i need to know how to install a program in linux. i have absolutely NO idea how to do it. if anyone can give simple instructions on how to do it, please let me know! how do i install from a .bin file? how do i install from a .rpm file? how do i install from a .tar.gz file? what do i do!?

For the .bin file make sure you have execute permission to the file and if you are logged in to the same directory as the .bin file just type .filename (make sure you add the leading dot.) If you are not in the same directory as the .bin file type the absolute path to the file, with the filename (no dot needed.) For the rpm file use rpm -ivh filename. For the .tar.gz I am not totally sure. Call up the man page on tar and try to figure it out.

for the tar.gz you'll need to untar and uncompress it tar zxvf filename.tar.gz then you change the directory to the newly extracted one, usually filename/ cd filename/ then, usually just type ./configure then type make then you'll usually want to change to the root account su if everything went well in the previous steps just type make install and it will install the program in the default directories. as with everything there are many more options but this is the easiest and installs everything in default locations

TIP: After uncompressing a tar.gz and before running ./configure always read any INSTALL and README files that might be in there....