My machine wants to open streaming audio files with RealPlqayer, which never
worked for ma and I uninstalledit , but it is the only option I can find. I have
other progreams, but can't find them because they are in hidden "." directories
I don't know how to access, and I have no idea how to identify executable files
except that they are NOT calle ...exe

Why do they make it itotally mpossible to find programs???

Part of the change to using Ubuntu involves a change in the way
certain things are done - streaming audio is one of those things that
depends heavily on how the service that's streaming is sending it out
and unfortunately there are some that are locked to Windows and don't
get on well with Linux ( or Mac ). It would help if we knew which
audio streaming service we are talking about as there may be a
work-around.

As for programs - it's easy to find them in Ubuntu once you know, like
a lot of things <lol> All versions of Ubuntu have search methods where
you only need to type in the name of the program you are looking for.
In Ubuntu, click on 'Dash Home' and in Kubuntu click on the 'K' icon
and the search box is in there.

If the program is not there then type the same name into a package
manager to see if it's available for install ( Ubuntu Software Center,
Synaptic Package Manager, Muon Package Manager etc... ).

BTW - It's generally not a good idea to go poking into hidden files
unless you are really sure of what you are doing - same as in Windows
in that respect !! By all means do so if you intend to understand how
Ubuntu is out together but be aware that you can end up needed a clean
install to get out of a serious problem.

Try a different web browser or other audio programs from Synaptic. Plus, other
Linux Distros are an option.

Are you using the latest version of Ubuntu? Some of the streaming video/audio
sources updated and you may need the newer version of some players. I use Puppy
Linux myself and several months ago, I could not play a lot of previously
available streaming videos when I used Slacko, Wary and Lucid puppy Linux, but I
changed to Precise Puppy Linux with a newer kernel. all was well again. So this
might apply to Ubuntu, but I'm not even close to being an expert. But it's easy
enough to download and burn a a CD and try it as a live CD to try out and see if
it makes things easier

After installing Ubuntu, install the "restricted extras," and streaming media
works. I've never needed to know the names of any of the programs.

Programs are generally not in hidden folders, they are in root, often in
/usr/bin.

It makes it easier for people to help you if you mention the exact version of
Linux you have installed. For example, my laptop has Ubuntu 12.04 and Linux Mint
13, my desktop has Xubuntu 12.10 and Linux Mint 13.

try this:

Open terminal e type


sudo -E wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list
http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list && sudo
apt-get --quiet update && sudo apt-get --yes --quiet
--allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get
--quiet update


sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Your frustration is due to not understanding the difference between Linux
and Windows. They have a different history and you cannot apply what you
know about one OS to the other. It works in reverse as well.

Hidden files and folders all begin with a dot. You can find them in your
file manager by using a hot key (it will be Ctrl+H for Ubuntu's Nautilus
file manager and Alt+. for Dolphin used in KDE). Or you can go to the menu
under View, Show Hidden Files.

As for executables. There is either none or all depending on how you look
at it. Unlike Windows you do not need a file suffix at all in most cases.
If a jpg file does not end in .jpg, Linux still knows what it is. Windows
will not. Linux looks at the contents of the file. A .exe suffix would be
useless and extraneous. Files become executable by changing the file
properties. If you right click on the file then it can become executable by
ticking the box on the Permissions tab to say Execute. If it is not meant
to execute ticking the box will be of no help.

You will also see that is can be different for different users and levels.
In some cases this will have to be done as root (admin). In those cases you
will have to open the file manager from a terminal using sudo. Open the
Terminal by typing term.. (it will pop up after a few letters) in the Dash
and it will come up. Type or copy and paste this: sudo nautilus and it will
prompt you for your password. Do not close the terminal till you are done.
Nautilus will open as root and you will have admin privileges and can
browse the root file system and make system changes. This is dangerous for
the unknowledgeable so that is why you need to give your password. Note the
home folder will not be your own, but root's so you will have to click on
home in the ribbon on the left and navigate to the file.

You have also learned another major difference between Linux and Windows.
Linux makes you jump through more hoops, but the trade-off is that you have
more power and security. This is for your protection and convenience once
you get the hang of it.

Linux was built new from the ground up and did not try to copy Windows. So
you will have to re-learn things to avoid future frustrations.

BTW, you seldom need to install a binary file. All installation that most
users will ever need is done by the package manager. One comes with each
distro. Ubuntu use the apt package management system and on the front end
it uses Software Center, but I prefer either issuing commands in the
terminal or using Synaptic (which needs to be installed because it is no
longer a default application). You also do not need to search the internet
for files to install. The come in app stores called repositories and they
are managed and maintained to be virus and malware free. The system used by
Android and the iPad/phone are copied from Linux so if you understand how
to install on them you will quickly pick up how Linux has been doing it for
at least a dozen years graphically and since the beginning from the
commandline.

Don't feel anything is hid. Linux does not use extensions(file type) to
determine if a file is executable as is done with Microsoft products.
This opens up possibilities to developers that are not found with the
expanded DOS platform used in windows.

I like "application finder" when I can't remember the name of an
application. You can find it in the dash (top icon on the launcher bar).
then start typing in the name application finder and it will show up.

We are here to help reduce your frustration as you migrate to Linux, so
ask away as needed. Then as you get stronger with Linux start answering
others questions as you can.

Just to be totally pedantic about it, in a nice way <lol> Every file
on a Windows system is executable ( proof of this is using Linux to
view a Windows HD and checking file permissions, even a simple text
file has the executable bit set ! ) and the extension is a flag to
tell Windows what it's supposed to do with the file when it runs.
Hence the ability to make it try to open something with the wrong
program - i.e. rename an EXE to JPG and it will try to view it as a
picture. Linux would not be fooled by this :-)

Part of the security issues with Windows is this executable property
of every file but to change that would mean a total re-write of the
kernel and that's not going to happen as every program that runs on
Windows would have to be re-written too !