Using the Mandrake control center, I stopped and disabled the following scripts(?) at boot-up: portmap, sound, netfs, atd, xfs.

Now KDE or Gnome won't load. I've tried to edit the rcd.5 file with vim, but vim says I can't modify the file. How can I re-insert those files?

Is the missing xfs, the reason why I can't get a GUI to load?

Probably. That's X Font server.

If you can turn those back on, you'll be okay. The way I used to do it, way back before I knew how to type startx, was I'd put in my installer disc, not touch the partition schemes, wouldn't format anything, but install 1 small package. This gives you some extra options after that, and 1 of them might be what services to start. If it doesn't, click the bubble next to the option, it should bring up the screen for it. Click on XFS, and maybe portmap (this sounds important?) and click ok.

Then finish your installer, and go from there.

As far as vim saying you can't do something, it should only say that if you aren't root, and to modify such vital files, you'd have to be root.

Cool

I tried startx, and it's a no-go as well.

I'm trying your install a small package idea now.

You were right on. I was able to check xfs to start-up on boot as the final installation step.

I think I'll go print out the Linux Cookbook, and learn how to use the command line, before I go screwing aorund with anything else.

Thanks for the tip.

No problem, I am glad you got it working

Have fun linuxing

Cool