I Need Help

[hank13]

ok im not to bad on computers but this is something i have never seen this kind of problem before

my mothers computer which is a Gateway is running on a program called Linux its old but it works except when you try to download stuff, then you go through the process and then the program that you downloaded never shows up or sometimes a window pops up and says (Enabling universe failed) then it says the program is there but when you try to open it it wont let you

COMPUTER SETUP

• Is a gateway
• Runs on Linux
• Mozzila Firefox is our web browser
• It crashed once and we sent it to get repaired and that is how we got Linux

the only thins i could think of was maybe it did not get repaired correctly
OR
gateways and the program linux should not be mixed

PLEASE HELP ME

[Disk_Contented]

Perhaps the installed OS isn't supported any more and the repositories are not available?

You would be wise to reinstall a newer linux distro, based on security concerns. If you want a free full blown gateway, then have alook at Clarkconnect: http://www.clarkconnect.com/ it's free, but your hardware may not run. check the minimum requirements.
Or if it's just an internet gateway and nothing else, something like IPcop or smoothwall. These will run on allmost anything. I use IPcop myself.

[cmnorton]

This sounds like you have debian or Ubuntu (Linux distributions) installed. It would help to know which. You'll have to go into System --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager, and enable the universal package repository in order to download from that repository.

If this is Ubuntu, which version? Firefox (browser) will give you that on its first screen, unless you altered your home page.

[Embolism]

As they have already stated it wasn`t an original Linux system,probably had a live cd put up its backside and installed on it like knoppix or kanotix.
Would recommend that they download and try kanotix live cd and if it works ok use partition manager in O/s or alternatively try installing original O/s which may result in more issues as they probably haven`t got a Motherboard driver disc for it either.
Blag is also a good Linux distro and easy to install just type blagblagblag on load up to auto configure and install.
There are so many to choose from but would recommend Linux over Debian distros as rpm`s are easier than compiling libs,front-end etc..
Distrowatch might be the ticket for them as they can decide what they want from there,whatever they decide it needs to be simple,preferably a live cd that is bootable,then after it has installed as live cd and user can see if everything works ,when verified it can then be installed to hard drive ,either automatically as with blag or with predefined script as in kanotix.
Remember to go at it as root /admin user or you will chase your own tail.
Good Luck (:^D)

[Embolism]

Gateway computers do not normally ship with Linux to my knowledge, but have done a kanotix install on one successfully, about 6months ago.Dual booted with xp it worked well.