After 3 successful installation of Mandrake 10.1, I am still not able to get into the desktop. During the last installation I entered a 7-char long password for root but did not create any user. Now when I boot (from floppy) to Linux, I get a nice login window with only a field for password and no other field (not even for any login name). I assume this login window is for root. But when I enter the password, the window just buzzes (meaning it asks me to enter the correct password).

I am frustrated by this. Should I do another fresh installation and create a user, or can I create a user without another installation? Why can I not login as root to the desktop? Please help. Thanks.

Sorry to suggest the obvious, but the caps lock key isn't on by any chance is it ? Another option is that the wrong keyboard layout has been enabled, thus what you think you're typing isn't what the system sees.

I'd try logging in to another tty (press CTRL-ALT-F4) and see what happens there. Also, try booting up in rescue mode - it should leave you at a console login prompt.

Cheers,

mj