first of all let me apologize i am total noobie, the rim on my redhat is still so so small...
ok here is what i do
i have a old 400 celeron as my learning linux machine.

i downloaded all three redhat9 shrike iso image files for i386

i burned the images the correct way with nero
i begin to install and everything is running smoothly
i installed the basic (no office or server)
when everything installs fine the system reboots and
i come to a login screen
from the bottom i select session/default and type in root with my password.
then i downloaded the rpm redhat linux manuals from
xxx.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/

i burn it on a cd as is, from my windows machine
i then put the disc in my linux machine and i copy the contents
of the cd to the /root directory
i open the root directory and
i am trying to install a rpm so i
go to the "redhat"(at the bottom of the screen)
then the "run command"
i type in
"rpm -i rhl-ig-x86-en-9-2.noarch.rpm" and
"rpm -ivh rhl-ig-x86-en-9-2.noarch.rpm" without the ""
so nothing happens
then i test another rpm from here:
xxx.updates.redhat.com/6.2/en/os/i386/ghostscript-6.51-16.1.6x.1.i386.rpm
i burn and copy the contents of the cd to the /root directory and open the directory in a new window
open the run command and type in
"rpm -i ghostscript-6.51-16.1.6x.1.i386.rpm" and
"rpm -ivh ghostscript-6.51-16.1.6x.1.i386.rpm" without the ""
and nothing happens
when i go into the /root and i right click try to open with/install package
it says "installation tree not found" the path /mnt/cdrom does not look like a valid installation directory.

arggghh what am i doing wrong i cant seem to install anything
what am i missing, i have searched and searched for days and all the manuals and websites say this should be working...
can anyone help,

BTW, i failed to mention that when i do the rpm command the computer is busy doing something but i get nothing on the screen and nothing changes.
when i click on system settings/add remove programs i get the "installations tree not found" message as above.

it sounds like one of the directories that rpm searches to see what it has to do is incorectly set to /mnt/cdrom when it should be / or /usr i think. Also there is a pretty good chance that docs were installed already or are on the install discs you burned. Now that you are running you shouldnt need to go back to windows just to download a file use mozilla or any other browser on your redhat system.
finnally if you have a new install that is being strange you might as well just reinstall and see if things work out better, but i don't know much about whats going on there so that might not be the best thing.

open up package selection from the menu and see if the docs pakage is on the list. I don't use redhat so im not sure exactly where things are but there is an easy way to install pakages from the cd's, i think it's called "pakage selection"
sorry for being so vauge
let us know what you find out.

i know what is wrong! maybe

open a terminal.
do

cd /root

then run rpm -ivh


when you run a command on a file without the full path ie

file.rpm instead of /root/file.rpm

you must run the command from the dir where the file is.

id say don't ever use the "run command" thing just open a terminal and do it from there.

wow, you guys are great
i have already tried to reistall everything from scratch
but your suggestion did work..i will stay away from the run command and am using the terminal window.. thank you, i can now install packages but i am still getting the cdrom is not a valid installation when i try the add remove programs...but i am a step closer.

it is looking for one of the install discs in the cdrom drive. if there were a disc in there it would then list all the packages on that disc. to install from a file on a hardrive just use rpm from the command line like you did.
have fun