i have downloaded the recommended version of forge installer but all it shows is a .jar file. it says that i need to extract and everything and when i look up how to install forge, it tells me that i just click on it and run it and it should be on my desktop.

you just double click the jar and it should run the installer. you can also right-click and then click open.

in the installer select install client, and click Ok

and that should be it

 

you need to have open Minecraft in the version you're trying to install at least once too

i learned what i need, i didnt have java installed for whatever reason, i had minecraft, just not java. thank you though.