are you behind any firewalls / filtering devices. if so try to route around them or disable any firewalls as nick said, any error messages are key. are you trying from the terminal or synaptic? see if this works from a terminal sudo apt-get update if you see no errors you know you should be able to get the packages. if the above command works, are you able to update anything with this from a terminal sudo apt-get upgrade thanks Phillip <div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 9:01 AM, Nick Ali <<a href="mailto:nali@ubuntu.com">nali@ubuntu.com</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <div class="Ih2E3d">On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 8:32 AM, Dewey Wayne Dempsey <<a href="mailto:deweydee@fastmail.fm">deweydee@fastmail.fm</a>> wrote: > I just installed Ubuntu 8.10 from the Special Edition Linux magazine. > Firefox and Open Office work fine. I am having trouble with installing > Skype, Totem, and GnuCash. I live near Chattanooga but am be willing to > drive to Atlanta for some hands-on support.  In my cursory look at the > postings I did not find a date for the next linux fest. </div>Hi Dewey, Did you get errors when trying to install the applications? Whats steps did you take to install the applications? Also, see if this is any help: <a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/8.10/add-applications/C/index.html" target="_blank">https://help.ubuntu.com/8.10/add-applications/C/index.html</a> nick -- <a href="http://boredandblogging.com" target="_blank">http://boredandblogging.com</a> <div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"> -- Ubuntu-us-ga mailing list <a href="mailto:Ubuntu-us-ga@lists.ubuntu.com">Ubuntu-us-ga@lists.ubuntu.com</a> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-us-ga" target="_blank">https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-us-ga</a> </div></div></blockquote></div> -- Thanks, Phillip Tarrant >>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE <<< This electronic mail message, including any and/or all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s), and may contain confidential and/or privileged information, pertaining to business conducted under the direction and supervision of Phillip J Tarrant. Unauthorized interception, review, use, disclosure or distribution of any such information contained within this electronic mail message and/or its attachment(s), is(are) strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by replying to this electronic mail message, along with the destruction all copies and originals of the original electronic mail message (along with any attachments).