Problems with Mandrake 9.1

[SKYLINEGTR33MWJ]

I've had mandrake linux on my system for quite a while now.. its a miracle that it hasn't crashed yet.. Altough i do have some questions?

When linux for some reason boots up in the black screen as in KDE or Gnome Dont start, how do i run or "start" them... from the black screen?

I have not yet mastered the art of Installing Programs.... I follow the instructions the extract "tar" gzip what ever, then run the konsole and type in "make file" or ./configure or any other command that it says to type in....

How in the world can I install atleast One program?
I really want to install that program that makes your kde bar at the bottom look like mac's OsX ... its called "superkaramba" or karamba (bar)

There is nothing wrong with Linux. it works just fine... everything is perfect but i seriously need to learn and master installing programs..... I cant compile anything! not even a small "flash" plugin that is needed to view web pages correctly...

Any advice on how to compile / configure / install programs ?

((( an operating system with out programs is completely useless )))

atleast (mine is)
plz help, anyone!

[krohnjw]

It sounds as if it is booting you to a console. Log in as a user and type
startx

See if that works for you.
As far as decompressing and compiling programs check this link out and see if it is helpful. If not ask for some more specifics and I would be more than happy to help you out

http://krohn.dhs.org:200/linux.html

Jkrohn