  Ultra-fast laser experiments yield increasingly reliable data on warm-dense
matter (WDM), but rely on entrenched simplistic theoretical models. We
re-analyze two topical experiments, avoiding (i) {\it ad hoc} core-repulsion
models, (ii) "Yukawa screening" models and (iii) electron-ion equilibrium
assumptions. An accurate, rapid density-functional neutral-pseudoatom model
coupled to a hyper-netted-chain (HNC) equation with a bridge term is used to
compute structure factors, X-Ray scattering, compressibility, phonons and
resistivity. Electronic-structure codes are used to confirm the calculations.
The Yukawa and core-repulsion models are shown to be misleading.
