ianw1974

I have found that the KDE probs were due to some .conf.rpmnew's not being implemented after updates. This was when I did it from the CLI, rather than using the System/Configuration/Packaging utils in KDE. When you use in the GUI, it prompts when there are .conf files to replace. In the CLI it doesn't seem to do this. What I had to do afterwards, was to type updatedb, and then slocate rpmnew to find where they were, and then check and compare against the original .conf files, and replace where necessary. Just never replace group.conf, else it causes a load of problems. I think the .conf for the sound was called kdeglobals.conf and I replaced this with kdeglobals.conf.rpmnew. After this, I had sound in KDE, and not just in the games that I had before. Oh, the KDE test button would work, just not system events, etc.

Too right. I rebuilt recently, because I wanted more space for Linux. I installed Windows to 3GB of space, and yeah, had to download drivers for video, network card (from another computer - lucky I had one hey!), modem, chipset drivers, and so on. Oh, and Windows Updates and anti-virus so that I don't get infected as soon as I connect to the internet. Sure, I could take the easy method and use the restore CD that came with my machine. But, why? Because I want space for Linux, I don't want to allocate it all to Windows. And then have to remove stuff I don't want that's installed by the restore CD, and then resize the partitions. Too much mess, too much time taken. The Windows part probably took about two hours when you include the updates, driver installs, service pack, etc. Installing MDK 10.1 OE took about 30 minutes. Then apply updates and done in far less time than Windows. I don't even use Windows, but it's there in case I need it for something. But as soon as I find an alternative for the very few things I use it for, it won't be. 3GB is wasted space for something that I don't use often.

You can set up your urpmi repositories for 10.1 and you could make sure all the updates are applied for Xorg, or all the other system updates too. To do this, visit: http://www.mandrivausers.org/easyurpmi Make sure you select the correct version! Then set up for main, contrib, jpackage, updates, plf-free, plf-nonfree. Once you've added these, you can then go into System/Configuration/Packaging/Mandrakelinux Update I normally choose all of them by ensuring Normal, Bug Fixes and Security are checked, and then click the All link to select everything. It may take a while (3 hours over 128kbps), but it's worth it in the end. This should have the updated Xorg for you that you're looking for. You can always upgrade to LE2005/10.2 later if you wish, or if you want to do it now you can. You can upgrade by CD/DVD or using the urpmi sources if you wish, although this is a little more difficult and more involved to ensure all is OK.

If you're logged in at a CLI prompt, what you can do is type su and supply root password. Then type mcc. This will bring up a screen allowing you to choose the display. Use the tab key so you can select the OK and Cancel buttons, and see if this helps.....

I sometimes get this issue with KDE too. In KDE, I've run MenuDrake (System/Configuration/Other) and then clicked the Save button (instead of logging out and back in again). My menu was then updated within KDE. As I don't install/remove applications that much, I've not really delved into it further other than solve it this way. Try the same in Gnome, at least it'll save you from logging out to refresh the menu. Apologies it's only a slight fix, someone else may post additionally with a more permanent fix. :D

I forgot to add, GDM will have the clickability that you want for the users. The issue in hand, really only occurs with KDE 3.4, but check out GDM and see if this is what you like. It's very similar to mdkkdm.

I had this same problem, and haven't been able to find a resolution other than use XDM or use GDM instead of mdkkdm.

You experienced the same thing as me!! :P Basically, what I did to get it to work was go through the Install Software option, searching for libart and all the other dependencies it mentions. I then install these prior to running the kaffeine rpm (I copied the text into kwrite so I could refer back to it, as when the rpm is open, you can't install the other stuff). Once they were installed on the system, I then installed the kaffeine rpm, and all was OK. Make sure you have main, contrib, jpackage, updates/update_source, plf-free and plf-nonfree and you shouldn't have a problem installing them. Sorry, I should have mentioned this before :P

OK, are you other repositories up-to-date? Using the update option in Software Media Manager (i'm not sure of the urpmi command itself), may fix any issues if one is more up-to-date than the other. Are the mirrors for main/contrib accessible where the specific download is located? I've had to choose alternative ones today because of probs accessing my normal mirror.

Do you have all your urpmi sources configured correctly? Go into the Software Media Manager, and check for: main, contrib, updates (or update-source), plf-free, plf-nonfree and jpackage. If they're missing, visit: http://www.mandrivausers.org/easyurpmi to configure the additional sources for your version of Mandriva. If you have them all already, then click the Update button within Software Media Manager, and then select all the above sources and then click OK. I've also noticed a problem with a specific UK mirror, so check also that your mirror is accessible.

At what point do you get the black screen? Is it as soon as you turn your machine on, or before you end up in the GUI? Or part way through? Have you pressed ESC during boot, to see if you get any errors listed? Please post additional info, so we can help to rectify the problem.

I did install it once on MDK no problem though, even though it's a RedHat rpm.....and it worked!

I've seen a Yahoo Messenger RPM direct from Yahoo, although I've not used to see if webcam works or not. I tend to use GAIM and don't webcam really.

One thing I thought as Arctic just mentioned, for sound from the CD-ROM, you need a cable from the CD-ROM drive to the soundcard. This is usually plugged near to the power cable for the CD-ROM drive, and is a small 3 pin connector, with a similar one either on-board, or on the PCI sound card itself depending on which card you're using.

I actually prefer Linux now, since I've spent a lot more time on it, persevered, and learnt more. Learnt being the key word here. In addition to this there is the speed, and a number of things factor this. First, EXT3, ReiserFS and XFS are faster than NTFS as a file system. So obviously, accessing your disk is faster. In terms of booting, I'm not sure, I've not bothered to time it. I've dropped Windows altogether now, other than I need it for VPN as I've not figured this out in Linux yet. Some other things that contribute to speed, or probably usability is that you don't need to virus-scan, nor do you have to worry about spyware. So, instead of scanning for these, plus defragmenting the hard disk, which you have to do regularly in Windows anyway, I've got more time for productivity, than messing around with maintenance tasks such as these. How much time do I save? Probably about an hour with scanning for viruses, if not longer. Plus perhaps 20 minutes with scanning for spyware, and about 30 minutes to an hour with defragmenting. So that's two hours of maintenance tasks in Windows, that I can say, maybe watch a movie, send emails and browsing the web, etc, when using Linux :P (and probably lots more things too!). Not that you could do this with Windows! You've got your maintenance to complete.....

OK, I figured there might not be anything for it. I'll have a look at the website you suggest, for more info. Will prob take me a while to get into it, but I'll persevere! :P

True, there's GDM, and XDM as well :P and I know XDM does solve the login issues from memory! I just prefer mdkkdm :D

I merged your posts, as they seem to be the same topic. Just in case you wondered where one of them went :P

Try running alsaconf, and see if this helps? From a command prompt, type su and supply root password. Then type alsaconf, and go through the config for your soundcard. On reboot of the system, your sound will be muted, you can use Kmix to unmute everything and set the volume levels. Try the test button after this, does it work? Check sound in other apps, such as games and Amarok, etc.

Check KMix and see if there are any muted sounds that you can set the volumes for.

Try checking an option in the BIOS for Plug and Play OS. If it's currently set to OS, change this to the other available option. Sometimes there are problems detecting some hardware. Another option is to press F1 when you get the loader screen, and type: linux noapic or one of the other options listed to help you get past it.

Try pressing ESC when the loader screen appears and type: linux noapic does that help boot it up?

Just one other thing to check, in your BIOS, can you check a settings for Plug and Play OS. If it's set to OS, can this be changed to the other option, as it might be causing problems with the detection of hardware.

I've normally used gnome-default-applications-properties. Run this and it'll allow you to set default browser/email prog, etc.

I don't use grub myself, I prefer LILO. However, you should be able to press ESC and it'll give you a command line. You don't need to type "boot" first, just one of: linux noapic linux acpi=off or possibly a combination of: linux noapic acpi=off Does that help any better? And don't worry, we'll get there in the end, so stay calm, and we'll get it sorted.