Cant install RPM files

[Ciaran]

I am new to linux, i have just installed Mandrake v9.0 today.
I cant seem to be able to install RPM files. (eg bestcrypt from

http://www.jetico.com)

I was logged in root when trying to install it. Other programs have failed to install as well.

 

[sleipnir214]

What command are you attempting to issue to perform the install? What errors are you getting? ______________________________________________________________________
TANSTAAFL!

 

[Ciaran]

I tried using the GUI installer that comes with red hat (i clicked on the RPM file from konqueror. I got not error messages
It extracted a tar.gz file to /usr/RPM/SOURCES.
I extracted the files and tried to run something called "MakeFile". But when i ran the file i got the error message "command not found" serveral times.

I tried installing it via the console with rpm --install
It seemedto have installed ok because i got no error messages but it didnt.

 

[sleipnir214]

Generally speaking, files ending in ".tar.gz" are not RPM files to be installed. They are source code files to be compiled.

Makefiles are configuration files for the program "make". If you invoke make from the shell while in that directory, the program may compile.

Take a look in that directory to see if there are any files titled INSTALL or README. They will give you instructions on how to compile and install the application. ______________________________________________________________________
TANSTAAFL!

 

[Highland]

Try this site....

http://sunsite.dk/linux-newbie/

Theres a section under "basics" which explains how to install downloaded files from the Internet...

You also need to watch how permissions are applied to your install files and also check that the path you are using can "see" the location of the executable.....

Can anyone explain how to set-up a short-cut/menu to launch an installed executable...???

thanks....

 

[Ciaran]

I tried doing what it said on that website but it didnt work. (make install).
I also tried rpm --rebuilddb, it seemed to have worked because there was alot of harddrive activity but when i tried to install the rpm again it still didnt work.
The readme files said to use rpm --rebuilddb or make install as well.