Hey,
I've installed Mandrakelinux 10.0 on my sony vaio laptop. Almost everything seems to have been set properly automatically, i.e. video, sound, ethernet, etc. However, there are 3 issues I've run into.

First off, KLaptop is always in the "Plugged in - No battery found" mode.

Secondly, there is no driver for Synaptics Touchpad mouse... I have found drivers, however, how do I set them up? What's x86config? ww.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/showthread.php?t=13080&goto=nextnewest
^Add a w to the front, since I can't post a www links yet. (5 posts minimum required first)

Lastly, I can't get my Microsoft MN-720 Wireless G WiFi PCMCIA card to configure. In fact, the power light on it never turns on either. Microsoft 802.11g MN-720 (PCMCIA) Cardbus Broadcom.

So, if anyone has any suggestions, please reply.

Thanks,

I can't help you with the KLaptop as I've notice the same is happening here - no battery mode.
I've unplugged the back now and am restarting .. so let's see ...

ok XF86Config-4 is a configurationg file that can be edited manually
it contains information about your video setting, mouse configuration, resolution and graphics driver.

vi /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (just for a colourful preview)
use pgup and pgdown to find Section "InputDevice"

for example

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" ####
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" ####
EndSection

Most likely you will have to change the lines #### to make your mouse work
Now log in as root
and type something like kedit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (if you have that installed)
and change those lines with whatever is ideal for your mouse (myself like you, would have to find out)

The last item is a tricky one - because I've always stayed well clear of wireless internet
Try MandrakeControl Center in the Menu:
System->Configuration->Configure Your Computer
A window should appear with icons

Click Network and Internet
And you are presented with more icons
Now its a question of experimenting a few of those:
You could start with "New Connection" and go the Wireless Connection route again.

---

Oh by the way, KLaptop seems buggy - it still shows no battery.

Maybe someone should inform their development team.

Yeah, seems like klaptop is buggy in mdk10.0 official and the 10.1 ce versions.

I'm not at home so I can't test this yet... maybe it'll be useful to you.
mandrakeusers.org/lofiversion/index.php/t19842.html

Also, my touchpad 'kind of' works, it's just not using the proper drivers, thus I can't actually tap on the pad to click. I need to click those buttons below the touchpad.

I never created a password for the root user. How do I log in as the root user? (Sorry, I must sound really stupid. )

i am trying to think ....
i believe it is impossible for you not to have a root password but just a user password.

either you are root - all the time - which can't be - since you need to use the login name: root
or you have set the same password for root as for user.
also *maybe* it was set to empty? - though I believe any distro will create a random password as a precaution.

but assuming that say that part was skipped -
i think it will be a question of reinstalling mandrake again as upgrading would skip all admin steps.

there is a way round this - but it is so long and complex - that reinstalling is probably better.
but in case you are curious (about this really long and complex method) ..
it involves getting a liveCD and chrooting into the enviroment (I mean I would have to reproduce this here, but can't it will take too long )
something like pop a liveCD, mount the system, chroot there, type passwd, save your password permanently with echo "tts/0" >> /etc/securetty (I believe) - one day I will try that

meanwhile I would raise a ticket "Help lost my root password!!" and maybe some person knows a quick fix for that.
my fix would be far from quick :|

I can switch to root user in the terminal by just typing "su root."

Anyways, I believe I've got the proper synaptics driver. However, it's a source rpm file. How do I compile it and place these drivers in the mouse hardware settings?

while you are root
for security reason set yourself a password
passwd
echo "tts/0" >> /etc/securetty

try the instruction above
also you could look for any admin package that deals with password kpassword? (something like that)

if you have an rpm
as root
urpmi name-of-file.rpm

it helps if the rpm is a mandrake rpm
otherwise you have 50/50 chance of it installing.

remember installing other rpms will never break your system
it just wont install if it can't

for the mouse - again you need to edit that file
/etc/X11/XF86Config-4
as suggested

or you could install the rpm - attach mouse and restart PC
just to see if mandrake picks the mouse naturally
if not then try editing /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 as root