okay.. here is what someone told me to do:

1.) up2date -d --src mysql

That will put mysql-3.23.58-1.src.rpm in the /var/spool/up2date/ directory.

2.)Then build the rpm using this command:

rpmbuild --rebuild /var/spool/up2date/mysql-3.23.58-1.src.rpm

That will put mysql-server (and 3 others) in
the /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/ directory.

3.)Then just install the mysql-server:

rpm -Uvh /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/mysql-server-3.23.58-1.i386.rpm



The last step is where i get hung up. Here is the error message that I get:

error: Failed dependencies:
libmysqlclient.so.10 is needed by mysql-server-3.23.58-1
mysql = 3.23.58 is needed by mysql-server-3.23.58-1
Suggested resolutions:
mysql-3.23.58-1.i386.rpm


then when i go and try to install the mysql-3.23.58-1.i386.rpm i get an error message that says:
files from install of mysql-3.23.58-1.i386.rpm conflicts with file from package MySQL-server-4.0.17-0



can someone please tell me what i'm doing wrong... i'n new at this so please explain to me in an easy way..


Thanks

At first don't mix the 4.x version with 3.23.x version...
At second will be better when you download binary version from www.mysql.com and you will be following the steps included in INSTALL file.