I am trying to install WindowMaker from my Linux CDs (Mandy 9.2) using RPM. This is what I do -

* Check WindowMaker from the list and proceed with the install.
What happens is I do get window maker but lose the others packages and apps that were previously installed.
e.g. Lose OpenOffice, xmms, totem etc. including my customized themes.

This happens with anything new I wish to add to the apps/packages that I chose to install during the installation process.

What am I doing wrong here?

I have to reinstall all of them all over again whenever this happens

HHHEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPP!!! PLEEEEEZ!

I'm not sure that I understood correctly your issue!

You could do a standard installation (for ex. as desktop) and after this install WindowMaker. To do this there are two ways:

1 - in a terminal (as root) type urpmi windowmaker and the tool will do all it's needed to install the packages.

2 - in the GUI open the Mandrake Control Center, come to the software section choose Install and mark WindowMaker to install. The ambient is very intuitive.

Both do the same, the first is better for that who are not afraid from command lines.

Well, I am using the GUI in install the additional packages. It's just that the packages that I select, are installed but the already installed ones go missing. I can't even see the menu icons on the menu. It's that bad.

And then everytime I have had to reinstall linux all over again to get them. It's just a bit frustrating.

The installation CDs I have is essentially the download edition that I have burnt on the CDs. So If i need anything new I just select the packages from the CD and then...disaster.

The selected packages are installed and the the existing are lost.

This is a well know bug in Mandrake 9.2! See:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=143709

May I suggest you to update to Mandrake 10.0?