I installed linux ubuntu and would like to know what a .tar.gz file is and how to install this type of file?

tar.gz also known as tarball, an archive format for electronic data and software.

Most Windows users compress files into ZIP format, while Linux and other Unix users prefer GZ (for single files) and TAR.GZ (for collections of files; the extension .TGZ is also used for these).

How to install ANYTHING in Ubuntu!

http://monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/

Installing Software in Ubuntu

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftwar...

If you make a mistake, you can lose everything, whether you are using Wubi or other software. So, you want to clearly understand all steps of the process. I did some online research on wubi after I first started seeing references to it (just casual, not serious time spent) and I found where people had problems - but there are people who will have problems with anything! You always back up your data files, and make sure you have all the cds and serial numbers to restore things before you start tinkering with dual-booting, wubi, or xyz. It just makes common sense, for that one time when something goes wrong. If you dual-boot, you select your OS each time you start. Windoze programs will not run under Linux, and Linux programs won't run under windoze. You can try and use emulation software to run them, but often it does not work. Data files are easily shared between windoze and linux - I dual-boot and I run the same programs under windoze and linux, so they have common interfaces and the data is accessible regardless of which OS I happen to start (linux being the choice of preference these days).

tar is a pain in the butt. there are 3 very simple ways to install stuff in ubuntu #1 like installing opera go to its website and click on the download for your distro it mostly does the work for you. #2 the synaptic package manager just search for the app you want and it installs it for you #3 the easiest of all once its setup is freespires CNR its been ported to ubuntu it stands for click and run and as the name implies there is nothing easier find the app you want in there database and clik on the cnr button a few minutes latter its installed for you and nothing more to do. Now if you were running Linux mint there is a portal that has just shy of 100 apps ready to go for that one. bottom line try to stay away from the tar thats the stuff that gives linux a bad rap you know the (its to hard ) rap the days of command line entry in linux are numbered for ubuntu based distros.

hi, keep away from tar,gz files--- they are a form of zip file that has to be opened manually in the "terminal" ( i told you to stick with windows )from memory i think you have the "YAST" installer or something like that,anyway use the installer that came with ubuntu---what can ubuntu do that windows cant do? cheers.

you can either use ubuntu's built in package manager and extract it out, or you can use the terminal command tar-xzf "filename here" and it will extract out.

If your installing a package that came in a tar format your going to use terminal and navigate to the extracted folder. once your in the "filename here" folder type ./configure then make, then make install..

ghj