Linux Mandrake 9.2


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Hi. Sorry if this sounds newbish or has been posted before but everything installed ok with Mandrake Linux 9.2 (CD 1+2). Xfree86 set-up great and the test showed my config works. Now when I boot up to Linux Mandrake (dual botting with Win2K) it comes to a login of Xfree86. So I log in and it brings me straight to XFree86. That's cool but I'm a complete newb at Linux and I did install KDE and GNOME. I think were I went wrong was at the install process; maybe i didn't see an option to select a default window manager? I guess I have to edit some start-up files/scripts. Thanks if you can help out, much appreciated. Just to clarify, I'm in the Xfree GUI and I would like to be in a GUI (like Gnome).

PC Specs (I'm saving up for a new comp lol).

Pentium2 400MHz

256MB SDRam

Geforce 2 64MB version

19" AOC GLR monitor (I selected the driver for this at install :=).

I would also like advice on how to go about install the Nvidia Geforce Linux driver, please bare in mind that I'm a complete newb to Linux. Only very basic skill such as installing programs from source and setting up Apache is all I know.

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XFree is a Windowing System, it is not a Window Manager, so if you have a GUI, you have XFree running, and you also have something else running on top of it (IceWM, TWM, Gnome, KDE).

Let's see if we can figure out what is going on:

When you have your login screen, is it GUI or Text?

If graphical, then when it is time to enter your password, there should be a "Session type" box under where you enter your password. It will probably offer choices like "Gnome", "KDE", "IceWM", and "default" & "failsafe".

Try logging in with one of them, then log out, and log in with another one, and so on. There is no need to log in with "default" or "failsafe", they are not separate Window Managers.

Each of your selections should be a little different.

If not, post back, and we will try to dig deeper...

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Yer sorry if it didn't sound clear. Its just Xfree the windowsing system. The login is VERY simple that comes with Xfree, at login there are no options to chose a windows manager such as Gnome and it's not text/terminal, definatly the Xfree windowing system. Sorry if it sounded confusing.

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Can you do a

ps ax > processes

Then upload the "processes" text file that line will create up in a new post on Neowin? (You may need to say "processes.txt" in your above command...)

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You can save it right ot your /home/xxxx directory where you will be when you first open a shell.

Then when you post a message, Neowin's page allows you to select a file to upload.

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It sounds like you didn't install any Desktops or Window Managers, which is funny, cuz the default is to install at least KDE (blech).

When you log in, do you get a terminal or anything? Or do you just have an "X" cursor and a low-res background?

If you have a terminal window (Xterm), type 'drakconf' and enter your root password, then go to the software manager. Click install software, and under 'graphical environment' you should see the option to install the various desktops and WM's available.

If you do not have a terminal window in X, hit ctrl-alt-F2 to get a login prompt, log in with your user and pass, and enter 'kde'. If it doesn't start up, it means you don't have KDE installed. You can do this in text mode, there are howto's on installing software using 'urpmi' here:

http://mandrake.vmlinuz.ca/bin/view/Main/WebHome

Once you get KDE up and running, then you can start playing with other, superior, window managers. One thing I would *highly* recommend is not having X start at boot. In the Mandrake Control Center, go to 'Boot', and uncheck the 'launch graphical...'. This way, you can more easily drop to text mode to do things like:

installing the Nvidia drivers. Just download the Linux .run file from their website.

Then go here and configure your software sources:

http://plf.zarb.org/~nanardon/index.php

Open a Konsole, and follow the instructions. This will take a few minutes.

Now, logout of KDE or whatever, and if you followed my advice above, you will drop to runlevel 3, text mode.

Do uname -r to get your kernel version.

then as root:

urpmi kernel-source

choose the kernel-source package that matches your kernel version, and install it.

then cd to the dir where you download the Nvidia .run file and type:

chmod +x <filename of Nvidia driver>

then

./NVIDIAwhatever.run

then when that's finished, edit your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file like so:

vi /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

cursor down to the part where it says 'Driver="nv" and change it to 'Driver="nvidia". Do this by hitting the 'I' key (insert) and entering the text. Now hit 'Esc' to exit insert mode, and type ':wq' and hit enter.

Now, start KDE (type 'kde') and you should see the Nvidia logo.

Edited by joehill
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sounds like he's using xdm has his login manager, you can setup a .xinitrc file to load gnome or kde automatically

example for loading gnome

~/.xinitrc

put this in the file

exec gnome-session

then save, exit

type startx and you should see gnome startup

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Hi thanks for all the help. Rather than messing around i decided to reinstall. Suddenly more options appeard at install to say like make Gnome the default desktop. After I reinstalled I rebooted and the mandrake boot screen laoded up (it was verbos info before reinstall). And then the first time wizard worked. And I'm now typing this in Linux =). I think I was messing around with individial package selection so I didn't do that second time around =). I just wondering if there is an application like Trillian on Linux. I'm using Gaim at the moment but it is very annoying because I can't connect to all 3 MSN accounts, ICQ and yahoo accounts all at the same time. I could have multiple Gaims open but thats just silly. I think there is a prog called AMSN or somthing? I don't know.

I would also like to upgrade to kernel 2.6 (what is the latest stable release?). Obviously I'm looking for a guide thats geared towards Mandrake 9.2. When you do that makemenu config stuff does it keep the previous kernel configuration? Cause I haven't got a clue what to select. I would like to install kernel 2.6 because I heard it was faster and I want to do this before I install the Nvidia Drivers. Ta Bucko.

Once again thanks for all the help and remember I'm still newbish at Linux.

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just use any kernel compile how-to you can find over at google.com/linux and cp over the .confg file from the previous kernel to the new kernel and you should be set.. although in the past ive found doing this only causes more problems than its worth doing a fresh install of kernel 2.6.x

and how come you can't connect to more than one msn account?

if you are using gnome you could also check out attym, or simple instant messenger, or a console client pebrot (which is what i use and its pimp)

hth

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and how come you can't connect to more than one msn account?
I can I just don't like gaim very much.
although in the past ive found doing this only causes more problems than its worth doing a fresh install of kernel 2.6.x

Yes I just installed Mandranke 9.2 can't be assed to install Mandrake 10.

I will check out them message programs.

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you dont have to install mdk 10 just to upgrade your kernel.
All these guides seem very difficult and all things like symbolic links and stuff I do not understand, still trying to find a decent newb guide.
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Been there =) haven't read it fully yet just skimmed through. Looks f00king complicated might have to spend a whole day trying to understand the document.

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These guides are to flippen complicated.....? I'm such a Newb and want to learn this stuff but

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/sh...9355#post379355 this is way to complicated. I'm just looking for a Simple, easy to understand guide!!!

The new kernel is quite easy to find and download. Follow these steps.

  1. First, become root!

  2. Go to The Linux Kernel Archives.

  3. Download the Linux 2.6 kernel and save it to your /usr/src directory.

  4. As root, run the following commands in the console. (Note: This assumes you've installed your Linux distribution with all the developer options. If you haven't, take a look at your distribution's website for more information on 2.6 kernel packages you can download.)

          tar -xzvf linux-2.6.0.tar.gz

          cd linux-2.6.0

          make menuconfig

After your machine takes a bit of time to compose the menus, you should see the Linux kernel menu system. The menu gives you the ability to choose which options are included in your kernel, some of which we'll talk about on the show. After choosing these options, you'll be able to compile your kernel.

Compiling the kernel

First, type in the following.

    make bzImage

If you use LILO as your boot manager, then type the following.

    make install

If you configured your kernel to use modules, which many people want to do, you'll need to type in the following command.

    make modules

    make modules_install

Now that is simple. Though will it copy the old config of my current kernel?

Taken from http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/linux/s...3590865,00.html

Edited by bucko
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These guides are to flippen complicated.....? I'm such a Newb and want to learn this stuff but

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/sh...9355#post379355 this is way to complicated. I'm just looking for a Simple, easy to understand guide!!!

Now that is simple. Though will it copy the old config of my current kernel?

Taken from http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/linux/s...3590865,00.html

that is simple because it is missing some steps and is out of order :no:

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well for starters, after you extract the linux kernel in /usr/src directory you need to make a symlink to /usr/src/linux and delete the old symlink to the old kernel

so basically, rm -s /usr/src/linux

ln -sf /usr/src/linux /usr/src/linux-kernel-2.6.x

cd /usr/src/linux

cp /usr/src/linux-old-kernel/.config /usr/src/linux

make menuconfig

--edit whatever at this point in the kernel config--

make && make modules_install && make install

cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot

cp /usr/src/linux/System.map /boot/System-map-2.6.x

ln -sf /boot/System-map-2.6.x /boot/System-map

edit your lilo/or/grub conf.

restart/recycle the bootloader so changes will take effect

reboot.

this is rough copy... if you can't follow instructions or ask for help where you are stuck at instead of 'this is to hard i dont understand' then you won't get much help.

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--edit whatever at this point in the kernel config--

So what do I put in the config? It's things like this that are confusing me and steering me away to upgrading the kernel.

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Maybe at this point it might be a good idea to ask:

Do you need to upgrade your kernel right now?

If you are still learning, and aren't comfortable with the work involved right now, just live happy on 2.4 (keep current on patches to avoid security issues!) and learn at your own pace, rather than jumping into the kernel right now.

Then, when you are more comfortable with the Linux command line, and the filesystem, you can tackle kernels then! :yes:

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instead of 'make menuconfig', I would suggest using 'make xconfig'. It's much easier to use. Nice graphical interface and all the options are explained (menuconfug explains all too, but it's annoying pressing F1 all the time).

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