When I try to use the install cd's to install any additional packages, I always end up with the error message "error installing packages".

For example, I'm trying to install emacs, because I did not install it during the main install process. Here's what happens:

1. I go to system settings > add remove programs
2. I choose to install emacs, and press update
3. It makes me wait for a little bit, the progress bar moves, then it asks me to insert cd 3.
4. When I insert the cd it prompts me for, everything stops and it says "error installing packages" and just exits.

This happens no matter what I'm trying to install.

Try using the command line. Usually it is a little more informative when something goes wrong. Just use the rpm command:

To install a new package:
rpm -ivh packagename.rpm

To update a package if older version is already installed:
rpm -Uvh packagename.rpm

If you don't see any of the normal errors like package dependencies, then your rpm database is probably screwed up. In that case you might have to rebuild the database using: rpm --rebuilddb

It's not all rpms that won't install, its only the ones from that package manager interface that redhat comes with. I've download and installed many rpms with no problem..

Anyway, I found the rpms I want to install the cd, and I tried installing them manually..

Now, I did really get that error with emacs, but what I'm really trying to install is kde.

So I did rpm -ivh for all the kde packages and I get a few dependency errors that I don't know what to do about:

libsensors.so.1 is needed by kdebase-3.1-12
lm_sensors is needed by kdebase-3.1-12
libglut.so.3 is needed by kdegraphics-3.1-4

BTW, I also tried rpm --rebuilddb and that gave me the error "error: db4 error(16) from dbenv->remove: Device or resource busy"

Thanks for your help.

If you're getting dependency errors, then you're going to have to install those packages first before you install the kde packages. As a fair warning, there are alot of packages for kde, so you might get even more misssing dependecies when you try and install those 3 missing packages. It's probably a good idea to go the the kde website and read through the how-to.

Also you can't install kde while you are using kde, so you'll have to kill the Xserver and install via the command line or from Gnome. Might want to do a reboot to clear any hung rpm processes as well.

First, I am currently gnome, so installing kde shouldn't be a problem.

The dependency errors I get are confusing me, though. They're not just missing packages... they're like missing parts of packages.

For example, when trying to install the rpm for the gaim-applet (an applet for gnome's panel) I get this dependency error:

libpanel_applet.so.0 is needed by gaim-applet-0.59.9-1

And when I search for libpanel_applet.so.0 on any rpm site (or in google) all I can find is that libpanel_apple.so.0 is provided by a larger package, called gnome-core. There seem to be lots of different versions around, and I'm hesitant to install the whole gnome-core rpm just for libpanel_applet.so.0.

What if I install an older version of gnome-core that I should..? Is there a risk of messing up my gnome install?

Should I just go ahead and install the gnome-core rpm because it provides libpanel_applet.so.0 which I need?

Thanks again for all your help!

i presume that they are spleleing mistakes in libpane_apple etc....

to .59 version of gaim is still based around gtk / gnome version 1, which you presumably won't have installed. you should have gtk version 1 installed for an awful lot of applications, but you'll most likely only have gnome 2 installed. afaik gaim 0.59 gaim applet won't work in gnome 2 at all, as it's a fundamentally different program. try using the 0.60 beta branch instead

Well I just upgraded to gaim 0.6 cause it was released, but I was using 59.8 and 59.9 with no problem before that.

Yes, those are spelling mistakes, I fixed them now.

I think that the 0.59 applet should work even though I'm using gnome 2.. I'm just afraid to install the gnome-core rpm that I know will provide me with libpanel_applet.so.0