I have a Linux system that keeps rebooting, and it appears that some files are missing. How can I repair Mandrake 10 (I have the disks) to insure that the OS is not the problem wothout overwriting files I know I need?

Do you get errors when it shutdown, does it complete its booting, we need more info.
Could also be a hardware problem, make a backup of your important stuff, boot with the Mandrake10 cd (very old version by the way), and look for the rescue option.

I ALWAYS get "your system appears to have shutdown uncleanly" upon reboot, and it goes through disk check. My system boots up, goes thpough the normal retail startup, then, at some point (within minutes) reboots. It also reboots if I switch to root and try to review the files (not right away, but within a few minutes). If I go through and boot Linux instead of allowing it to boot the reteil system (defautl), I get the same results - reboot after a few minutes. I have a new drive and will back up the files, but how can I insure they get back in the right place when I finish re-installing Mandrake. Thanks for your response, I hope this helps.

Support for "Mandrake linux" was discontinued some years ago. Now it is called "mandriva", and is different.

Boot from a current (2009) "live CD" and copy your personal files to an external HDD.

Then do an clean install of your next chosen distro ("Mandriva-xxx" ?)

Then restore what you need.

OK. I'm ready to jump in. - tredegar, your post brings two questions to mind. One: I have the old distribution of Mandrake on 3 CDs and can install it, but if Mandriva will suffice, IU'll install it instead. Second: I have looked at several versions of Ubuntu and notice you use Kubuntu. If I install this instead will my old mandrake system work on it?
Thanks in advance.
FYI: I am currently running Win 7, Win Vista and Win XP. I am proficient in C++, BASIC, FORTRAN (Taught FORTRAN and COBOL), Z80 assembler, and have many retail programs published, as well as three books on programming. I am familiar with UNIX (from a few years back) but need a refresher. My simple issue is to get the retail system stable and running.
I guess the basic question is how do I mirror copy the files on the current system hard drive to replace them on a new drive to boot and run the same way.

You could install Mandrake, but I'd advise against it- it is no longer supported, there will be no security updates, and, well, things are mostly much better now.

You are welcome to try Mandriva, but I like kubuntu very much. I like KDE3. Best of all is the system used by the 'bubtus for software updates and installing new stuff. The "Debian way" of doing these things is good, better than mandrake's urpmi was.

I am running kubuntu 8.04 (LTS). LTS="Long Term Support", and it's good for another year I think.

8.04 comes with KDE 3.5 which is likely to be what you will be used to (Though it is better, faster, more functional and prettier than Mandrake's KDE3 was).

The "newer" Kubuntu (9.10) comes with KDE4, which I happen to hate.

I don't understand the Q.

A modern distro comes with all (and more) software that Mandrake had, so you don't need Mandrake any more. A modern distro has support for just about everything USB, bluetooth, wireless, and right now I am playing with a USB GPS device, which worked out-of-the-box with ubuntu 9.04 (No, not Kubuntu, I'd rather use Gnome than KDE4!) and tangoGPS.

Let us know how you get on. Good luck.