I've installed rh 9 linux last night, and so far all went well... i've installed pretty much everything i needed... all but an avi/divx player.

i've tried xine, mplayer and i can't even remember what else... but all seem to claim there's a problem with my X11.
although i was sure i've installed it (and checked to make sure, and i did) i tried to install again, which didn't really help.

it occured to me that it might have something to do with my video card, which wasn't recognized by rh when i installed it (SiS 661 onboard card), so i tried to install the driver from winischhofer.at

X -version brings up:
XFree86 Version 4.3.0 (Red Hat Linux release: 4.3.0-2.90.55)
Release Date: 15 August 2003
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.6
Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.21-2.ELsmp i686 [ELF]
Build Date: 12 February 2004
Build Host: ########

Before reporting problems, check ##########
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.4.20-31.9smp (#############) (gcc version 3.2.2 20030222 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.2-5)) #1 SMP Thu Mar 13 17:45:54 EST 2003

I can't persume to understand what's going on, or why i can't get any of the programs to work...

I certainly could use your help...

RH9 is depreciated and the software is massively out of date.
You use XFree86 when everyone else is using XOrg.
2.4.21 kernel when everyone else is well ahead, even on the 2.4 tree.
A legacy version of mplayer may install?

To solve all your problems, upgrade to FC4.

However - have you seen www.mjmwired.net
I think there is still a post-install config for RH9 there, as well as instructions to install mplayer.

Installing multimedia is non trivial so without exact information, more help is not possible. (There are just so many things to go wrong.)

Thanx a lot...

Kinda explains why i've had to upgrade rpms on rpms since i've installed...
I'll give it a shot

That's right - when that happens, you are better off with a completely new installation. FC4 will still have updates, but at least you can use yum for that.