need help learning to install programs using mandrake
 

i am using mandrake and i do not know how to install programs i download off the internet if someone could help me that would be great

Firstly, set up urpmi sources.

Go to one of the easy urpmi sites such as http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/ and follow the instructions. Choose a source for main and contributions, also for PLF Free & Non-Free.

Then installation of an rpm file that you have downloaded can be carried out in several ways:
1. as root, type 'urpmi /directory/containing/filexxx.rpm
or
2. click on it in e.g. konqueror, a password request will pop up, put in root password.
or
3. in the menu, go to System >> Configuration >> configure your computer >> install software. Then choose the application you want to install, click on install.

Whenever possible, use applications configured for Mandriva, use sites like rpmfind.net if they aren't on the mandriva or PLF mirrors

Kwacka is right, packages are definitely the way to go.

However sometimes you'll want to install a program that isn't available as a package for your system, or you're just plain curious as to what to do with that file you just downloaded. Feel free to ignore this section, it's purely supplementary and you can get by just fine without it. Linux programs usually come as source code, in what's called a tarball (.tgz or .tar.gz extension). There are several steps to building this:

1. Extract the source code. This is equivalent to unzipping something in Windows, and is done with the tar utility:
   Code:

   ---

   $ tar xzf file_you_just_downloaded.tar.gz

   ---

2. Configure the software. Now you've unpacked the sources, you should have a new directory (usually called {program}-{version}). Change into it, and run
   Code:

   ---

   $ ./configure

   ---

   This tells the program to inspect your system and find out what kind of environment it's going to be running in, so it can set itself up for your computer. Background note: Another reason to build from source is that you have unusual requirements. If you wish to tweak exactly what's going to be installed, you'd usually do it by passing arguments to the ./configure command. If you're curious, typing './configure --help' will usually display a list of available options - and it will be long and complex-sounding...
   
3. Build the software. This is the biggie. After configuring, you're ready to convert the text-based source files into executable code that'll run on your computer. This is as simple as typing
   Code:

   ---

   $ make

   ---

   and remembering not to be put off by the scary-looking output whizzing past on the screen. After a while (could be up to an hour for a large program on a mediocre PC, but it'll normally be a few minutes or less) the messages will stop and you're back at the prompt. If there were no error messages just before the end, then congratulations, the program is built!
   
4. Install the software. This last step isn't technically essential, but it moves various files into places where your distribution expects to find them - things like docs, the executable itself and man files. This has to be done as root (because of permissions on the folders) so
   Code:

   ---

   $ su
Enter password: {enter your root password}
# make install

   ---

   And there you have it - your program should now be installed!
5. (Optional) Add the program to your menus. Occasionally programs will add themselves to your window manager's menus, but often you'll have to do it yourself. The details on how to do this vary, so I won't go into them here (In KDE try 'kappfinder', GNOME appears to have 'gnome-menu-editor', and if you're running something else you probably know how to do it already!). I bring this up only so that you know, if you can't see it on a menu it doesn't mean it's not installed!

Hopefully that hit the right pitch of complexity. I did google for a nice beginner's HOWTO on compiling from source, but couldn't find one. If anyone knows of one, feel free to post it here as it's probably better than something I knocked up in 20 minutes!

thanks now that i installed the program (gaim)how do i find it on my hard drive and run it?

First, if you're using KDE check its not already in the menu (under Internet) if its not Follow step 5 in Dtsazza's post above, or in aterminal window type 'update-menus' , or type 'gaim'