I'm using RH 8.0 and I have GNOME and KDE installed and I've used each one by using switchdesk.

my question is when i look in gnome-help for instance it talks about a "advanced preference tools" that I don't seem to have. It says go to "Desktop Preferences" menu and pull down "Applications -> Preferences -> Advanced" But I don't even have a "desktop Preferences" menu item in the red hat start menu or anywhere else I can see.

Basically what I want to know is where are the gui tools and config files for these programs located. thanks a bunch.

from a console, type "redhat-config-" then hit tab. you'll see a dozen or more config commands (all that launch GUI's)