I am trying to install mplayer within MAndrake 9.

I extract all the files from the MPlayer-0.90pre10.tar.bz2 file into a MPlayer-0.90pre10.tar.bz2 dir. I then open up a console and in that dir type ./configure and I get this error "help/help_mp-en.h not found"

I tried to download the rpm but when I click on them they ask me with what program would I like to open them with.

I tried to download the rpm form RedHat but it asks me to open them up with Rpm? Do I have to have RedHat to use rpms? I looked at the HOWTO that came with Mandrake but it doesnt answer the question?

There is no such thing as Mplayer problems. That's like Military Intelligence, and Fast Mustangs, these things just don't exist

I think you might be a little confused Bob, when you untar or bunzip a bz2 file, it will create a sub folder of something like:
MPlayer-0.90pre10/

You would then cd into that, then run ./configure with all the options you want to include. To make sure you are in the correct directory before running a configure script, you might wanna see if there is a README or INSTALL file to read, so ls the directory and if you see one, then open with your favorite text editor and make sure it's the Mplayer directory and not PixieCrayola1.1.a/ or something like that

Cool

Sounds like you dont have all the headers you need. Go with the RPM

If you're using Mozilla to DL the RPMs, it should ask what program to open it with OR you can click on "Save this file to disk". You can also right click on the link and select "Save Link Target As".
Hope this helps, mplayer is a great program!

Mandrake is based on RH and can handle RPMs just fine. (Well, most of the time!)

Mandrahe 9 versions can be found here:
ftp://plf.chem.yorku.ca/pub/plf/9.0/i586/

OK I saved the file in my documnets dir and opened bash and typed "tar xvfz rpm-4.1.i386.tar.gz" It looked like it listed a bunch or dir then stopped. IS Rpm installed now and if it is how do I run it?

no, you are misunderstanding what you've been told. you do not need to install rpm itself, you jsut want to install AN rpm of mplayer... in a console just run...

rpm -ivh mplayer.blah.rpm

it's better to install from tar.gz though, but i'd leave that for now. search the site fo more info on source installs if you want to.

Ok I downloaded and untared? the gb2 file.

Changed dir to Mplayer 0.90pre10

typed ./ then su for root access. I then typed make and when thats done I type install? Also the dir that I am in now is just a temp dir. The program itself is in the /usr/bin dir and sub-dir so once it is done I can delete the dir right.

THanks for your help. There is a big learning curve.

you can delete that directory, but it's best not to, incase you want to change the configuration / features of the program, or remove it. the standard procedure for source installs is:

./configure
make
make install

you say you type ./ ? that will do absolutley nothing.

Ok it is making and installing. To run Mplayer I type "MPlayer movie1" were movie1 is the name of the player?

Again thanks for your help?

yes, check the mplayer manpage and site documentation for any further usage queries

No caps though, just:
mplayer -vo xv /path/to/file/filename.avi

And from there, as acid said, the manpage has a plethora of info.

Cool