As stated, I"m a newbie and am having an extreme time installing xine. I've downloaded the xinelib and a front end as per directed from freshmeat but i'm not having much success with the install. I've gotten as far as unpacking the files to home/xine. I even made the changes recommended if something like that was done and still coming up against a wall. I'm really trying to wean myself away from windows for my entertainment and all else. Again, if anyone can help or direct me to more concise, maybe easier install instructions, I'd be much obliged.

i assume that you downloaded the source for xine in a .tar.gz file format and then unpacked it?

in the folder should be a configure script and a makefile; so you can build xinelib and the frontend (in the separate untarred folder)

./configure
make
su (enter root password)
make install
exit


do this for the frontend; depending on the frontend, you will execute a certain command to run xine (normally running the command xine or gxine will work)

Again I thank-you for your help and patience. As always linux/unix rules the world. And I enjoyed that cd backwards thing..I'll have to try that...lol.

Give us a little more info here =)
You're trying to compile from source right, walk us through what you have done.

Quick and dirty install directions. install Xine-lib FIRST.
cd xine-libxxxxxxx (whatever the directory you unpacked it into)
./configure
make
su root
make all install

repeat for xine-ui

Also I'm assuming you have all the requirements installed already (zlib, libpng, aalib, gtk 2.0)