I've spent the last two days trying to find and execute an answer on my own...and have failed miserably. I thought I'd throw myself on the mercy of the community and hope for the best.
After an update two days ago, my nVidia driver failed to load. I have no 3D desktop, which doesn't seem like a big deal because I can still log in and somewhat use the system, but there are no window borders, no close, minimize, maximize buttons, and right-click functions open UNDER the current window (which cannot be moved). The windows open on top of the taskbar, so unless I can get the window closed via file->exit, I can't even access the shut-down button. Essentially, these issues make my system unusable, which is a bummer because I really enjoy Mandriva and don't want to go back to windoze.
I read about a known issue (bug #34141) within Mandriva 2008, but I didn't have backports enabled (one of the described issues) and the instructions from the known-issues wiki aren't too easy for a n00b to understand, ("as root, do this:"). I tried it though! Whatever I was supposed to do wasn't what I did, apparently, because it didn't work.
I also read through forums, including this one, looking for anyone who had an nVIDIA failure after the recent updates, and it seems I'm the only one. I'm considering starting all over, reinstalling the whole OS, but I just loaded more than 200 family pictures and I'm not sure I could get them backed up anywhere with the way the system is(n't) operating.
I dual-boot XP/Mandriva 2008, my card is a GeForce Go 7800 GTX, and the other specs of my system are in my profile if that makes any difference. I know you will probably have other questions that I haven't answered. I appreciate any and all help offered. Please remember I am a complete n00b and don't understand some of the terminology (despite reading the excellent glossary provided here), nor do I have a grasp on the inner workings of the OS.
Thanks much.