While trying to install Linux-Mandrake 6.1 - specifically, while installing the packages on my computer - the installation program "exits abnormally: error signal 9" and then proceeds to politely shut down my computer.

can anyone tell me what error signal 9 is and what may be causing it?

any feedback is appreciated. thanx.

an error like that occurs when something that's absolutly necessairry to continue gos wrong...

signal 9 means that the program is killed...

like you would have used this command:
kill -s 9 PID (=process id)

if you have acces to a linux system you can type "man 7 signal"... you'll get a manual which explains everything about signals...