As a "newbie", one of the things that intrigue me about my otherwise excellent Mandrake 10 / Gnome combo is where do all the rpm's I download and try to install go to?

As an example, I just downloaded a folder called msfonts-1.2.1-1. src.rpm
I double clicked it, entered my root password and was asked what I'd like to do with it. I clicked the install tab and that was the end of that. Literally! There is no trace of the files anywhere on the hardf drive. This has happened with all the rpm's I try to open except for two, namely Real Player and a Fax to Email program.

I have pretty much given up on installing anything on Mandrake. I've tried using all kinds of commands in the Run command and terminal whatsits. So apart from using Linux as a safe way to surf the web, (much appreciated!) I am regrettably spending most of my time back in MS Windows where installing and tracking down stuff and most other things - for me at least - is so very easy.

"As an example, I just downloaded a folder called msfonts-1.2.1-1. src.rpm
I double clicked it, entered my root password and was asked what I'd like to do with it. I clicked the install tab and that was the end of that. Literally! There is no trace of the files anywhere on the hardf drive. "

Every program is suppied as two packages, a source package and a binary package. You should be installing the binary package. Instead of installing msfonts-1.2.1-1.src.rpm you should install msfonts-1.2.1-1.rpm.

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Steve Stites

Steve you are amazing!
I downloaded the msfonts-1.2.1-1.noarch.rpm file and it installed perfectly. The new fonts are all there where they should be in Mandrake Control Center > Fonts.
Many, many thanks'
John

You may want to clean up your system now. Unless you have large empty HD.

Thanks Emerson, but how does this comment relate to my post?
Would the "src.rpm" files have installed anyway? As I said in original post, there was no indication they had installed and I could find them nowhere on my hard drive.
I shall of course be cleaning out the other "src.rpm" downloads I previously tried to install.

John

You do not need src files unless you are going to compile binaries yourself. You probably installed all those source files and they are residing on your hard disk now. You should use the Mandrake package manager - whatever it is called - and remove the unnecessary packages.