Can anyone help? I have just installed Linux Mandrake 9 on my home PC (AMD K6, 128Mb RAM, 8Mb Graphics Card., 15GB HD [Partition - 8GB Win / 6GB Mandrake 9] ) The first time wizard didn't show, or I couldn't see it! Linux hangs / pauses on the normal boot when it reaches xinetd and sometimes boots to KDE 3. When booted from linux fb it boots OK and launches KDE 3, however the KDE bar at the bottom is all broken up, windows open but they have no background so you can't read any text, when you scroll only part of the text scrolls, making things illegible. I logged out and opened Linux in Failsafe (textmode) but again the text, background, scrolling problem meant I couldn't make changes. Gnome desktop runs slightly better with some text visible. I was able to access some help files! The mouse appears as a large 1 inch white square. It's a mess, I know. Are these typical driver related problems? Could the colour depth be set too high for the basic 8Mb Graphics Card? (it was set on max) during installation) The mouse was set to "generic two button mouse" should this be changed? Are there any workarounds? Should I give up and get a higher spec PC? Should I uninstall Linux somehow and try again from scratch? Any advice appreciated. Best Regards O Daily

What driver are you using for your graphics card (and what card is it?). Try using a generic SVGA driver and a generic 1024x768@60Hz monitor driver. If you still keep getting a block for a cursor, you may hve to set up a software cursor. You shouldn't need to reinstall, using Mandrake as root type: # XFdrake to run the configuration tool.

Hi Dave, Thanks for your response. I tried your suggestions last night. I'm a complete beginner in Linux so here is what I tried. Launched Linux, chose IceWM since it is less memory intensive. Started Mandrake control centre open the graphic server setup option, made the changes you suggested. It said I'd need to log out of IceWM for the changes take effect. That brought me out to the raw linux it didn't bring up the GUI login automatically, so I logged in as root and typed XFdrake. The settings were as they had been before. Made changes again as you suggested chose quit, saved changes. Logged in again to XFdrake to check again and the changes weren't saved. Do you know - Why won't it overwrite my changes to the system? How do I start the GUI interface at the bash prompt? How do I navigate to the XFconfig file and which editor should I use to make changes? Thanks again for your help so far, any answer to these appreciated. BTW, I am using an 8Mb S3 Trio 3D graphics card (in the list in XFdrake) My monitor is a Mitsibushi V70 (also in the XFdrake list of options). Regards O Daily

1) I'm not sure why it didn't save your changes. Did you "test" the configuration? It may save it after testing successfully. Also in XFdrake, you have to tab to the OK button in order to save changes (rather than just hitting return) although you may have worked that out. You can always try "xf86config" too instead of XFdrake. 2) To start a GUI at a command prompt, type: # startx 3) The X config file you are after is /etc/X11/XF86Config (or /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 if you are using XFree86 v4). As with 99.9% of linux configuration files, you can open it up as text and edit it. You should also find any backups that XFdrake (or another X configuration program) has made which you can rename to reverse changes. 4) BIG TIP....always back up your working XF86Config file before editing it in the future. If you still can't get it working, I'll try to create what I think may be a suitable XF86Config file for you and post the relavent bits here (can't test it though as I have different hardware)

Hi Dave, Thanks again. I tried testing configuration before saving. It came up with an error message. I can't remember what exactly, except that it ended in "/722" or something similar. I did tab to select the OK / Cancel options. As a Mac user at work, I figured the code at the end might have some significance (?). I thought that it may save the changes. Having pressed quit it asked me to confirm save changes and it lists keyboard, mouse, monitor etc as if all the changes should be seen next to each item. However there were none there to check. This happens each time. I don't know if it is significant. Thanks for your advice about path to directory I will try that tonight. I was confused because I typed ls and the etc folder didn't show. I guess it is a hidden directory, even in root. I am used to using pico to edit text on my website, but I couldn't get it to start. I guess it is not installed. Is there another editor (not vi) at a similar user level that you recommend if I need to tweak the XFconfig file? If I have no success, I'll post another message, probably tomorrow asking for your XFconfig file. Thanks again O Daily

Can't see your /etc directory?!? That is where linux keeps just about all of its configuration files. Don't forget the leading "/" as etc is in the root. Try: # cd / # ls etc or alternatively # ls /etc When you pass a "startx" command and it doesn't work, it should give a brief description why right towards the end of the output....what's it complaining about? I personally use emacs as an editor but it can seem a little daunting to a new user. Try "mcedit" for a nice a simple editor a little like edit in DOS. Most of the commands and are accessed by the numbered function keys (F1, F2 etc) and are listed at the bottom of the screen. =========================================== Emacs for dummies: To edit/create a file: # emacs /path/filename Now make your changes using the cursor keys to move around and the keyboard to edit. DON'T bother trying to cut/copy and paste....you'll just mess things up. When finished: Hold down Ctrl Press X Still holding down Ctrl press C Let go of Ctrl It should no be asking you if you want to save before exiting Press Y to save and exit Press N followed by "YES" to exit without saving

Hi Sorry for the delay in replying. It has been a busy week. I followed your advice and made the edits in emacs but apparently without success. Following a beginners UNIX tutorial I have managed to save the files and I have posted them on this page: http://uk.geocities.com/o_daily/linux/index.html I would be grateful if you could have a look and let me know of any edits required to these text files to get my system up and running. Regards O Daily