# Basic installation

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/basic-installation/233851>\
**Category:** GNU Radio\
**Created:** [January 16, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/basic-installation/233851 "2015-01-16T21:03:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![addis\_a](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@addis\_a](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/addis_a)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/basic-installation/233851/1 "2015-01-16T21:03:33Z")

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I just purchased a Ubuntu computer from Micro center to run gnu radio.  
I have never used Linux and I am having a heck of a time installing the  
software. The installation guide on gnu radio says to use the command :

apt-get install gnuradio

I am not able to get to the point where I can do this. I have a  
terminal program open, I have downloaded gnu radio 3.7.5 and extracted  
it into a folder on my lap top. I have navigated to the folder through  
the terminal command but when I type the command above I get a message  
“Unable to lock administration directory”

I am stuck. Can anyone please help? thanks

Brent

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**Author:** ![brent\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brent\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brent_l)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/basic-installation/233851/2 "2015-01-17T01:33:50Z")

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I got my son to come over and help me. The installation page says to  
run a single command. Deeper in the gnu radio website there are more  
instructions. My son followed them and got it running. I do not know  
why the installation page would not point to the other instructions  
because it was certainly much harder than typing a single command (as  
the installation page indicates) haha