when i followed the readme.txt for installing the 1stpagenews i get this

Fatal error: Call to undefined function db_simpleselect() in forum/addon_1stpagenews2.php on line 48

There could be many reasons for it. I could only definitely conclude that you did something totally wrong. This add-on fully works and tested for years, and you could see on our main webpage... it works. Sorry, appears to be your own mistake!

well i downloaded the zip file and didnt make any changes to anything in the php file and did what it told me to do in the readme. if you could help me out and tell me if i need to change anything that i didnt that would be good.

How could I tell you if I don't even view the URL of your website? And without what have you done, where did you included it etc.

Anyway, such kind of "help" actually means custom support/investigation of your own mistakes, and it comes for a fee. Study rules.