HP printer, ATI VGA, M$ wireless BT desktop

[G~[thc]]

I recently made the switch from Windows to Feisty Fawn and I'm slowly
getting hardware and software working. I'm hoping for a little help with
the following:

1) HP Deskjet 4180 printer/scanner
I found the HP universal driver package, hplip-2.8.5.run
my model -is- supported. Downloaded the package, won't install
when I double-click the icon. Archive manager opens up automatically
and tells me 'Cannot open hplip-2.8.5.run . Archive type not
supported'. In downloading a host of other plugins/apps (ex: flash,
java, adobe reader, azureus, picasa, google earth, opera) and I get the
same result.

2) ATI X1950 Driver package: ati-driver-installer-8-5-x86.x86_64.run
Same result as above. All the downloaded packages are Linux driver
offerings from product manufacturers or software developer sites.

3) Partial success: I have a 'Micro$oft Keyboard Elite For Bluetooth'
and 'Micro$oft Intellimouse Explorer For Bluetooth'. I searched and
found how to enable bluetooth devices using Terminal, and that's done
successfully. Now I want to find a way to make the mouse's tilt-wheel
and additional back/forward buttons, as well as the multimedia buttons
on the Keyboard work.

Thanks in advance to anyone for any help with these devices.
So far my recent conversion (as an average desktop user)
to Linux is going well.

G~[thc]

[zoiks]

1) HP Deskjet 4180 printer/scanner
I found the HP universal driver package, hplip-2.8.5.run
my model -is- supported. Downloaded the package, won't install
when I double-click the icon. Archive manager opens up automatically
and tells me 'Cannot open hplip-2.8.5.run . Archive type not
supported'. In downloading a host of other plugins/apps (ex: flash,
java, adobe reader, azureus, picasa, google earth, opera) and I get the
same result.

G~[thc]

I would suggest abandoning the attempts to install printer drivers directly from executable files, unless you find there's no other way. The *much* better way is to let your Gnome (or KDE, etc) desktop software handle it for you.

If you are using regular ubuntu with Gnome, go to System -> Administration -> Printing, and add a new printer from there.

Many of the other programs you're trying to install are available in the repositories. (flash, java, azureus). I'm not sure you need adobe reader, as the "Evince Document Viewer" may be fine for your needs (check for yourself). Anyway, I'd suggest always searching what's available in the repo's using System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager before attempting to install from binaries.

As for picasa and googleearth, follow the instructions on the google websites for installation.