How do I check my current version of Gnome and how do I upgrade?
 

The subject says it all. I have Mandriva 2006.0 and would like to have the newest verison of Gnome, but I'm not sure how to check it or upgrade. Any help?

I haven't used Mandriva, but on my debian box, I just open a gnome application (say, gedit), click help -> about, and the version number is in the dialog box.

For upgrading... uhh... /me draws a blank

Is there a reason you need to upgrade to a particular version? If you don't knoe which version you have, and aren't missing out on features in the new one... why do you want to upgrade?

As for which version you currently have, you should be ale to just check what was originanly installed on the Mandriva website, it isn't like you upgraded versions without realizing it.

RedShirt: I think asking Mandriva (i.e. their website) rather than asking the program (which will surely know better, no?) about the version information, and I'd really like to understand why you think your approach is better (and, potentially, when and why you're right).

Doing-the-incremental-knowledge-accumulation-dance-'ly yours --Jonas

I didn't say my way was better, but you are asking a specific part of gnome, a single program which version it is, not gnome itself.

For instance, KDE has a control manager which lists current KDE version, which is right. If you can do the same in gnome, great, I am sure that would work fine. But if I were to open, say kwrite on this machine, though I have 3.5.1 as my KDE version, I have 3.4.2 as my kwrite version. I learned only the software's version, not my desktops by asking a program.

RedShirt: good points, esp. about the uneven version `terrain'. So, to OP: do a broader survey. If three programs agree and none disagree on one version, that's the one you have.

I would still say this is skirting the issue. The "proper" way would be checking in the gnome menu, which should have a version of its own showing the version of gnome you are running. However, apart from this, since you have never updated, checking the original install information would give the version as well.

My only real reason int he beginning for posting was wondering why the OP would want to upgrade if they don't know currently which version they have. Are they missing a feature which may be in a later one, or for the sake of having a newer one?

.. and that is a very valid question. A general response is that (at least free ;)) software improves over time. On the other hand, a general reason to not upgrade is that you might upgrade into a bug. apt-listbugs (lists all serious bug reports before you upgrade, prompt "do you want to continue?") helps with that, but it's rather debian-specific.

Back to the main topic.

If you want to upgrade, use URPMI.. Open a console and, as root, type urpmi -i gnome.. i think ..

check man urpmi for help!

there's also a GUI took in draktools, or, there used ot be.

This works on RH FC3 with Gnome: Right click on toolbar at bottom of screen, select About Gnome .