I just switched over to linux (mandrake 10.0) from windows XP and I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how to install stuff. That really isnt the problem actually, here is what is wrong:

First some background: I have installed linux on several computers before but they weren't promary boxes they were just there for me to screw around with. I've since moved to linux as my primary pc and I'm pretty much lost.

Here is my problem:
Whenever I try to install xmms for example, here is what I get when using the ./configure command.

configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log' for more details.


I assume that means I am missing a C compiler or I didn't install it. I looked at the config.log file and it was all greek to me.

What should I do?

install gcc from your distro cd's.

I just did and now it will go further but stop in other places. It said I needed to install glib 1.2.2 so I installed 1.2.9 and then it said that 1.2.10 was already installed... WTF?

I would install programs from the cd or use urpmi.If you want to compile you might want to look at another distro.

How else am I supposed to do it? There are no rpms listed on their website.

I've been trying to install xine and xmms for the last 3 hours and haven't gotten anywhere.

ok, heres what to do.

1. click on the start button ( the star icon at lower left )
2. Select System> Configuration > Configure your computer
3. Select Software management
4. Select Install to install from cd's.
5. go to http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/ and add more sources.
6. enjoy

an xmms rpm should be on one of the distro cds also. i'm pretty sure it was. i've been jumping from distro to distro lately but i'm pretty sure.

and please... this isn't a dumb question... but it is a dumb title... please try to me a bit more thoughtful when naming threads.

just install everything it says to.