The Ubuntu Software Center is a great way to install packages and applications. It also has a way to purchase applications as well. If you purchased the Humble Indie Bundle they also have added the 5th one to the software center for you to download your games.
If you are running Ubuntu the software center is obviously already installed and it comes in Xubuntu as well, however Kubuntu went the way of the Muon Software Center which is a great utility, but does not connect to the Ubuntu Software Center at all.
So if you want to get all your previous purchases installed there are two ways to do it:
When you purchase something through Ubunutu’s Software center they send you an email with a link to the purchase. This will give you the deb line for your application. I am giving an example of the FREE Command & Conquer game but I blurred my credientials out for security reasons. Click for larger image.
This is just the repository info. After you enter it and get the key you can install the software through the software center or command line using apt-get install if you know the package name (strange enough the site doesn’t provide the package name so the second method for installing is easier).
The second method is to go to File -> Reinstall Previous Purchases and you will be shown all your past purchases. Click on the item, More Info, then install and it will prompt you for your administrative password and install the application.
Now as I said before, this is not installed by default in Kubuntu so we have to get it. You could just run this:
sudo apt-get install software-center
However, this will install all the recommended packages that are basically Gnome packages that are not needed, so run this instead:
sudo apt-get install software-center --no-install-recommends
This will install the Ubuntu Software Center without all the extra stuff that is only used for the Ubuntu Desktop and not Kubuntu.
After that you will be able to get all your previously purchase games and other applications without a hitch… Well, maybe a little glitch here and there. I’ve found the Ubuntu Software Center has a tendency to lock up during installations from time to time, but it runs even though it may take a little time to do it.
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