I have an ATI Radeon 9800 and I just tried to intstall linux. The graphical install works fine, but afterwards when I log in I can't get in to graphical mode, even through the command prompt (I've tried typing KDE and startx). It just gives me a big log file that says Radeon 9800 many times.
Might this have something to do with some big problems I was having due to multiple partitions?

Also, how do I shutdown? I know I can type reboot, but its annoying to do it that way.

EDIT: I also see the graphical screen when booting up and rebooting, in case that help (confuses you more).

Thanks ahead of time. More questions to come.

You just haven't gotten X configured properly yet. There is a driver available if you didn't get the power pack (which would have configured it for you, it pays to buy the distro )

Mandrake Linux Hardware Database

# Configuring X
Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO - video cards
The Linux XFree86 HOWTO
Configuring XFree86 for a Non-Specific Linux Distribution
Common X configuring tools:
Mandrake - XFdrake
You may have one or more of these tools:
XF86Setup
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config
xconf
ATI Linux drivers

To shutdown command:
shutdown -h now

To re-boot command:
shutdown -r now

You see what is called "framebuffer" on boot up, which is an SVGA console actually. It is not X.

You can shutdown by typing:
shutdown -h now
that will do a shutdown right away and halt the system (even power off on some PCs!)
shutdown -r -t 60
will do a shutdown after waiting 60 seconds and then reboot.
do man shutdown for all of the gory details...

For the Radeon, check here for a driver.

HTH!

Bork3, I also have the EXACT same problem and I also have a Radeon 9800 (non-pro) with Mandrake 9.2. I tried getting the ATI Linux drivers, but they did not help, as the following error came up:

First of all, I entered: "lynx --dump http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/fg...3.2.8.i586.rpm > /tmp/atidriver.rpm"

Then: "rpm -i /tmp/atidriver.rpm"

And the error: "file /usr/X11R6/libGL.so.1.2 from install of fglrx-glc22-4.3.0-3.2.8 conflicts with the file from package libxfree86-4.3-23mdk"

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.