OK, I just started using slackware and I installed it fine (except loading lilo onto the root partition instead of the MBR but that's ok) and now I want to get to using it and stuff. So I log in as root (which I hear is bad) and type startx and voila, KDE pops up. It sits there looking nice and has awesome responsiveness compared to XP, but problem is, I can't access the internet. I have DSL, with a modem that is connected to my motherboard integrated 10/100 ethernet. When I tried out knoppix it found my connection fine, so I don't know why this isn't working. I think I might have gotten confused and messed something up during installation when I was asked about network names and stuff. Is there any way to configure my internet from KDE? If it requires CLI, that's fine but I do feel more comfortable in KDE since it's been a while since the days of DOS (when I was about 5 btw).

Another problem: I'm assuming this is a graphics card driver problem. My screen is being shown with a 61hz refresh rate. I like a nice, flicker free 85hz on windows, and knoppix could at least get 75hz which wasn't too bad either. Do I need to install graphics card drivers? I have a Radeon 9200SE, powercolor I believe.

If there is a tutorial on either of these things, feel free to point it out instead of wasting your time typing. I couldn't find one but perhaps I don't know what the titles really mean.

there should be something in the kde control panel for network connections.
As far as the video card, do a search for your card, there are a lot of posts about that card.

Can you be more specific? I don't want to have to alternate between slack and windows because shutting down and starting XP takes a long time. I want to get it right in one shot so that I don't have to boot up XP again for internet. I did check in the KDE control panel, and i really couldnt find anything that logically would fix it.

There is a "internet & network" module
http://www.kde.org/documentation/

"If you're using a broadband connection, or connecting via a local network, things are easier (from the point of view of KDE). Once you've set up the connection with the tools provided by your Linux® or UNIX® distribution, KDE will use the connection automatically."

The problem is, I think I accidentally skipped the part of the slackware installer that set up my internet. How can I fix that?

You should be able to set it in kde as well. Otherwise take a look at /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/rc.conf. I believe Slack uses those as well. You can look at the from windows. What type of connection do you have? Are you going thru a router?

Also, here is a online handbook for slack. The network settings stuff should be in here as well
http://www.slackersbible.org/

No, I believe that bible thing is incomplete as the network items are empty. If all else fails, I will just reinstall because it takes about 20-30 minutes and was pretty pleasant.

edit: i looked it up in the official slack book and it said that the installer invokes netconfig, so I can just run that. woot! thanks for your help anyway.

Used netconfig, but it still doesnt work. Argh. I'm thinking that maybe it's the 2.4 kernel? I have no idea but maybe the 2.6 supports my motherboard ethernet and 2.4 doesn't. The motherboard uses a VIA Rhine II 10/100 chip or something like that.

I wonder if the right module is being loaded for your ethernet card? I believe the via-rhine chipset is supported in Slack, but I'm not sure if it's loaded by default. Try opening a terminal. log in as root and type "lsmod" (no quotes), and post back with the output.