Hello, Im a complete newbie when it comes to Linux. I'm running Fedora Core 6 right now and I am having a problem. I decided to try and run the Fedora Core 4 installer just to see if that would work, which it did not. It seemed to install fine, but when I went to run it it will not open.

So I dled the Dynamic binary tar.bz2 package to try and run that, but Im completely lost when it comes to installing this type of package on Linux. Can someone help me? Im a newbie when it comes to this so the more detailed the better. Thank you.

Since you a new to Linux, may I suggest you first try flying with Ubuntu instead of Fedora Core. You will find it a bit more enjoyable and a little easier -- in my opinion. I've tried a few and by far Ubuntu has been a more pleasant experience.

As for the bz2 file, you probably want to open a terminal window, cd into the directory where the file is and type the following:

bunzip2 skype-1.2.0.18.tar.bz2

This will basically uncompress the file. Then you need to un-tar the file:

tar -xvf skype-1.2.0.18.tar

I usually un-tar in a temp directory, then I might move that exploded directory out the the /usr/lib directory (and you want to make sure you are logged on as root for that).

Some people might create a symbolic link to the executable file that start skypd. That would go into the /usr/bin directory. I prefer creating links instead of having more than one version of the same file.

cd /usr/bin
ln -s /usr/lib/skype-1.2.0.18/skype ./

By doing this you can run skype without changing your path.

Good Luck!!

I followwed those directions...

When I typed in
ln -s /usr/lib/skype-1.3.0.37/skype ./

I got this

ln: creating symbolic link `./skype' to `/usr/lib/skype-1.3.0.37/skype': File exists

I try and open Skype and it does not open, double click and nothing happens.
Any suggestions?

can anyone help me with this?

thanks in advance.

Do you get it "autostarting" when you log in? It may already be running under root but you've closed the login window.
Type 'ps -aux' to check what processes are running. I had the same sort of problem with Mandriva 2006, when I logged in it started on its own and wouldn't let me re-start it if the login window was closed. This appeared to be because it was already running under root.
I logged out of the session and back in to get the window back. (At this point I registered but I don't know if that's relevant) then 'logged out' and 'closed' the window under the file menu. I re-checked the processes and this time it wasn't there. Initialising it under my normal user account worked at this point.

It's just a thought...

Dave.

Well, I wiped the Fedora partition and installed Ubuntu upon recomendation by rushfreak and it installed no problem. Thanks for the help.

Just my two cents, but if you are new to Linux, I would suggest bypassing Ubuntu, and making a beeline to Mepis 6.0. Ubuntu is a solid build, but it has issues. Mepis is built on the Debian/Ubuntu core, so the various application repositories for Ubuntu work fine with Mepis.

Mepis uses KDE as it's window manager, as opposed to Gnome. I think that's a very good thing. Gnome fanciers will not agree. Mepis uses root as a matter of course. Ubuntu does it's own thing using SU, and can create understanding problems if you try a different flavor of Linux in the future. Mepis comes with a working version of Skype V 1.2.xx that works for the most part. There are issues though, and I lived with them as progress was made, but I downloaded the latest beta of Skype today ( 1.3.0.37 API), and installed it on Mepis with Kpackage, and it worked without a single tweak.

Skype always had awesome audio, but the initial version was not able to share the soundcard with a movie, or music. If I ended a call, I would have to restart Skype before I could call again. They were problems, but they were worth while, as Skype in, and Skype voice quality are worth a little trouble.

The last beta I tried was awful. Sound was distorted to the point of being unusable, and though there were many fixes offered, I gave up before I found one that worked, and restored the old V1.2.x on this PC. As I mentioned I installed the new beta (1.3.0.37 API) tonight, and didn't have to touch a thing. It works like a charm. I could now hang up on a caller, and not be forced to restart Skype. I can be watching a DVD, an AVI, or a music playlist, and Skype will ring through, and work without a problem.


From this seat, Skype is moving ahead at a good pace on the Linux platform, and the latest beta seems to be a winner on Mepis. No matter, give Mepis 6.0 a try. Not only does Skype work there, but Mepis makes Ubuntu work like the Kubuntu people should have done.

Skype is a fantastic product, and so far in my adventure, it just works in Mepis 6.0 without any file editiing. That's worth a great deal....

Volk