After mucking around with a few distros I decided it was time to get serious and get rid of Windows.
In finally settled on Fedora 10 (64 bit edition) which I installed successfully on my Toshiba laptop from the install DVD.
I have been having problems with access to my Windows network coming and going, and finding a driver for my Brother printer.
I think I have a handle on these, that is until this happened.
I was trying to add KDE when my internet connection dropped out.
Now when I try to update or download software I've started getting a message about an internal error having occured.
My question is how do I fix this?
Following is the detail:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/share/PackageKit/helpers/yum/yumBackend.py", line 407, in _get_available_from_names
pkgs = self.yumbase.pkgSack.searchNames(names=name_list)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/__init__.py", line 627, in <lambda>
pkgSack = property(fget=lambda self: self._getSacks(),
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/__init__.py", line 470, in _getSacks
self.repos.populateSack(which=repos)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/repos.py", line 251, in populateSack
sack.populate(repo, mdtype, callback, cacheonly)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 162, in populate
if self._check_db_version(repo, mydbtype):
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 220, in _check_db_version
return repo._check_db_version(mdtype)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1144, in _check_db_version
repoXML = self.repoXML
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1307, in <lambda>
repoXML = property(fget=lambda self: self._getRepoXML(),
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1299, in _getRepoXML
self._loadRepoXML(text=self)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1282, in _loadRepoXML
return self._groupLoadRepoXML(text)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1273, in _groupLoadRepoXML
if self._commonLoadRepoXML(text):
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1114, in _commonLoadRepoXML
if self._latestRepoXML(local):
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 1092, in _latestRepoXML
repomd = self.metalink_data.repomd
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 651, in <lambda>
metalink_data = property(fget=lambda self: self._getMetalink(),
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/yumRepo.py", line 647, in _getMetalink
self._metalink = metalink.MetaLinkRepoMD(self.metalink_filename)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/yum/metalink.py", line 184, in __init__
raise MetaLinkRepoErrorParseFail, "File $s does not exist" $filename
MetaLinkRepoErrorParseFail: File //var/cache/yum/fedora/metalink.xml does not exist

Probably wasn't user error. RPM revocation can occur, and I've tried to update repositories, and literally downloaded an uninstaller.

If you're concerned, and have sensitive data, then I'd suggest APT on CD.
Which will allow you to burn to media a mirror copy of your installation after you've configured it the way you want, and got it stable.

All it takes is one little redirect or disgruntled employee to achieve a corrupt install.

Thanks for the tip.
I realise the error of my ways. Enabled Rawhide when I shouldn't have.
Decided to do a reinstall rather than muck around for hours. Up and running again and close to having everything working properly.
Once I'm there I'll do what you suggested and back up the installation.
Thanks again,
Rev

rawhide is the NEW version , in this case fedora 11 .
also you do not want to turn on the *-testing.repo's
except for the first/second update the testing repos have some bug fixes in them .
if something is not working run
---
yum -enablerepo=u*g update
---
to see if any of these will fix it .

Thanks for that!
Rev