Installing XFree86-4.3.0-42.src.rpm
 

When I try to install XFree86-4.3.0-42.src.rpm It acts al though it has installed. I do not get any error messages and everything appears to be in order. However, when trying to install something that requires XFree86-4.3.0-42.src.rpm I get an error message saying that I need to install it.

that's not a binary rpm. it's a source rpm -> *.src.rpm

to build a binary rpm that will install xfree, use the command:

rpm --rebuild *.src.rpm

then click on the built *.rpm file to install xfree.

Thanks, I think it worked, but I got the following error, so I am not sure

Bad exit status from /var/tmp/rpm-tmp.62911

any idea what that means?

When you install a src.rpm, you get a minimun of two files installed; more if there are patch files in the src.rpm. The location of the installation varies among the distros. To find yours, open a terminal and do 'locate SPECS' (without quotes). That is where the src.rpm will install the spec file which will build the new binary rpm. Then 'locate SOURCES). That is where the src.rpm will install the source tarball and patch files. To build a new rpm, cd to the SPECS directory, and, as root, issue the command 'rpm -bb <filename>.spec'. -bb tells rpm to build (-b) and binary (b) rpm. Substitute the filename of the spec file for <filename>. When it's all done cranking, you will have a new, installable rpm in the RPMS directory, in one of the subfolders, which you can install (unless more errors crop up).
See the manpages on rpm for more info on building rpms.