Program Installation on Linux

[martin122089]

OK, so I have a very noobish problem. I recently purchased a HP Mini 1000 netbook with the Linux based operating system on it (called the Mii OS by HP). Being new to Linux, I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to anything besides surfing the internet. I want to download and install a program on this netbook, but I don't know where to start. I am able to download the file and have it in the download folder of the browser. Where do I go from here?

[hub_cap]

What version of Linux is installed? Click on System, About

You may want to check out this article.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/03/17/hp-mini-1000-netbook-running-linux/

[brian mcgee]

What version of Linux is installed? Click on System, About

Guessing it's this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Internet_Experience

martin122089, what program are you trying to install?

[martin122089]

I was trying to install an emulator for the Gameboy Advance. The emulator is called VisualBoyAdvance.

[snowpine]

Hi Martin, are you using Ubuntu? (If you aren't I can't really help you. :))

Generally, we install applications from the "repository" of tested and trusted software. You can do this using Add/Remove Applications, Synaptic Package Manager, or the command line (apt-get or aptitude).

Downloading random software from the internet is kind of a "Windows way" of doing things. Stick with the repositories as a beginner and you can't really go wrong. I am sure there are several emulators in there. Good luck!

[brian mcgee]

Actually, while I've never used it, VisualBoyAdvance appears to be in the repository. Martin, I'm not familiar with the interface on those HP Minis, but assuming it's Ubuntu, look for something called Terminal, and in it, type the following command and hit enter:


sudo apt-get install visualboyadvanceIt should prompt you for your password, and proceed to install the program. Like snowpine suggested, you might look for "Add/Remove Programs" or "Synaptic Package Manager" for graphical ways to install software from the repositories. Once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. :)

If it's not working, but you find the Terminal, do this command and tell us what it says.


cat /etc/issue

[martin122089]

Brian Mcgee, I tried the first command in Terminal (called Root Terminal on my system, I don't know if this is important or not) and it said
"Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package visualboyadvance is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package visualboyadvance has no installation candidate"

Taking this to mean that it didn't work I did the second command you gave me and it said
"Ubuntu 8.04.2 \n \l".

[martin122089]

Oh, and also hub_cap, my version of Linux is Kernel Linux 2.6.24-22-Ipia. Not sure why Ubuntu and Linux are mentioned on my system haha.

[martin122089]

Never mind that last statement, I figured out that Ubuntu and Linux are related.

[aysiu]

Read this. It'll help:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware

The menus aren't exactly the same, but I bought an HP Mini with Mi preinstalled on it (promptly replaced it with regular Ubuntu, which runs so much faster), and I'm pretty sure it comes with Synaptic Package Manager.

[brian mcgee]

martin, that's definitely the right terminal, but be careful, the root user can do anything on the system, so use the root terminal with caution! :)

I'll bet the right repo isn't enabled. In the same terminal, give us the results from the following command:


cat /etc/apt/sources.list

[martin122089]

OK, so I was able to find the Synaptic Package Manager and Visual Boy Advance was in there but now a new problem has occurred. I marked the package for installation, downloaded the needed packages in order to install vbaexpress, and said apply and then apply again in the dialog box that popped up and then this error pops up:

"vbaexpress:
Depends: visualboyadvance but it is not installable".

Am I doing something wrong or is my fiddling with the MIE OS doomed?

[martin122089]

brian mcgee, in response to your post I typed the command you gave me in terminal and this is what it gave me back:

"deb http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy main universe multiverse restricted
deb-src http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy main universe multiverse restricted

deb http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy-updates main universe multiverse restricted
deb-src http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy-updates main universe multiverse restricted

deb http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy-security main universe multiverse restricted
deb-src http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy-security main universe multiverse restricted

deb http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy-hpmini main universe multiverse restricted
deb-src http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com/mie/ hardy-hpmini main universe multiverse restricted"

[brian mcgee]

That's exactly what I was looking for. :) So far we haven't made any changes to your system, so don't worry. However, it could be that the HP Mini repo has some trouble. Try doing this in the terminal:


sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get check && sudo apt-get install vbaexpressPost the output too.

[martin122089]

OK brian I did what you said and here is what the Terminal spit out. Its a bit wordy so I apologize ahead of time.

"Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy Release.gpg
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security Release.gpg
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini Release.gpg
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini Release.gpg
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/public Translation-en_US
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy Release
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates Release
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security Release
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini Release
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini Release
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/main Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/universe Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/restricted Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/main Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/universe Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/multiverse Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy/restricted Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/main Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/main Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/universe Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/main Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/universe Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-security/restricted Sources
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/main Packages
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/universe Packages
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/multiverse Packages
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/restricted Packages
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/main Sources
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/universe Sources
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/multiverse Sources
Ign http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/restricted Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/public Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/public Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/main Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/universe Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/multiverse Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/restricted Packages
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/main Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/universe Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/multiverse Sources
Hit http://hpmini.archive.canonical.com hardy-hpmini/restricted Sources
Reading package lists... Done
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.

Since you only requested a single operation it is extremely likely that
the package is simply not installable and a bug report against
that package should be filed.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
vbaexpress: Depends: visualboyadvance but it is not installable
E: Broken packages"

[brian mcgee]

Hmm, no fun. If it were my machine, I'd install the latest Ubuntu on it, but for a less drastic approach, I'll bet you could just install the Hardy packages for vbaexpress and visualboyadvance. First though, could you post the output of the following command:


uname -a

[mikewhatever]

The package visualboyadvance is in the Ubuntu repositories for Hardy Heron, i368 and amd64 only, the problem is that you are using lpia architecture as well as non-standard repositories.

[brian mcgee]

The package visualboyadvance is in the Ubuntu repositories for Hardy Heron, i368 and amd64 only, the problem is that you are using lpia architecture as well as non-standard repositories.

Which doesn't necessarily mean it's hopeless. Assuming he doesn't plan on removing the packages, couldn't he grab the i386 .deb files and install with:


dpkg -i --force-architecture whatever.debMore info: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=982260

[hantechbl]

try 'sudo apt-get update' that should get the newest catalog of programs.

[brian mcgee]

try 'sudo apt-get update' that should get the newest catalog of programs.

Yep, he tried it. See post #15 :)

[martin122089]

brian_mcgee, here is the output for the line you gave me:
"Linux martin122089-umpc 2.6.24-22-lpia #1 SMP Thu Apr 2 02:03:56 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux"

[brian mcgee]

Martin, do you ever intend on uninstalling VisualBoyAdvance? There's a way we should be able to do this somewhat simply, but you won't be able to remove it with Synaptic Package Manager. (however, it should still be able to be removed from the command line)

Also, mikewhatever is right, the source of the trouble is that HP shipped that netbook with unusual repos and architecture, which might make it difficult to install other stuff down the road. Normal Ubuntu installs are rarely this painful.

[martin122089]

Haha well, the biggest thing I would like to learn is how to install things in general. I've installed several other things from synaptic but after they're installed I can't seem to find them to use them. I can live without the emulator, but I would like to be able to install other things onto the computer.

[Phil Newman]

Thanks for that "aysiu" :) The first link was very informative and the second was good to know as well :) All Power To You My Friend :D

[brian mcgee]

Haha well, the biggest thing I would like to learn is how to install things in general. I've installed several other things from synaptic but after they're installed I can't seem to find them to use them. I can live without the emulator, but I would like to be able to install other things onto the computer.

Often, when something is installed in Ubuntu through Synaptic or APT, a menu item for the new software will be automatically created. For example, after installing FileZilla, I can go to Applications -> Internet and see FileZilla available. Given that you're using HP's version of Ubuntu, it's hard to say exactly what to expect since I don't have an HP netbook. :P

However, if you're comfortable installing it, I think things would be easier for you with the normal release of Ubuntu, or perhaps Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Though, I have no experience with the latter.

[martin122089]

Yes I was thinking about doing that, but I'll fiddle around with it some more before I commit to anything. Thanks to all of you for the help, you have helped further my knowledge of Ubuntu greatly!