[NTLUG:Discuss] New to the list and to Linux

[Wayne Dahl]

Hi all.

I'm new to this list and am brand new to Linux.  In fact, I'm new to any of 
the nix's.  I know just enough Unix to be dangerous.  I'm learning though.

To give you some background, I have an old copy of Red Hat 5.2 I've 
installed on an old Compaq Presario using the book that came with the 
package, P120 with 2.3 Gigs of hard drive space, a SCSI Jaz drive, 
currently running AfterStep (not sure of the version number, it came with 
the Red Hat package).  I believe the kernal version is 2.0.36.

Most of the system is working.  I can't get the CD player (XPlayCD) to do 
anything at all and can't seem to find the configuration file for it, but 
the CD-Rom reads program discs ok.

Here's the thing.  I'm trying to run Glint and when I attempt to install a 
package, I get an error that says "failed to open 
//var/lib/rpm/packages.rpm".  If I attempt to install a package using rpm 
-ivh filename, I get the same error message.  What am I doing wrong?  I 
know the file package.rpm is there.

So...please be gentle with this Linux virgin.  :)

Thanks,
Wayne