How to unzip and install a tar.gz file in Linux


Hi everyone, this week in our Linux page we have posted an effective article about unzipping and installing tar.gz files in Linux. We hope you will appreciate this simple but useful post for Linux beginners and ..please.., as usual, write us comments if you need more information or you want to suggest us something useful. Thanks everybody! AddThis

159 thoughts on “How to unzip and install a tar.gz file in Linux

  1. selvam's avatarselvam

    iam new in linux , ihave to problem in installing .tar, tar.gz, tar.bz2…. etc
    rpm and debian

    so i need a step by steb information about all the above package types .
    Thank you
    selvam.

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  2. Danish's avatarDanish

    tar is format for zip
    place the tar file in /home/folder
    to unzip: tar -zxvf (filename with extension) – tar.rz
    for tar.bz2 ” -jxvf “” ” ” ”

    then
    the file will be unzipped in a folder
    check of the file name config
    give th ecommand ./configure
    it will configure automatically

    else go to /tools check for the file name —-install
    enter this cmd ./tools/nameinstall

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  3. Frustrated Windows "convert"'s avatarFrustrated Windows "convert"

    …and how the fuck do you people expect that regular windows “converts” install software…? this way?
    you are nuts!

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    1. dub_boy's avatardub_boy

      Yes, we are a little nuts in a geeky way, I guess. I understand your frustration though, it’s one hell of a learning curve, and I believe with all flavours of Linux, one never stops learning. Ever. It’s difficult at first, however you’ll realise it’s about x100 times more powerful than windows, fully customisable, because it’s open-source, blah, blah. Good luck, dude : )

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  4. 9400's avatar9400

    Yes. We do. It takes an extra few seconds, and if you got off your lazy pampered Windows ass and actually learned something, you’d realize it’s not that hard!

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  5. Galigio's avatargaligio Post author

    Hi Adrian, sorry for the delay in replying you.
    You have to type the commands in the Terminal (Applications – System Tools – Terminal).
    Please give us some more details with your Midi problems and we’ll try to solve them.
    Bye.

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  6. trent's avatartrent

    can someone please send me an example of how to extract and install tar.gz and rpm files onto linux to my email @ trenta91@gmail.com. because i have been googling and they all say the same thing but i can never figure out how. i have just installed linux over win XP to see how it is, and installing programs is frustrating! could you also send me a good audio and video player/s, thanks, you help would be much appreciated

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  7. vaibh's avatarvaibh

    i m regulary windows user
    so i have problem to install software in linux red hat 5
    like .tar.gz files
    some when download rpm file like mplayer, or any video player error report comes
    so plz help me step by step
    actually i didn’t know how can use commmand so plz help

    plz mail me nick4ubuddy@hotmail.com

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    1. Liquid luster car wax's avatarLiquid luster car wax

      I have been browsing on-line greater than three hours today, yet I never found
      any fascinating article like yours. It’s beautiful price sufficient for me.
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  8. Unknown's avatarAnonymous

    ok. here is (hopefully) a nice simple set of instructions for recent converts.

    1) open up your prefered command console. I use yakuake (absolutly amazing program, but you can also use konsole or any other equivalent)
    2) sign in as the super user by typing in “su” (enter) then entering your root password when prompted.
    3) then go to the directory (folder) where the .tar.gz file is located. for example if it is in your home folder type in “cd /home/” and hit enter
    4) type in “tar -zxvf ” and hit enter this will extract the files and create a new directory (folder)
    5) go into that folder using “cd ”
    6) enter in “./configure” into the command line. this will configure the files. (answer any questions asked)
    7) when that’s done enter in “make” into the console.
    8) when that’s done enter in “make install”

    And you’re all done!!! 😀

    If you’d like to move the folder you may, but don’t delete the folder because it comes in useful if you’d like to uninstall the program!

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  9. Javed's avatarJaved

    i m newbie in redhat using linux9 i want to know that how to compile the .tar and .bin files please give some easy solution

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  10. jvf131's avatarjvf131

    Hi, I am using Ubuntu Linux 8.04 and and I am trying to download Abdobe Flash Player 9 on a tar.gz format. I am a regular Windows XP user and I don’t know what the hell I am doing. I downloaded the file and I am trying to open it. I know I have to type in a command to open it, but I don’t know what that command is. Please don’t criticize me I am only 14 and have been using this type of Linux for less that two hours. Please respond to this comment. Thank you.

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  11. D. C.'s avatarD. C.

    I have ThinLinux (I know it’s old..) and don’t have a “cc” program, so I can enable the network program and PCMCIA 2wire wireless laptop card, on my laptop. I downloaded the pcmcia .tr.gz file, opened it. I cannot get passed the “./Configure” step, because I don’t have the “cc” program installed.

    How can I fix these problems, so I can get the network program/folder under “etc” like it should be, so KDE won’t keep saying the network program doesn’t exist? Thanks. If possible, it’s ok to email me.

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  12. N.Akhmar's avatarN.Akhmar

    hi.. for your info I’ve been trying to install a few tar.gz files and quite a few has some requirement that need us to install a few toolkit such as GTK2+ so that a successful installation could be achieve, where most of my first prob. (during my early days with linux) come from. So check you software requirement as it might be the reason why you can’t get the tar.gz files to be install properly

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  13. Dave's avatarDave

    I am 17 and I have just changed to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS as my main OS. use the GUI to extract the files. However I haven’t got a clue how I install the program once it is extracted. I have tried to install firefox 3 as well as Beep Media Player. Please help!!! Also, I need the codecs to be able to play MP3 files. I do not have my own internet connection so I need to download them, and install them on my computer. A link to them would be good.Thx.

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    1. wisdom m mlevu's avatarwisdom m mlevu

      hi! i am wisdom from Kenya i would advise u to change the OS to ubuntu reloaded or ultimate edition 2.8 they have plenty of software in then.

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  14. SAHIL's avatarSAHIL

    hi all!!1st a great salute to all open source community.
    today is my first day in inux(ubuntu hardy haron…)i really liked it coz unlike windows its has got 70% of apps u need it n its bulletproof security.

    BUT I M REALY MESSED UP TO INTALL SOFTWARES WITH ERRR… .tz,.jar ETC EXTENTION.plz inform me how to intall the softwares and hey its not supporting mp3,mpg,mpeg file formats….its not intalling d codec availablle under add-remove.HELP!!!
    plz do reply in sahilshinesalways@rediff.com

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  15. kunal Sagar's avatarkunal Sagar

    when I want to install the netbeans 6 in the fedora 8 I get this type
    of error…

    [root@localhost ~]# ./jdk-6u4-nb-6_0_1-linux-ml.sh
    Configuring the installer…
    Searching for JVM on the system…
    Preparing bundled JVM …
    Extracting installation data…
    Running the installer wizard…
    java: xcb_xlib.c:50: xcb_xlib_unlock: Assertion `c->xlib.lock’ failed.
    ./jdk-6u4-nb-6_0_1-linux-ml.sh: line 1360: 4642
    Aborted /tmp/.nbi-2031926.tmp/_jvm/bin/java -Xmx256m –
    Xms64m -Djava.io.tmpdir=/tmp -classpath /tmp/.nbi-2031926.tmp/
    bundle.jar org.netbeans.installer.Installer

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  16. Unknown's avatarAidan

    i need help i am a regular windows user i am tryin 2 install LightZone 3 on my eee pc linux laptop but i do not know how to install or configure the file can you please give me a simple and easy to understand step by step guide on how to install it please and thank you

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    1. Carnauba wax's avatarCarnauba wax

      My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different
      web page and thought I may as well check things out.
      I like what I see so i am just following you.

      Look forward to finding out about your web page yet again.

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  17. KillmySelf's avatarKillmySelf

    Sorry to say but, all this command only cause me headache. Before this, I also tried to install Real Player using command line, but, it didn’t work at all. So, I tried my way, I drag the .bin file to terminal window, then I enter, zuuup!!! all done, the file is extracted. Thats all I need to do.
    So, I think all this command didn’t help much for certain users such as me. I also can update my repository since I didn’t have any internet connection, indeed, all kind of command like:
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install vlc
    …etc…
    didn’t work for me here. So, I’m hoping you all can help me please?
    I tried so many way before this but none are working. I just want to seek alternative way to install any audio/video player so that I can watch movie in my computer, thats all I want. Perhaps, my computer didn’t support certain application for linux maybe? I’m using HP computer with intel graphic card, pre-installed with Vista home premium, intel core 2 duo and ACPI x86 based computer. I installed ubuntu 8.04 LTS.

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  18. linuxispissingmeoff's avatarlinuxispissingmeoff

    cant someone just make a damn program with a freakin GUI. TO install files . learning this is a pain in the ass . I dont want to have to type in all that shit . I might as well program it myself lol

    damn somene just make an installer of some sort for us lazy windows users . then maybe more people will swap over

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  19. gouri's avatargouri

    hii i tried to install adobe in linux.bt the command ./configure is not working,its saying that
    -bash: ./configure: No such file or directory

    im using linux for the first time.plz help me in solving it..

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  20. Josh's avatarJosh

    Can someone help me to install tar.gz files I tried some of the fixes om this page I’m running Ubuntu 8.04 and their is a lot of installs for Linux that are tar.gz and I’m also having the same problem with .bin installs can someone please help me!?

    Josh

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  21. Peg's avatarPeg

    Hi, My husband got me an old dell laptop with linux on it. I have several issues that he doesn’t have time for. I hope someone is willing to help. I have to admit I’ve been pecking around in the specifications so I may have done some things I shouldn’t have.

    For one thing I no longer have sound. This is a big problem as you can immagine. In the sound settings it says that the sound card is working. Can anyone help?
    Thanks,
    Peg.

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  22. Galigio's avatargaligio Post author

    Hi Peg,
    please, could ou specify the model of the Dell that your husband got you? And what Linux version is installed? Ubuntu?
    Thanks.
    Galigio

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  23. P R SINHA's avatarP R SINHA

    Hi,

    This is Sinha. I was just trying to install the gnuplot & ghost viwer but unfortunately it is showing some error like
    *** [instal -postscriptDATA] Error1

    *** [instal -recursive] Error1
    for gnuplot
    and
    no targets specified
    and no make file found
    for gv

    I request you to help me if somebody is familaer wioth this.
    Thank you!

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  24. mentaloxide's avatarmentaloxide

    Nope… didn’t work…. AGAIN!

    Yet again, another ‘oh so easy’ how to guide for tarballs that doesn’t work. I’ve had ubuntu 7.10 for about 9 months now, and I still can’t install these damned tarballs. Now don’t get me wrong, I really like Ubuntu, and i want to support it, but these tarballz and terminal crap is infuriating. All I want is flash player 10, which would be a few clicks on windows or mac. THATS WHAT PEOPLE WANT! EASE OF USE! Why am I transported back to the mid-eighties with ubuntu’s terminal, and when will the powers that be at linux actually recognize this is the major put off for new users. Just look at this thread…. it’s the same story again and again, while stubborn geeks tell new users they’re ‘pampered by Windows’. I tell all my friends how awesome linux is, virus free, stable and super fast. They see it and they want it, but ultimately I dissuade them because I know they couldn’t deal with the terminal crap, because I’m a geek compared to them and it drives me nuts. Ubuntu must learn to deal with humans, not the other way around, if it wants to claim ‘it’s for humans!’

    Here’s the results of my attempts to follow instructions on this page.
    Post 18:

    grapa@grapa-laptop:~$ cd /tmp
    grapa@grapa-laptop:/tmp$ tar -zxfv
    tar: v: Cannot open: No such file or directory
    tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
    tar: Child returned status 2
    tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

    but i have /tmp dir open and I’m looking at the tarball in a window.
    So then I follow post 3, and get this:

    grapa@grapa-laptop:/tmp$ cd /home/grapa
    grapa@grapa-laptop:~$ tar -zxvf install_flash_player_10_linux.tar.gz
    install_flash_player_10_linux/
    install_flash_player_10_linux/flashplayer-installer
    install_flash_player_10_linux/libflashplayer.so
    grapa@grapa-laptop:~$ ./configure
    bash: ./configure: No such file or directory

    NOW WHAT?

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    1. Claude's avatarClaude

      I agree I,ve been poking around with Linux since the ’90’s and always ended up going back to windoze.But, I have to tell you that Ubuntu 10 is getting up there with the installer and everything, it’s like learning to drive all over again.Here is the thing about Linux.IT NEEDS A UNIVERSAL INSTALLER!!!!That’s it That’s all it needs and I guarantee you that people would migrate in masses to it, being so versatile and free of course.The problem with Linux again is that it’s being used not only by geeks but by idiot geeks who are a little communist about windoze and all that deal.But all things that work are practical like for example a car most of us don’t know how it works exactly but we all use it because it’s practical and easy.same with windows.

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  25. eddie pasternak's avatareddie pasternak

    Well, the article says absolutely NOTHING about “How to unzip and install a tar.gz file in Linux”. Typical Linux moran’s

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  26. E's avatarE

    I have to agree with those who take issue with the misleading title of this page. It purports to be a guide to unzipping and installing a tar.gz file in Linux. From there someone poses a question, gets no real answer, is told to perform maneuvers they already admitted they don’t know how to do. No one told how to open a terminal window, just said to do it. (If you have an eeepc, do it by pressing the keys “Ctrl”, “Alt” and “t” simultaneously. But what you do after that, is not described in this “how to” article in any helpful way. I myself can’t help you, as I am searching for advice on this subject, too.) Only one person gave some kind of advice but it was incomplete. Otherwise the only back and forth seemed to be childish arrogance between linux knowledge hoarders and frustrated Windows folks who already ate crow to come here, give them a break.

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