Downloading & opening programs

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timbo1604

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#154477 29-Oct-2014 13:12

Totally new to Linux. My very old PC was running XP and is now not really working anymore so switched to Linux Lite and it's working a treat, apart from...

I'm trying to install a few things like Avast and a Flash player but can't find any apps to open the installers once they've downloaded. Do I need to install something special to do that?

Also, can I get a MS Office type program that will let me open and maybe edit files from Excel and Word?

Cheers!

I don't know much about anything but I'll give it a go.

timbo1604

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#1164265 29-Oct-2014 13:15

Just a quick note: I know Linux doesn't ordinarily need antivirus software, I also have a laptop that runs Windows and don't want to transfer anything nasty to it by accident. Hence the Avast download. If anyone knows of any better antivirus for Linux feel free to let me know :)

I don't know much about anything but I'll give it a go.

hio77

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#1164287 29-Oct-2014 13:21

linux lite is based on ubuntu if im not mistaken... interesting choice.

ild just do a "sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer libreoffice" in your terminal..

otherwise your stuck messing with do i need a rpm, deb etc.

as for avast, looks like it doesnt have a package, so you will need to unpack the deb.. you will need to do something like sudo dpkg -i avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb - be mindful if your running 64bit they require you to install ia32-libs from the package manager.

Ild stick to using apt-get or the "Package Manager" as much as possible, only going to debs when you cant do it the other way, Makes things easier to manage.

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timbo1604

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#1164321 29-Oct-2014 14:02

hio77: linux lite is based on ubuntu if im not mistaken... interesting choice.

ild just do a "sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer libreoffice" in your terminal..

otherwise your stuck messing with do i need a rpm, deb etc.

as for avast, looks like it doesnt have a package, so you will need to unpack the deb.. you will need to do something like sudo dpkg -i avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb - be mindful if your running 64bit they require you to install ia32-libs from the package manager.

Ild stick to using apt-get or the "Package Manager" as much as possible, only going to debs when you cant do it the other way, Makes things easier to manage.

Cool, cheers!

Is Libre Office compatible with MS Office documents?

I don't know much about anything but I'll give it a go.

jlittle

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#1164539 29-Oct-2014 18:27

I'd like to emphasize the typical Linux way to get new software: you use your distro's package manager. In Lite as far as I can tell it's called "Install/Remove software". Lite is based on Ubuntu and there's 70,000 packages for Ubuntu. Randomly downloading stuff to install from the "internet" is not the way to go. If you don't know what to get just ask on the Linux lite forums; it's a distro for people just like you, AFAICT.

Is Libre Office compatible with MS Office documents?

Mostly. MS keep dicking with their formats to make their users buy new versions, and this can cause glitches.

Regards, John Little

timbo1604

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#1164569 29-Oct-2014 19:10

jlittle: I'd like to emphasize the typical Linux way to get new software: you use your distro's package manager. In Lite as far as I can tell it's called "Install/Remove software". Lite is based on Ubuntu and there's 70,000 packages for Ubuntu. Randomly downloading stuff to install from the "internet" is not the way to go. If you don't know what to get just ask on the Linux lite forums; it's a distro for people just like you, AFAICT.

Cool thanks. will have a play with the package manager and see how it goes.

I don't know much about anything but I'll give it a go.

frankv

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#1165076 30-Oct-2014 15:06

I don't know Linux Lite, but in Ubuntu there's a package called 'synaptic' which is a nice GUI package installer... I'd suggest get that first, then you can use it to easily find other good (and safe) stuff to install.

I'd skip Avast... the biggest problem about viruses nowadays is virus-protection.

OpenLibre is good.