Ok, well I am going to give some instructions here for the long way around but you'll be better off for it
first go here:
http://ftp.freshrpms.net/pub/freshrpms/redhat/8.0/apt/
grab this rpm: apt-0.5.5cnc4.1-fr1.20030325a.0.rh80.4.i386.rpm
d/l it to your home dir.
open an x-term and su:
$su
password
#rpm -ivh apt-0.5.5cnc4.1-fr1.20030325a.0.rh80.4.i386.rpm
##################
##################
#apt-get update
#apt-get --purge remove kde
#apt-get install kde
See if it works for you. There will be some promts about weather or not you wish to continue. Just answer: Y
Alternatively, if you wish to not use apt (my recommendation) just use rpm alone. See man rpm for details. Also you may need to get rid of any config files that are hidden in your /home/$username dir. do this:
[bignate@redbox3 bignate]$ ls -a
.gconf .gtkrc-1.2-gnome2 .signature
.. .gconfd .ICEauthority .sylpheed
.bash_history .gnome images .themes
.bash_logout .gnome2 Mail .Trash
.bash_profile .gnome2_private .metacity .viminfo
.bashrc .gnome-desktop .mozilla .Xauthority
.fetchmailrc .gnome_private my-docs .xsession-errors
.fonts.cache-1 .gnupg .nautilus
.galeon .gtkrc .rhn-applet.conf
then remove any files for KDE with:
$rm -r .kde_desktop #note: thiis is an example please refer to above output of ls -a for which fils to actually get rid of.
Now I use gnome but the concept is the same. It may be a corrupted entry in one the config files. Keep them if you can but if after a re-install you still are having crashes I would wipe out those files and then install again. Be warned though if you have done snything in the way of customizing KDE it will no longer be like that after you wipe the config files.
Good Luck and let us know how you make out!