This makes me feel like such a newb (probably because I am).

I finally have my slack box set up just right, as the perfect desktop. Got my modem, new graphics card, UPS, scanner, printer, new sound card, all set up and it wasn't easy. But it was worth it, and I'd do it again.

My problem is, I installed most stuff without using the package manager (e.g. make config, make, make install). So lots of things I've installed are not in the package database

I can live with that, as long as it will not cause future problems when I got to remove or add other packages using the package manager. Do any of you think I need to re-install everything in order to update the package database, or can I just go ahead and use the package manager without any problems from now on?

If from now you're going to use the package manager, then I'd suggest you to re-install everything, or remove the packages that you installed without the package manager and install them with the package manager.

You might hate hearing this now, but there's an app, checkinstall, which will basically make .tgz packages out of source and record them in the pkgtool lists.

But I wouldn't reinstall if you've got it like you want it. If you want to get rid of any of those programs, it might not be too easy, but I don't think you should have any problems - at least none a little work wouldn't fix.

Doing better than me - I still don't have my sound or modem working 100% and haven't even tried the burner, though I know I can at least read from the drives. And I do have some sound sometimes, and can connect sometimes. If I got everything working it would take a lot to make me reinstall. *g*