How to get Flash Working?

Forum: Multimedia
Topic: How to get Flash Working?
started by: Paperweight

Posted by Paperweight on Aug. 13 2004,20:35

I have reinstalled Firefox, in the /etc/firefox folder. Then I installed the flash plugin in the /etc/firefox/plugin folder. I have the 3 files, flashplayer.xpt, libflashplayer.so, and libnullplugin.so in the plugin folder. IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I'm totaly stuck, firefox wont even detect the extension that I installed.
I tried to make a directory in the etc/firefox/plugins folder called "flashplayer" but I can't figure out how to do it without getting "permission denied"

Somebody please help me a bit!

Posted by ke4nt1 on Aug. 13 2004,21:39

If you use the firefox.tar.gz copy in the repository, it already is flash enabled...

It should install to your /opt directory, not /etc.
Programs like firefox don't belong in /etc..

73
ke4nt

Posted by Paperweight on Aug. 14 2004,20:20

Thanks for the help. I didn't know about the repository before this, so I installed the one off the mozilla website. This was because I somehow lost firefox and a number of other things when I used Synaptic.
Anyways, I couldn't delete the firefox folder from /etc. so I found the repository, and I was going to get firefox but I thought I'd practise installing something simpler first. I download pente, but when I tried to install it to /opt I got a gazillion Permission Denied errors and they kept coming untill my computer completely froze. So I restarted but now I can't get it to start, because there are file system errors!
DOOOH !!!!!!

I'm thinking of getting a book on getting started with linux. Is Debian slower than DSL? Or are they pretty much the same depending on what stuff you have loaded? I'm trying to learn linux but I'm using an old computer so I don't think Knoppix and whatnot will work on it.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Aug. 14 2004,20:51

It would help if you gave us more info about your install...

Are working with a HDInstall, frugal, or liveCD ?

Usually, installing an extension consists of highlighting the
file in your emelfm file manager, and pressing the mydsl button.
It self-installs to the correct location automatically, and adds
itself to your program menu as well..

Fortunately, DSL is so easy to install, or reinstall if you
like to mess around with your installed system...
It's a great way to learn about linux and DSL...

So throw that disc back in , and reinstall..
When you grab an extension from the repository,
copy it to another partition, or some storage device.
Then you'll always have it close by,
and can reinstall it with a single click..

73
ke4nt

Posted by Paperweight on Aug. 14 2004,21:20

Thanks, ya I think I'll stick with DSL for now. I messed up an HD install on a computer that can't boot from the CD. Right now I'm using a temporary computer with the boot CD, while I'm at it I think I'll HD install it again (switched the hard drive.)
Yeah, i just figured out how to use MyDSL. Thats' so cool and easy!

But I read on here that Debain packages sometimes don't work on DSL, (I know they aren't as easy as MyDSL) With my luck it'll probably be the only ones that I want... Do they usually work or is there just a certain type that don't?

Posted by DonttPanic on Aug. 14 2004,21:46

Quote (Paperweight @ Aug. 14 2004,17:20)

You should be able to install Debian packages if you get dsl-dpkg.dsl from the repository

...I think...

Posted by cbagger01 on Aug. 15 2004,03:18

Not all Debian packages will work with DSL, but the VAST majority will work.

Generally, you should have low expectations for any Debian package that uses 3D graphics or modifies the XFree86 XWindows graphics system.

For most of these packages, even if they don't work you can still uninstall them without much trouble.

Just don't try installing XFree86 stuff or doing a dist upgrade and you should be pretty safe.

If you are really concerned, you can do a "test intall" of your Debian package into the ramdisk while running from the liveCD if you can find a computer with 128MB+ memory. 256MB should be good for most tests.

Because you are running from liveCD, if you mess things up all you need to do is turn off the computer and reboot in order to fix things.

Just choose Apps -> Tools -> got memory & bandwidth? -> Synaptic and start trying out packages.

If they work OK then you can do an installation into your hd installed system with a high degree of confidence that it will also work on your hd install.

Good Luck.