This is my first time installing any type of Linux.

I installed Mandrake as a dual boot, with Windows on one hard drive and Mandrake on the secondary dard drive. The first time it worked fine. After the install I rebooted, and played around a bit. It all worked great. Then I accidentaly turned it off by pressing the power button on the PC itself (I'm used to hibernating in windows). I also changed some boot settings (I think). When I re-booted, I got the message (as far as I can remember)

"kernel 2.6.3-7mdk i686
[192]login:"

(Or something to that effect).
I entered my username, and got

"[username@192]#".

I had no idea how to enter the Graphical interface, and searching the net brought no results, so I reinstalled Mandrake. This time in the boot loader options in the install I choose lilo graphical instead of GRUB (which I used before), and hdb1. Now when I boot, it says

"Veryfying DMI Pool Data ..........
GRUB _"


It's been there the last fifteen minutes, no change, and I am completely lost. Please help!

Not sure about the DMI message but...

if you get the command prompt after booting. logon using your user name and password and then type startx at the prompt. This will launch the GUI you choose to install (KDE or GNOME). If you get booted into linux and can startx, you can change the way linux boots in the Control Center. There is a Boot icon. (you will need the root/administrator password to enter the contol center)

When you install Mandrake, there is an option to automatically boot into graphical mode. You have to make sure there is an X in the box. (I can't remember, but there may have been a question about using xfree86. If so, make sure it is selected also. This is the base for KDE or GNOME or any window manager.)

If you still cannot boot into linux, insert the first cd and reboot.
at the prompt type rescue, this should allow you to boot into text mode and logon as root. (check out the help section when it boots to verify)

Check the lilo.conf file to make sure it is set up correctly. you can use vi or emacs to edit the file. the file is located at: /etc/lilo.conf

After verifying the lilo file, you need to run lilo again. Simply type lilo at the prompt to rewrite the file to the MBR.