GNU Alternatives

How To Install Your New Software

Below you will find all of the directions necessary to install your new software. I am assuming that you know the letter for your CD-ROM drive. (For most people this will be your "D" drive.) For each program you will need to press your Start button on the Windows taskbar and select Run (fig. 1). You will then type the given command for each program you want to install (fig. 2 uses AbiWord for the example). Clicking on either of the figure will show the full size image.

Figure 1

Figure 1: Locating Run on the Start Menu

Figure 1

Figure 2: The Run Dialog


MS Layer for Unicode

When installing some of the software below, you may get an error about needing unicows.dll. This is a special dll (Dynamically Linked Library -- A way of sharing code in Windows) used by may of the open source programs.


To install Unicows:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\unicows where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the self-extractor.
  2. When asked where to extract the files, use something convenient, like your Desktop.
  3. Move unicows.dll, unicows.pdb and unicows.sym to your windows directory.
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AbiWord

To install AbiWord, you will need to install the core program (AbiWord itself), and a small dictionary file used for the spelling checker. I have included the US English dictionary, if you require any other dictionaries, you can get them at the AbiWord Website.

How to Install AbiWord:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\abiword\setup.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow the directions during the installer. Take note of where you have installed AbiWord, it will be needed when you go to install the dictionaries. Be default, it will be installed at C:\Program Files\AbiSuite\AbiWord

How to Install the Dictionary:

  1. The dictionary file needs to go into the dictionary sub-directory of your AbiSuite Directory. If you installed AbiWord to the default directory, then that would be C:\Program Files\AbiSuite\dictionary. If you chose a different directory to install Abiword, then the dictionary directory will be at [X:\PATH\TO\THE\ABISUITE\DIRECTORY]\dictionary.
  2. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\abiword\abispell-en-us.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the self-extractor.
  3. Check that the "Extract to:" line is the location of your dictionary directory as mentioned in step one, then click on the "Start" button inside the dialog box.
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CDex

How to Install CDex:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\cdex\setup.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow the directions during the installer.
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Mozilla Firebird

Mozilla Firebird is designed to run without the need of an installer. This is great because it allows you to run the Firebird on a computer, even if you are not allowed to install software on that computer. In general, you will extract the files to a convenient location, and then run then MozillaFirebird program.

How to Install Mozilla Firebird:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\mozilla\firebird.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the self-extractor.
  2. By default, all files will be extracted to C:\Program Files\MozillFirebird. You may change this if you wish.
  3. If you did not change the above directory, then Windows Explorer will open displaying the C:\Program Files\MozillFirebird directory. You can then click on the MozillaFirebird icon.
  4. If you want to create a shortcut on your desktop for Mozilla Firebird, right click on the Mozilla Firebird icon, then click on "Send to: -> Desktop". See Screenshot
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Mozilla Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is designed to run without the need of an installer. This is great because it allows you to run the Thunderbird on a computer, even if you are not allowed to install software on that computer. In general, you will extract the files to a convenient location, and then run then MozillaThunderbird program.

How to Install Mozilla Thunderbird:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\mozilla\thunderbird.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the self-extractor.
  2. By default, all files will be extracted to C:\Program Files\MozillThunderbird. You may change this if you wish.
  3. If you did not change the above directory, then Windows Explorer will open displaying the C:\Program Files\MozillThunderbird directory. You can then click on the MozillaThunderbird icon.
  4. If you want to create a shortcut on your desktop for Mozilla Thunderbird, right click on the Mozilla Thunderbird icon, then click on "Send to: -> Desktop". See Screenshot
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The GIMP

Installing The GIMP will be a 3 step process. Before you can install The GIMP, you will need to install GTK+. GTK+ is a multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. The GIMP uses it to help create its window interfaces. Then you can Install The GIMP. Last you will want to install the plug-in pack to expand GIMP's functionality.

How to Install GTK+:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\gimp\gtk-setup.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow directions from the installer dialog.

How to Install The GIMP:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\gimp\gimp-setup.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow directions from the installer dialog.

How to Install The GIMP's Plug-in Pack:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\gimp\plugin-pack.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow directions from the installer dialog.
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OpenOffice

How to Install OpenOffice:

Installing OpenOffice is really simple, but if you want to check out more in-depth directions, check out the 79 page Setup Guide[pdf file]

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\openoffice\setup.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow the directions during the installer.
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Zinf

How to Install Zinf:

  1. In the Run Dialog, type D:\apps\zinf\setup.exe where D is the letter of your CD-ROM driver. This will begin the installer.
  2. Follow the directions during the installer.
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