Alright so I installed slackware (11.0 I think) months ago on an old ibm laptop and then left it alone as my highly knowledageble in the ways of linux brother did not want to sit there and show me every little thing. so now i am trying to figure it out on my own with my bf whos forte is windows but still knows more than i do about linux. He set up the sound and the internet. So all we use this for is internet and watching streaming movies.

Now on to the help....I don't know how to mount the cdrom (i have a cdrw dvdrom if it makes a difference)or how to install pkgs (all the tutorials are for pkgs ending in .tgz and the pkg i want to install ends in .tar) and i also like to use my ipod as a portable hard drive but dont know how to find it when i plug it into the computer.

So....if you could answer any of my questions or point me in the right direction it would really help me.

To mount the cdrom, in a terminal you type:
mount /cdrom
The .tar extension means that the file is archived. To extract the files from the archive you type
tar xvf filename.tar

Hi.
If you don't want to open a console every time when you need to mount a cdrom or other device, use konqueror. This is the filemanager of KDE. In konqueror there are service tabs on the left of the screen. Search for the System tab, and there the Storage Media section (check this screenshot I found with google). With that you can mount/umount your devices in a very easy way. I think you will see there your iPod too.

And one more thing: next time when you start a new thread, please give a more specific subject, not like "Need help!!!". At the new thread form, you can see the next description on the left:
I think it tells what you need to know.
Oh, one more thing: Welcome to LQ!
Thanks.