DragonMage

Ok.. I just got a brand new ECS K7S5A with Athlon XP 2000 to replace my not so aging Athlon TB 900 with Shuttle MS21N. My question is, do I have to reinstall Mandrake after I change the motherboard, or is there some shortcut I can do to preserve everything I have?

Kernel is not supposed to be installed via Mandrake Update. Mandrakesoft made a mistake a few version back (either 8.0 or 8.1, forgot which one exactly) and the result is that all people who use MandrakeUpdate to upgrade their kernel find themselves unable to boot up their computer. That "to upgrade your software you can use mandrakeupdate, blah blah blah" statement in the security warning is basically a canned statement, kinda like an automatic signature. You can update the kernel-sources via mandrakeupdate however. Here is the way to upgrade your kernel. Download the kernel manually. Usually, you need to download three things, kernel-2.4.19-blah.mdk.rpm kernel-source-2.4.19-blah.mdk.rpm and kernel-doc-2.4.19-blah.mdk.rpm. Yet if you have a multiprocessor computer or something with a huge amount of memory (1 gig plus) you need to download something else such as kernel-smp-blah.mdk.rpm (for multiprocessor) or kernel-enterprise-blah.mdk.rpm (for enterprise kernel). Here is an example for the link http://mandrake.redbox.cz/Mandrake/updates...1-1mdk.i586.rpm Now su to root, then type this in console rpm -ivh kernel-2.4.19.24-1-1.mdk.i586.rpm (it's -i not -U) Then edit your /etc/lilo.conf to make sure everything is right. Then just to make sure, run lilo again by typing /sbin/lilo -v (I am not sure how to do this if you are using grub instead of lilo as bootloader, someone?) Then to upgrade your kernel-sources and kernel-doc, type rpm -Uvh kernel-sources-blah.rpm rpm -Uvh kernel-doc.blah.rpm Make sure you rebuild/recompile any kernel-dependant driver you have, such as nvidia, aureal, winmodem, and so on. Then restart. Hope it works.

Stick with soundblaster, they seem to have the most support in linux, beyond the 2 speaker stereo type of sound. I think you can get a Live! OEM for about 30-40 bux nowadays. Audigy OEM should be around 60-70.

Hmm.. it's strange since as far as I know, nobody can install/upgrade new kernel via urpmi or mandrakeupdate since it will hose their computer. The new kernel is not even listed in the rpmdrake, only kernel-sources. Anyway, care to tell me what you did before hosing that computer?

Anyway, I just found out today (Feb 6) that Texstar has uploaded the -3 version of the kdelibs and kdebase rpms.. maybe it will solve all those problems automatically without people having to do "clutch" fixes such as these (hopefully).

Unfortunately, texstar's main urpmi repository (blah, is that the right word?) is closed for a week while texstar is rebuilding and resigning the packages. Try getting it from the apt section instead. Here's the exact link http://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distribut...e/RPMS.texstar/ Better yet, download synaptic from that site and use it instead of urpmi for now.

If it is true, it really shows how sad the state of Americans are. If it is not, and it is supposed to be a joke, it's not that funny. Anyway, just my 2 cents (one cent per comment).

There should be a discussion about that at pclinuxonline forum. It is after all the place the kde 3.1 rpms was downloaded from :) Anyway, here's the link of that particular discussion http://www.pclinuxonline.com/modules.php?o...pic=701&forum=7

You don't update your kernel via mandrake update. You have to download the kernel rpm manually, then as root type rpm -ivh kernel-blah-blah-blah.rpm then make sure the /etc/lilo.conf is right then reboot. Remember.. it is -i not -U Then if you want to update the kernel source just download it and type rpm -Uvh kernel-source-blah-blah.rpm The reason why kernel is not done via mandrakeupdate is simple: it will hose your computer. Mandrake learned about this the hard way during the 8.1 (?) days when someone who update the kernel via mandrakeupdate simply cannot restart his computer. I think there is a tutorial somewhere in the old docs section about kernel updating via rpms. Check there if you want more info. Don't forget to recompile any kernel dependant drivers such as NVIDIA, Aureal, winmodem, etc.

It's a troll, or someone who really needs to be noticed so bad that it says something that is definitely not true. Anyway, don't underestimate a person's stupidity. There are people out there who still believes that earth is flat and the sun revolves around the earth.

Hmm.. you are right.. I wonder what happens if you rename the Desktop and the .kde directory and let kde rebuilt itself. Would that error happen also?

You cannot compare RHAS with Win2k Pro. The closest thing Win2K have that is even remotely close to RHAS is Win2K Advanced Server. And let me tell you one thing.. Win2K Advanced Server is a bitch to install (pardon my language) and doubly hard to configure and make secure. A friend of mine who has a bootleg Win2KAS installed it in his computer just to play around and he got hacked and virused in a few months (during his final exams even, he has to reinstall his computer during the most stressful time of the semester, I laughed at him for trying something so unsecure as that) A simple software such as Norton Utilities doesn't install in win2kAS, they want you to install NU Corporate instead. Anyway, if by a simple server means that win2k Pro quality, I think the personal edition or even GPL edition should suffice since it gives you more than Win2K Pro in terms of server capabilities. Another thing, if you want non-company support, why don't you try debian instead? Yes it may be slow in terms of software releases, but at least it's stable and easy to upgrade. I think debian gives you a few years before it drops support on a debian version. The thing is, Open Source development is very fast. As you can see in 2002 that you can get two or three stable releases of a software in a year. Since most of the Mandrake users want the newest thing, mandrakesoft is forced to keep up. As you can see the difference between Mandrake 9.0 and 8.0. Windows, on the other hand is pretty much stagnant in terms of development. The only big jump I have seen in windows in a few years back is the jump from 9x core to NT core. That's why windows can afford to give the so-called "support" for multiple years. Even then they already know they cannot survive on old software, hence the License 6 and Software Assurance thingie Sorry to ramble. PS: I don't think you can update 8.1 to the newest version that way, since they are so different internal wise (kernel, gcc, libraries, etc). Clean reinstall one and sync it with others. Or better yet, since you are using this for some kind of internet cafe, have you ever heard of Linux Terminal Server Project? Or Draktermserv? It may allieviate frequent installing.

Whoa whoa whoa, hold on there.. I tell you that I have no problem with the kernel from the link I gave you (it marked -23) but the kernel the update version is marked -24. A newer kernel than the one I gave you. Anyway, I just tried installed the newest (-24), I'll let you know the result of my test (listening to 1 hour worth of mp3 from my cdrom). UPDATE: Ok, this is the result of my own test. It works, 2 hours of mp3 without any problems. It used to be that it cannot read any more tracks after about 20 minutes, prompting me to eject and putting it back again. Now, it works fine.

Considering how early and incomplete beta 1 is, I guess there will be a few more betas (2 or 3) before it hits the RC stage. So far, out of the beta software used in the Mandrake beta, only KDE 3.1 hits the final version. The rest (kernel, xfree, gnome, and maybe others) are still in the beta or rc version. I hope those programs become finals before 9.1 is released.

It is still being updated / uploaded, so you have to be patient a bit. Just now right after I downloaded the kdebase-3.1-1-tex.i586.rpm, I refreshed the listing just to find that texstar is uploading kdebase-3.1-2.tex.i586.rpm. Grrr.. 19 megs of download gone to waste. At least I am in DSL right now, but if I am in dialup, I'll wait one more day until the upload is stabilized a bit.

We are all poor people here, that's why we use linux. If we have money to buy flat panels, we also have enough money to shell to m$ :P In seriousness, DVI should work as long as the video card and the monitor is supported I think. A friend of mine has a flat panel and it works with mandrake 9.0. Of course, I'm not really sure whether he used DVI or analog for that one, but I have a feeling it's DVI. At least you can use analog for your flat panel if dvi doesn't work.

Not in my Mandrake 9.0. More is more and less is less... err you know what I mean. I mean more is still a more command (only one page down at a time) while less is a less command (you can go up and down). I think less is definitely a linux invention (or bash invention or something) since I just login to a SunOS account and there is no less command. Sigh sometimes linux spoils me :)

What kind of gamepad is it? USB? Gameport? I think it can still work as a 4 button gamepad if you configure the kernel module correctly. Gamepad unfortunately is one of the weak links in linux hardware support. You need to do a lot of experimentation with loading the kernel modules to make it work, maybe read a lot about the joystick how-to or something.

My advice to people considering linux. 1. Be prepared to learn, a LOT! Using linux is like going back to school again. Even though there are programs that makes it easier to configure things or give you step by step wizards, it's preferable if you know how the programs work in the first place. 2. Linux is NOT Windows, no matter how much alike it looks. They work differently, they act differently, they are used differently. If they want a computer to just work, I point them up to windows, warning them of their own sets of problems. But if they want to have an experience of actually "conquering" their computers, I point them to linux, and ask me if they need help in learning. Let me tell you one thing, I have more people asking me about windows problems than linux problems. Linux may be a bit more complicated to setup, but once it's setup, you can forget about it since it always run no matter what :)

If you can afford to test it, try renaming your evolution directory and then try it. Also, maybe you need to delete your .gnome2 or .gnome directories because once when I am using gnome I put galeon as my default browser, and everytime I click a link in evolution (even in other desktop such as kde or xfce), it opens galeon instead of mozilla. I have to erase my .gnome2 directory to make my evolution open mozilla again.

Well, windows only gives patches either once in a blue moon (the SPs) or when the mob prods them with a pointy stick right after a huge crash because of an exploit (code red, nimda, sql slammer anyone?). Furthermore, microsoft support actually requires you to pay $35 per call even if the answer is "No, you cannot do that, your data is hosed, sorry." Another thing, to upgrade your mandrake is a lot easier than to update windows. I can upgrade my mandrake in under 2 hours while in windows it takes 2 days. Patches for mandrake is easy, just use Mandrake Update (I never have problems with it, other than the sources doesn't have the updates yet). Patches for windows require you to do much more that even sysadmin loathes to install patches. Tell me again which TCO is lower? Anyway, I kind of expect this. I mean, who here still use 7.2? And there are two kinds of EOL in Mandrake, the desktop and the base. I don't think people using 8.1 needs to upgrade their desktop to kde 3.1 if 2.2 still works fine for them. It's the security patches that I worry about. There are still people using 8.x series just for firewall or something. Oh well at least there is a buffer of sometime. Another thing, isn't installing 200 desktops in today's linux distro easier than installing windows? I think there is an option for "cloning" the mandrake via mandrake update robot or something isn't it? Besides, you don't do it at once, you do it in stages. First make one stable computer, then clone a few at a time, 10 if it is busy, 50 if it is not. You can do it in one night if you want to since all the software are available from the cloned computer.

I think he wants to emulate (geez.. no pun intended) Andrew Balsa doing installing Mandrake 9.1 beta2 under bochs under Mandrake 9.1 beta 2. See http://www.distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resou...review-mandrake for what I mean.

Right click on the klipper icon (the one that look like a clipboard in the lower right corner), then uncheck the checkmark in the Actions Enabled option (the one with Alt-Ctrl-X). Note that I am using KDE 3.1 RC6, but your regular KDE 3.0.x should be similar.

What happened if you delete you ~/.xmms directory then restart xmms? Does that work?

I think the 5 second holding the power button thingie can be modified in some bioses,