New 'Linuxer' asking for help.

To whom ever can help me with this. I am totally new to Linux and want to move away from Windows altogether and after a few tries with other distros with disappointing experiences I was pleasantly surprise with Zorin so far. Here are my questions...for now.

1- How does one install a program and execute it thereafter from the available software packages offered within the system. This is confusing as once I click on 'install' it just puts it in the 'Download' folder so basically it is not installed. In any case, even when I go and click on the installation file a pop up appears informing it is not an executable file blablabla...and this has happened a number of times so either I am doing something wrong or something peculiar is going on. Also, how in general does one install a compatible Linux program once downloaded from elsewhere on the net as there is no indication where the 'exe' file (or whatever else is called in Linux language) is.

2- Where is the equivalent of the ''Programs' folder on Zorin or a Linux system in general to view and or execute my installations.

I really want to like/work with/keep Zorin but there are a few stumbling blocks ahead from not only my perspective but also from those whom I suggested this promising OS to. Of course my brain is expecting a Windows like experience out of Zorin by how close the resemblance is, to my eyes at least, but is clearly not the case being a different OS so any guidance would be appreciated.

xectis, hi welcome to the world of linux. a few weeks ago i felt the same way. click on the z button in the lower left corner of your screen. a menu will appear. move curser up to a line saying all applications, click it. another menu will appear, run your curser over the menu list, each item will open another list. now find the menu item saying software center, click it and a menu appears which tells you which programs you have installed, and you can add thousands of programs in the catalog. after a program is installed, a message will tell you where in the list of
menu's shown with the Z button, the new program is placed.
from the Internet, if you are downloading microsoft programs you cannot run them unless you use "WINE" or PLAY IT ON LINUX".
from the Internet, if you are downloading linux programs you double click item in download file, a pop up will appear to decompress or place into a file.
also you should go to youtube and type in Linux. most of your questions can be answered here on the forum or youtube

1 - You do one of the following:

a) download a pckage (such as *.deb for a Debian-based distro, which is where Zorin OS is from, so you would use these)
b) download source code and compile it from source.
c) use the "Software Center" (or the Synaptic Package Manager) - Using one of these is your ideal option because when you use this method vs. a stand-alone downloaded *.deb file or from source, the programs don't get updated automatically like they do when you install them from the Software Center or via the Synaaptic Package Manager.

2 - FHS. The File Hierarchy System is what Linux uses. Most installed programs reside in /bin and sometimes /opt

Download these as they may be of help to you getting started in the world of Linux.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... r-Pack.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... -Linux.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... -Linux.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... mmands.doc
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... Layout.txt
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... layout.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... erence.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... Manual.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... erence.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/914191/install- ... de-1.1.pdf

Thank you to both bobbypin57 and Obsidian1723 for the kind info. I will try all suggestions, digest and 'decipher' all this new stuff.
There is always ReactOS for comfort land...lol

As a passing note...if only BeOS hadn't mismanaged their finances and a certain you know who OS company hadn't thrown the final sucker punch we'd have another formidable alternative OS.

I am aware of Haiku and the now defunct Zeta but as you said there's a lot of work still to be done. Not sure how much of BeOS remains in Haiku but I guess the present is where things are at.

Linux for the most part is very different from windows ... in MOST (not all) cases you can't get a program install with one command or a few clicks of the mouse ...

for new users I would recommend just looking up the name of a program that does what you want in linux ... like if you wanted a network kvm ....look up "Ubuntu network KVM" [we look up ubuntu cause the zorin is based off of ubuntu with alot of extra features]

then after you have the name of the program you would like to install [in my case synergy]

click the "Zorin Menu Button" then click on "Ubuntu Software Center" go to the top right search bar and type in your program name [in my case synergy]
and it will show you a list of packages related to the search ...
and you pick and choose which ones you would like to install

of you don't find it in the "Ubuntu Software Center" try this
click the "Zorin Start Menu" then click on "Control Center" and click on "Synaptic Package Manager" and type the name of the program in the "Quick filter"

hope this helps, and Welcome to the Linux world ... (P.S. there is not going back, you'll get used to this and realize Windows is c***)