Im a total newbie to linux and I could use some help if any one wants to help. Im a widows user at this piont looking to learn a little mandrake 10.1
I got it installed no prob, but after I log in I really dont know what to do from there. LOL I was hoping for a gui but all I got was "what I would call a user promt" . If some one could help me get to a gui That would be great or tell me where I could find some beginners user notes that wont cost me anything.

Thanks for reading my post and your help

Corpse

hmm. don't know why it didn't configure it to start the xserver for you. try 'startx' at the prompt

OK thanks I got a IO error 104

also Above it states no screen found, I wonder if its because of gaphics card It didnt seen to pass the test at install

this is the error

(EE) No Devices Detected.

Fatal Server Error:
No Screens Found

X10: Fatal IO Error 104 (connection reset by peer) on X Server ":0.0"
after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

Xorg needs to be configured for your monitor and video card. Round up the documentation for your monitor and video card. Specifically, you need to know what the horizontal and vertical refresh rates are for your monitor, what resolutions and color depths each will support, and what your video card's chipset is and how much video memory it has.

The command "lspci -vv" can be helpful here.

Once you have as much information on these as you can get, run "xorgconfig".

For additional information on the subject, and as-you-do-it handholding, consult The Slackbook.

If you have links or lynx installed, you can access it from the command line by typing:

links http://www.slackbook.org

or

lynx http://www.slackbook.org

Whatever else you do, READ THIS BOOK! It will help you in more ways than you can imagine.

Good Luck!

Thanks guys you all rock I will give it a shot

OK that didnt work any other IDeas

what part didnt work?

you need to run xorgconfig to configure your GUI (whats called the 'x server' / xorg).
if, when you get to the monitor/video card section and yours isnt there.. just choose the generic one. if you have an nvidia/ati vid card then choose generic or whatever, and u can configure/install the appropriate drivers later.
when you get to the screen where you have to configure your vertical sync rates, be sure to have those numbers ready.. read the manual that came with the monitor, or maybe it says it on the back of the monitor, or look up your monitor model online to ge the exact numbers, as the wrong numbers can ruin it.
configuring xorg WILL work.

what was the error if you say it didnt work after doing this?

(you have to be the 'root'/administrator user when u run xorgconfig, so u have proper rights to save the xorg.conf file)
to do this, type 'su' at the terminal to switch user (to root), enter root's password when asked. then type '/usr/X11R6/bin/xorgconfig' to load the program, follow what it says, save the file at the end, type 'exit' to become your regular user again then 'startx'

I want in as root so I will try it agian Thanks so much guys or gals

I try to re-install the monitor and graphics and no luck with the xorgconfig command.
also I tryed the '/usr/X11R6/bin/xorgconfig' no such file message


Here is the message I get when I try to startx
(==) using config file: "/etc/x11/xorg.config"
Using vt7
(EE) no devices detected.
no screens found
please consult the X.org foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org for help
X10: fatal IO error 104 (connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0"
after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

so you su to root and it doesnt find the commands? after u su to root can u just type 'xorgconfig'? or does it say that doesnt exist either? try 'find / -name xorgconfig -mount'.. remember linux is case sensitive too, does that give any output? or just type 'whereis xorgconfig' as your 'normal' user and it should list the folders where it is.. its gotta be there somewhere.

Hey thanks man I'll try agian in the morning I to sleepy to think clearly now nite

ok this what I did so far:
I SU to root then ran this command "xorgconfig"
I went threw the options and save the new profile, then came back to normal usr and did the "startx" command and I still get this error:
(==) using config file: "/etc/x11/xorg.config"
Using vt7

(EE)vga(0): driver cant't support depth 24

(EE) screen "s" found, but none have a usable configuration

Fatel server error:
no screens found

please consult the X.org foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org for help

X10: fatal IO error 104 (connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0"
after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

here are my spec.s:
Asus A7V8X-X MB
AMD 2800 2.0ghz
768mb DDR Kingston
Asus 6800GT AGP Nvidea chipset 128mb ddr

Im not giving up So I'll try what ever

ok, try running the tool again except select the generic nvidia driver (i think there is one on the 2nd page it displays).
also, you DID get your exact vertical sync rates?

Ya I think so in the options on my monitor, it states H and V numbers "h38 and V60.6" 50 to 60 hz

Does that sound right?


Update I made it to a screen with xorgcfg