When I installed two distros [Red Hat 8.0 & Mandrake 9.0] I knew "zip" about Linux. So I said "Yes" to just about every package listed during the installation.

I figure install it now, since I don't know how [I still don't] to install it later. As a result I ended up with "multiple versions" of various programs [word processors, browsers, email etc...]

Now, as part of the learning process, I would like to "clean out this mess". For example, I have copies of Mozilla/bookmarks scattered in directories I can't even find. I did learn the "locate" command. I would like to remove all this and install a copy of Firefox and the bookmarks from my Windows version of Firefox.

Problem is, I don't know where to begin. Wish I had a "single listing" of installed programs [similar to Win98SE's Add/Remove Programs] where I could go down the listing "removing" what I don't want.

Can anyone offer any help ??

Linux does not have a direct equivelant...

programs management is handled much more intelligently and complexly under Linux. all programs are registered into a database that helps with dependencies. etc.

What you are looking for is a package manager/rpm manager... Im pretty sure rehat 9 has several installed... unfortuanely the only redhat box I have at my findertips is a fedora... ever distro has slightly differernt package managers... but they all have the same look/feel.

the program I find in fedora is K-package, though they all kinda work the same. when you open it, you can view all the installed programs in a "tree" type of view... right mouse click give you options like "reinstall" "remove" etc...

sirpimpsalot,

Thanks for response, after reading your views I fired up Red Hat [I "normally" log on this forum using Win98SE]. Since I am using version 8.0 I don't have specific files you mentioned, but on the desktop is an icon with the "intriguing label" START HERE !!!

I click on "Start Here" and had to SU to Root mode.
Next a window labeled "System Settings" showed about 20 icons. Such as, Date & Time, Keyboard, Mouse, Printing, etc...
I clicked on the one labeled "Packages"
The next window was titled "Package Management" [exactly what I was looking for !!]
The sub-title was Add or Remove Packages the window included several sub sections.
Desktop - 3 items
Applications - 9 items
Servers - 10 items [not "exactly" sure what servers are !!
Development - 5 items
Systems - 3 items

All these items have boxes next to them [half of which were "checked" and half are not]

I don't recognize the names of most of these items AND being in SU mode I was not about to experiment !!!

This is exactly the "Add/Remove Programs" section I am looking for but I have no idea how to use it !!
This seems to be why I "Can't get started with Linux.

In Mandrake a graphical package manager is rpmdrake.