Beginner Q2: Installing software

[Chris G]

On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 01:05:11AM +0900, Thomas Blasejewicz wrote:
> I do have great difficulties installing software!
> When I tried Synaptic, I get for each and every software package I tried
> the error message:
> "Package operation failed. The installation or removal of a software
> package failed."
> 
> AND there are quite a number of software packages I actually downloaded
> before, but which Synaptic apparently does not know (the search function
> does not find them, although they are already right here on my computer)
> 
These two things may be connected, your installation of other packages
*outside* the normal package installation system may well be *why*
synaptic fails with the above error message.

Did synaptic suggest that you run: "sudo apt-get install -f"?  Try
this anyway, it may clear up your problems.


> Yet, a guide book (quoted below) says, you should NOT install anything
> manually:
> Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference
> Keir Thomas
> page 124
> 
> "Manually installing a package
> It is inadvisable you attempt to manually download a package and install
> it. The process is fraught with problems, the most significant being the
> potential difficulty in manually sourcing dependencies. "
> 
It's basically right and I suspect your problems are because you have
ignored its advice.


> So, what can I do to avoid the above mentioned error messages
> AND
> install software that Synaptic does not recognize
> (a search within Synaptic for example shows, that it does not find
> "Flash Player", which is definitely available in a version for Ubuntu.
> 
Search for 'Flash' rather then 'Flash Player', you'll see
flashplugin-installer, this will do what you want I suspect.


-- 
Chris Green