I'm new to this forum and pretty amature at Linux in general, but I hope you guys can help me. My Windows XP machine just had some major problems after I installed a bad piece of software, and I came into a copy of Madrake 9.2. Rather than reinstalling windows, I decided to give Linux a try. The install went flawlessly, but when the Lilo bootloader shows up (there are about 4 linux options and the floppy) any one I choose that isn't solely the terminal won't boot. My monitor goes into standby mode, and the only way I can get back is by using the restart button on the front of the case. I've tried reinstalling Mandrake a couple of times with different options, but the same results.

My computer is:
Pentium4 2.4 Ghz
1 Gig RAM
ATI Radeon 7200
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Soundcard

Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to LQ.

You say that if you boot to any of the options except a console and you're stuffed? My guess would be that you're having problems with your X configuration. X is the graphical portion of Linux. Since booting to a text console seems to work, I would not think that your system is broken.

Try booting to a text console.
Logging in as root.
Running drakconf
Reconfiguring your graphical setup (if you can).

i remember having the same problem with mine the first time i installed red hat. im still a newbie at heart, but my prof says member...hehe.

anyhow. the man is right. turning off x (xfree86 or something at the end of the installation) i think when you are configuring your bootloader. solved all of my problems. i used to date a girl from holland, it was her boyfriend who told me how to fix it. and i thought i was just trying to get some. who could have known. it was all part of the plan man!! the lord meant for me to use linux, and he set me on that quest. no...i didnt "get any"