./configure variations

[alex]

This isn't ubuntu specific but the list seems to have some sharp 
troubleshooters who probably can get me over this problem.

I occasionally have a problem with installing some untarred files in 
that ./configure doesn't  work with all of them.  ./configure, by 
itself,  works fine with some untarred files but occasionlly it seems 
that something has to be added to ./configure before running 'make' and 
'make install'

I have 5 Linux books, searched Linux FAQ-Linux lists and forums,  
printed out nearly half a ream of downloaded documentation on the 
subject of installing tarballs and am disappointed in all these because 
they seem to carefully avoid providing details about running 
./configure.  The closest one document comes to details is saying to 
look for 'readme', 'install', or 'readme.install' files after untarring. 
  You'd expect to find specific information for the installation in 
these files but if it's there, it's well disguised.

Does anyone know of any documentation that really explains those special 
cases where
./configure needs a little help?

alex