having just tried to install some online updates in 9.3 i keep getting an error message saying cant retreive and install patch.
some are security patches for firefox and some are for other apps.
i changed the online source to another one , but still get the same message
anybody else had a problem

Yes, I have seen this problem on occasions, most recently with Adobe Acrobat Reader which gives an error both on 9.1 and 9.2 when I try to update.

My solution may not be that helpful to you - I am not a big fan of RPM installations at the best of times and only use a distro as I don't have the time (or patience) to build my Linux installation from scratch.

When I encounter problems like this and it's a security patch involved, I tend to remove the offending package and download and install (generally from source) from the original vendor/web site. If it's not a security patch and it's not going to make my system crash, I tend to leave alone.

yes it was the adobe patch along with a couple from firefox.
after days of trying i finally got it to download (not sure what i did)
Ive tried to compile from source but as a newbie ive never had any luck (still learning)

online update problem again.
this time i nnstalled all the security updates but one kept failing grip.
no matter how many times i try it fails.
i tried to uninstall it but that fails as well.
over the last few days iv had loads of problem when trying to install new software . lots of it keeps coming up with a fail message,
i decided to format again and reinstall 9.3.
but that didnt seem solve the problem
any ideas (simple language please im still learning )

just been trying to install software off 9.3 dvd.
failing on everything now

Failing in what way? Error messages would be a help...

You may even have a hardware problem; how old is the machine - especially the hard disc?