LinuxQuestions.org - synaptic wont start

hi friends,

I installed synaptic as directed in a website ( irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/~denault/notes/old/Redhat9_Desktop_fixes dot html ). after some problem, it was finally installed. but now whenever i try to open it, i will get the "quick introduction" window and as soon as i close that dialog, the whole synaptic will close. This happens even after unchecking "show this dialog at startup." So, i'm unable to reach the interface. what i can click on is only the "quick introduction" dialog since the main window is inactive.

Here is description of my comp using "lshw." I'm on a RH9, celeron 500, 128 mb ram.

description: Desktop Computer
product: 0000000
vendor: TOMATO String
version: 0000000
serial: 00000000
width: 32 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.3 dmi-2.3
configuration: chassis=desktop
*-core
description: Motherboard
product: Instant810C
vendor: ZIDA
physical id: 0
version: 1.0
serial: 00000000
*-firmware:0
description: BIOS
vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
physical id: 0
version: 62710 (05/20/99)
size: 64KB
capacity: 448KB
capabilities: isa pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect socketedrom edd int13floppy360 int13floppy1200 int13floppy720 int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification
*-cpu:0
description: CPU
product: Celeron (Mendocino)
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.6.5
slot: Slot-1
size: 550MHz
capacity: 800MHz
width: 32 bits
clock: 100MHz
capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep
mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 mmx fxsr
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 0
slot: L1 Cache
size: 32KB
capacity: 32KB
clock: 25MHz (40.0ns)
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
*-cache:1
description: L1 cache
physical id: 1
slot: L1 Cache
size: 128KB
clock: 25MHz (40.0ns)
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
*-cache:0
description: L2 cache
physical id: 2
slot: L2 Cache
size: 128KB
capacity: 2MB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
*-firmware:1
description: BIOS
vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
physical id: 3
version: 62710 (05/20/99)
size: 64KB
capacity: 448KB
capabilities: isa pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect socketedrom edd int13floppy360 int13floppy1200 int13floppy720 int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification
*-cpu:1
description: CPU
product: Celeron
vendor: INTEL
physical id: 4
bus info: cpu@1
version: 6.6.5
slot: Slot-1
size: 550MHz
capacity: 800MHz
clock: 100MHz
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 0
size: 32KB
*-cache:1
description: L2 cache
physical id: 1
size: 128KB
*-cache:1
description: L2 cache
physical id: 5
slot: L2 Cache
size: 128KB
capacity: 2MB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
*-memory
description: System memory
physical id: 6
size: 126MB
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: 82810 GMCH [Graphics Memory Controller Hub]
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@00:00.0
version: 03
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-display
description: VGA compatible controller
product: 82810 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller]
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1
bus info: pci@00:01.0
version: 03
size: 64MB
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: vga bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: iomemory:e8000000-ebffffff iomemory:eff80000-efffffff irq:11
*-pci
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801AA PCI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1e
bus info: pci@00:1e.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master
configuration: driver=PCI Bridge
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: b
bus info: pci@01:0b.0
logical name: eth0
version: 10
serial: 00:08:a1:90:39:03
size: 100MB/s
capacity: 100MB/s
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt
10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=8139too driverversion=0.9.26 duplex=full ip=192.168.1.5 latency=64 link=yes maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 multicast=yes port=MII speed=100MB/s
resources: ioport:cc00-ccff iomemory:efdfff00-efdfffff irq:10
*-multimedia UNCLAIMED
description: Multimedia audio controller
product: CM8738
vendor: C-Media Electronics Inc
physical id: d
bus info: pci@01:0d.0
version: 10
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=64 maxlatency=24 mingnt=2
resources: ioport:c800-c8ff irq:12
*-communication UNCLAIMED
description: Communication controller
product: HSF 56k HSFi Modem
vendor: Conexant
physical id: f
bus info: pci@01:0f.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=64
resources: iomemory:efde0000-efdeffff ioport:c400-c407 irq:9
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: 82801AA ISA Bridge (LPC)
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@00:1f.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master
configuration: latency=0
*-ide
description: IDE interface
product: 82801AA IDE
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1f.1
bus info: pci@00:1f.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ide bus_master
configuration: driver=PIIX IDE latency=0
resources: ioport:ffa0-ffaf
*-ide
description: IDE Channel 0
physical id: 0
bus info: ide@0
logical name: ide0
clock: 33MHz
*-disk
description: ATA Disk
product: SAMSUNG SV4002H
physical id: 0
bus info: ide@0.0
logical name: /dev/hda
version: QP100-09
serial: 0439J1AT520169
size: 37GB
capacity: 37GB
capabilities: ata dma lba iordy smart security pm partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: smart=on
*-volume:0
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 1
bus info: ide@0.0,1
logical name: /dev/hda1
capacity: 101MB
capabilities: primary bootable
*-volume:1
description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
physical id: 2
bus info: ide@0.0,2
logical name: /dev/hda2
capacity: 1098MB
capabilities: primary nofs
*-volume:2
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 3
bus info: ide@0.0,3
logical name: /dev/hda3
capacity: 26GB
capabilities: primary
*-volume:3
description: Extended partition
physical id: 4
bus info: ide@0.0,4
logical name: /dev/hda4
size: 10001MB
capacity: 10001MB
capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
*-logicalvolume
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 5
logical name: /dev/hda5
capacity: 10001MB
*-cdrom
description: IDE CD-ROM
product: SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-152C
physical id: 1
bus info: ide@0.1
logical name: /dev/hdb
version: C300
capabilities: packet atapi cdrom removable nonmagnetic dma lba iordy audio
*-disc
physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/hdb
*-usb
description: USB Controller
product: 82801AA USB
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1f.2
bus info: pci@00:1f.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=usb-uhci latency=0
resources: ioport:da00-da1f irq:9
*-usbhost
product: USB UHCI Root Hub
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@1
logical name: usb1
version: 0.00
capabilities: usb-1.00
configuration: driver=hub maxpower=0mA slots=2 speed=12.0MB/s
*-multimedia UNCLAIMED
description: Multimedia audio controller
product: 82801AA AC'97 Audio
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1f.5
bus info: pci@00:1f.5
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master
configuration: latency=0
resources: ioport:de00-deff ioport:dc00-dc3f irq:10

Please help keeping in mind i'm a newb...

thanks in advance.

ravi s ghosh
ravisghosh@gmail.com