deb file installation

[jerrybee]

Happy Labor Day.
Last night I downloaded the latest version of nerolinux from the nero site. I tried to install it in Mint using the command line "dpkg -i <filename.deb>" and received an error message saying "<filename.deb> is not a debian format archive". This morning I tried the same thing while in Debian -- got the same error message.
I can't imagine Nero putting a .deb file on their site that isn't a legit deb archive, but I also don't see any way to get tech support at that site for nerolinux.
Am I doing something wrong? Overlooking something? Assuming something that I shouldn't be? Suggestions please.
As an aside to this: I thought about trying to use Synaptic to install the .deb file, but don't know how to tell Synaptic to work on the file on my hard drive. I assume it's a matter of adding a new "repository", but don't know how to add, say, a "downloads" subdirectory to the repository list. How is that done?
TIA.
Jerry

[Husse]

I would not be surprised if some company did not manage to make a .deb file
Have tried to doubleclick it? Should start installation, but I suspect you get the same error
If you try

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 dpkg --unpack

what happens?
Move to an empty folder just in case

[scorp123]

I tried to install it in Mint using the command line "dpkg -i <filename.deb>" and received an error message saying "<filename.deb> is not a debian format archive".

Why don't you use the 'file' utility to find out what it is?

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file suspiciousfileinquestion.deb

... that would spit out what file type you're dealing with regardless what the file extension says, the 'file' utility takes a look inside and will most of the time correctly guess the real tile type.

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file hosts.deny
hosts.deny: ASCII English text

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file serenity_screenlets_GlossyP_screenshot.jpg
serenity_screenlets_GlossyP_screenshot.jpg: JPEG image data, JFIF standard 1.01

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file contivity-vpn.deb
contivity-vpn.deb: Debian binary package (format 2.0)

Try it on the file you downloaded.

[scorp123]

If you try

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 dpkg --unpack

what happens?

'dpkg' has already complained that the file isn't a *.deb file, so this operation too will most likely fail. Besides: we don't even know what file type we're really dealing with.

[Husse]

unpack was th only thing I could come up with

[jerrybee]

Why don't you use the 'file' utility to find out what it is?

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file suspiciousfileinquestion.deb

... that would spit out what file type you're dealing with regardless what the file extension says, the 'file' utility takes a look inside and will most of the time correctly guess the real tile type. serenity_screenlets_GlossyP_screenshot.jpg
serenity_screenlets_GlossyP_screenshot.jpg: JPEG image data, JFIF standard 1.01[/code]

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file contivity-vpn.deb
contivity-vpn.deb: Debian binary package (format 2.0)

Try it on the file you downloaded.

I tried using "file" on it and it returned "data" , whatever that means.

I also tried using dpkg --unpack and that didn't yield anything.

Also tried the double-click and that produced a window saying "Could not open <filename>. The package might be corrupted or you are not allowed to open the file. Check permissions of the file." I checked permissions and it's mine.

I'd thought about the possibility of it being a bad file, but thought "No, Nero wouldn't put a faulty file on their web site to be made available to the world". I've sent an email to a generic address at Nero and received an email saying they'd received it, so maybe someone will take note and check into the validity of the file -- I truly hope so.

Thanks to those who responded. Does anyone have a suggestion to the last part of my plea for help, re: adding a repository of a local subdir to Synaptic?

[jerrybee]

I would not be surprised if some company did not manage to make a .deb file
Have tried to doubleclick it? Should start installation, but I suspect you get the same error
If you try

Code: Select all

 dpkg --unpack

what happens?
Move to an empty folder just in case

Sorry, I didn't give a good answer to your suggestion in my previous submission. Using dpkg --unpack responded with an error message much like I'd seen before, "dpkg-deb: <filename> is not a debian format archive" .
So, it would appear that the file is at fault, not me, in my newbie nakedness. Hopefully Nero will place a correct file on their web site soon, and I'll be able to set up DVD-burning of video files soon in Linux.

[Husse]

Download again - the file could have been corrupted during download.