brian w.

The only way I can figure out how to open up the AVG anti virus program is by going into the Konsole (I'm using KDE desktop), and typing in "avggui". Isn't there some way I can put an icon on my desktop? ...Or even list it in the star menu? Brian

Great! Thanks to all. I do you my system set on "auto login". Maybe I'll try the "Lock Session, and start new one" prompt in the star menu - or maybe I'll just disable the auto login. Bro Bri

I know that when I installed Mandriva 2006 that I programed 2 desktops (KDE & GNOME), and my computer also shows that I have 2 desktops. On startup, KDE is the default desktop. I can't for the life of me figure out how to switch over to the GNOME desktop. How do I do this?

Tyme's answer for gaining permission for updates to avg got me through this mess. I was able to figure all the steps out from there. The "Long-Winded" solution is this: I'm using the KDE Desktop (Mandriva 2006) First, open the Konsole Type su, and hit Enter It will ask for your password... enter your password, and hit enter. Then, type avgupdate A bunch of stuff pertaining to paths & the such will appear. Ignore this stuff. Next, type avggui, and this will open up the avg program. Now, just click the Update tab. It should start updating automatically at this point, and after updating it will automatically install the update(s). Please excuse my going into so much detail on this, but if there are some Linux newbies reading this that are as "Linux illiterate" as I, they may need a step-bystep instruction. I was just fortunate enough to stumble on the protocol. Bro Brian

Got it, ianw. I think alot of the stuff I've been educated on here would have been alot easier had I read the whole easyurpmi web page (which I hadn't scrolled all the way down on the easyurpmi web page). Thanks again! Brian

OK, ianw, I believe I'm about to do this thing! Your last paragragh kind of spun me again (when you mentioned the "plf-free and plf-nonfree" thing) but I think I can get through this. May the Mandriva Gods shine down on you all. Bro Bri

OK - Now I'm getting closer to understanding this. Please make note that I'm not the only one cyphering this stuff out. I have a few co-workers who are looking this stuff over as well, and at least 2 of us co-workers are looking very closely at this. From what I'm getting so far is that 1. You must start with urpmi.removemedia -a from the beginning. 2. Then (with each command) you will start by typing su, and hitting enter before making the actual command. Hence, It will look like this? urpmi.removemedia -a (enter) su (enter) urpmi.addmedia main rsync://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/MandrivaLinux/official/2006.0/i586/media/main with media_info/synthesis.hdlist.cz (enter) su (enter) urpmi.addmedia contrib rsync://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/MandrivaLinux/official/2006.0/i586/media/contrib with media_info/synthesis.hdlist.cz (enter) su (enter) urpmi.addmedia plf-free rsync://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/plf/mandriva/free/2006.0/i586 with synthesis.hdlist.cz (enter) su (enter) urpmi.addmedia plf-nonfree rsync://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/plf/mandriva/non-free/2006.0/i586 with synthesis.hdlist.cz (enter) su (enter) urpmi.addmedia --update updates rsync://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/MandrivaLinux/official/updates/2006.0/main_updates/ with media_info/synthesis.hdlist.cz (enter) Does this look like the way it should be done? By this time, I'm sure there are a few Linux techs rolling their eyes at this stupidity of mine. Thanks for hanging in there with me. Brian

Dear ffi, Please teel me if I have this correct. What you're saying here is the following: Follow the instructions from easyurpmi. Next, go to Konsole, and type urpmi.removemedia -a (and hit enter key) Next, type su (and hit enter key) Next, type urpmi.addmedia main rsync://distrib- (and hit enter key) Next, type coffe.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/MandrivaLinux/official/2006.0/i586/media/main with media_info/synthesis.hdlist.cz (and hit enter key) Next, type urpmi.addmedia contrib rsync://distrib- (and hit enter key) So on and so forth..... Is this correct, or am I missing something? Sorry, I guess I'm not as bright as most. Bro Bri

Dear ffi, I think I understand this. I will try this out tomorrow for sure. Brian

I did try doing the: system/configuration/packaging/mandriva updates. After following the prompts, a window came up that said: "The list of updates is empty. this means that either there is no available update for the packages installed on your computer, or you allready installed all of them". Maybe I am OK with the updates? :o Bro Brian

On My Compaq Deskpro, it has a Pentium® III processor, 800 mhz. I don't really know as to which Mandriva 2006 I installed. It's a free version that came with 3 cd's. How can I tell? As far as going to the control center....Is this the consol? (sorry...As I have said previously, I'm very Linux illiterate!) I'm also running the KDE desktop. I hope this helps in diagnosing the steps to follow. Brian PS. I live in Lake George, Colorado, USA (as for location).

I just recently installed Mandriva 2006 onto an older Compaq "Deskpro" (10 Gig & 128 mb ram), and finally got it on the internet. During the install, it asked me if I wanted to look for updates, but I hadn't figured out how to get it online at the time. Now that I'm online, I would love someone to give me a "step-by-step" instruction as how to go about updating fixes, patches, that sort of thing. I have read numerous postings which speak of "urpmi, easyurpmi, and mirrors", but I really can't figure out how to go about doing this, and definitely am not up to speed on Linux phrases. But I would like to check for any updates for the OS. If I were a Mandriva Club subscriber, I'm sure this would be as hard to do, but I am not. Any help in this matter will help me out a great deal. Brian PS. Even if I were able to use the "easyurpmi", I don't even know as to what architecture I need, or what this means (RE: i586, etc.)

I did end up doing the "Right click on desktop" to put the kppp on my desktop, and then renamed it "Dialup", and changed the icon picture to a telephone. It all worked out great! Bri

Scarecrow, You've helped me out tremendously! I will try your advice out, and I'm sure this will work. I imagine that it will only be a year or so, and I'll be on my way to freedom from the big Microsoft giant! Actually - maybe only a few months depending on how quickly I can learn how to apply all the applications I need for a complete system with cd/dvd r/rw burning capabilities, and the such. The only thing I am willing to pay extreme prices for is my ISP. Other than that, I think I'm going to be far better off in the years to come. Thanks so much. Bro Bri

Dear all, I finally was able to get on-line with Mandriva 2006 (Hoorah!!!). Now, my immediate problem is that I don't have any KPPP program listed in my list (when I click "Start, internet, etc."). The only way I can go to the KPPP file is to type in "KPPP" in the Konsole to bring it up. But what I want to do is to put a KPPP icon on my desktop for easy access. I've tried to right click the blue strip at the top of the KPPP window, but it still doesn't give me an option to put KPPP on my desktop. Any suggestions on how to go about doing this? Thanks in advance for any help concerning this matter. Bro Brian

I must have done something to the KPPP file for sure. Upon my hastiness of not wanting to wait for a solution to my problem, I decided to re-install the Mandriva 2006 OS, and then everything worked! I must have reconfigured my Knoqueror file (trying to get online with Netscape earlier weeks before). But now it's all working, and I'm online! Thanks for the suggestions nonetheless. Bro Brian B) PS...also, the Knoqueror Firewall was set to block everything - including internet. This could have also been the reason for it not letting me go to websites, and maybe the MAIN reason.

Dear all, I have just recently been able to make a connection with a new ISP (eskimo.com). I am new to Linux, and have recently installed the Mandriva 2006 OS. After making a connection with kppp, I open up Konqueror, and I get the following error message. "Error while loading http://www.mandriva.com". If I try entering a different url (re: google.com or yahoo.com) I get the same message. Apparently neither of the browsers on the KDE desktop (Konqueror or Firfox) are reding my connection. I am very new to the Linux OS, and don't know what to do to get this problem solved. Brian

Thanks for all the info again. A friend of mine did give me a used external modem he had by the name of "Blaster Flash 56-2 V.90 & K56 flex". I connected it to my computer, and re-installed the Mandriva 2006 disks (3). It was able to configure from what I'm guessing, however when the OS prompted me if I wanted to test the connection, I didn't hear any dial tones, and then a message came up saying, "no internet connection found". Of course I put in a fake phone number, so I have to wait until I find some ISP software to install, and really have it set up for a true connection to see if it really did work. I don't know, but I would have thought I would have heard a dial tone or something - even with a false phone number. Bro Bri

"In other words, any modem that has its own processor and does not "share" the computer's processor will work fine." Maybe this is the problem. The Lucent winmodem that's installed right now may not be "true hardware" - an artificial modem? Anyway, I'll keep looking into this all. I have written down the other modems as well, and will try to figure out what path to pursue. thanks for all the info! Bri Bri

I am playing around with the idea of switching from microsoft to Linux. I recently bought a used Compaq "Desktop Pro" with 800 mb processor, and loaded the Mandriva 2006 onto it (3 cd's). Everything worked out great except for the modem (which is a winmodem). I have heard from one of the IT people at work that it may be easier for me to just buy another modem that's compatible for the Linux OS. I'm really pretty illiterate when it comes to computer diagnostics, and the such - even with Windows XP I wouldn't attempt to do anything in the bios, etc. I can do many things, but am still limited in my experience. Now I'm trying to learn the Mandriva OS, and have to slowly learn commands to enter into the console, and the such. I really don't want to do the "scanmodem" thing, and figure out the chipset to the "Lucent winmodem" I have. Then figure out how install the drivers for it - if I can even find the drivers! Can anyone suggest some sort of dialup modem that may work for my setup? It could be an internal modem or possibly a serial modem. Whatever may be easiest for the Mandriva 2006 OS to pick up. I believe that the processor on the Compaq is an Intel Celeron. Money is a factor in what I end up buying. I have heard of one modem by the name of "Zoom", and have looked some of those over, but I really was having a hard time figuring out which one would be the compatible one. Thanks for any info/suggestions! Bro Brian