked.
so, when I want to install software, can i use " rmp -i " ?
Now, I can chat in linux.

[twistedcranium]

using rpm is one of the ways to install software in linux. You should definitely read up on rpm if you're using Mandrake or RedHat. Learn the switches that go along with the command on the command line, for instance if you're upgrading a package that already exists you issue rpm with a -U