Linux - NewbieThis Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question?
If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
Because, it's been a day or two now and it's still not running! At least with Windows XP all I do is install it and everything works. With this stupid Mandrake all I get is command line and everything I try to get it going doesn't work.
Like is it really worth all this time and effort. Even when I follow instructions that people have given me it still doesn't work.
After I get the NVIDIA driver finally on my Linux partition at /NVIDI... I type sh NVID... and walla it runs the video driver installation. Then, not to my supprise, it says something about the kernel doesn't match but I just downloaded the latest one! The first time the video driver installation ran it said it couldn't find binitis or something(a compiler program) so I reinstalled Mandrake with all the DEVELOPMENT tools.
Now my kernels don't match. This is pathetic...
I think I give up and will never run Mandrake 9.2.1 or any Linux!!! I'll stick with Windows!
I'm sorry to hear you're having frustrations. The basis of my reply is one question though: You said "all I get is command line and everything I try to get it going doesn't work."
When you boot the computer all you get is a commandline? Did you specifically tell the installation not to install a graphical desktop? or is it just misbehaving and leaving you in textmodeland?
Do you mean the origional install failed to bring up the nice login GUI? I installed Mandrake last night, 35 minutes, all is great. Do you mean everything was great, then you tried to install the NV driver and now the system isn't working?
I will be installing the nvidia drivers for my card tonight. I am writing this on Suse, where it took a total of 100 seconds to install the nv drivers. Quick question, you are using 9.2?
If the original install worked fine, re-install, then follow the instructions at the nvidia site, and ONLY the instructions there. No kernel compiles, ignore everything that everyone here has to say UNTIL and UNLESS the exact instructions from ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Li....0-5336/README dont work. EVERYTHING changed January 26, and anyone telling you what to that installed before that date is possibly giving obsolete information (on INSTALL, not troubleshooting) I, however, will post EXACTLY what I had to do to install them on 9.2 later tonight (assuming that is what you are using).
Another possibility, install a default system, and explore what it gives you, learn about Linux and see if you even like it. I do see so many people, 2.7 hours of Linux experience do a clean install, dive into a kernel compile, nv installation without reading and understanding the instructions, downloading uneeded tarfiles (URPMI), etc and get discouraged. The default driver with Mandrake for NV is fine, looks sharp, etc, at least until you explore and learn a little.
If you want Linux to be a better version of Windows, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a better OS, then Linux is for you. It will take a little time though. Look at it realistically, if you had NEVER used windows before, and were asked to install and configure it and just assume you knew everything, where would you be? Start with all the included tutorials to show you what Linux can do to see if you even want to think about converting.
I am NOT trying to come down on you, I understand the need to rant, just trying to temper your frustration a little.
I can't say I blame him for his frustration. Had I hair to pull out, I'd have plucked myself bloodly already.
I understand and personally believe Linux to be a superior OS in many, many ways. My wife and I are trying our best to become pure Linux users. She herself has commented on the wonderful stability of our SUSE 9 pro. However, Even looking at your perspective, Winblows was easier to work with than Linux. Of course this is not including the early years of Winblows. Even the professionals have admitted that Linux is lacking in the GUI department. If we want to attract M$ users away from the dark-side, it has to become more intuitive, to the point of "DUH"!
When installing a program in my XP pro, a few clicks later and I'm up and running. Yet, when installing in Linux.....Well, let's just say I don't install anything unless I have to.
I appreciate and greatly respect your knowledge and ability to use Linux more fluently. But, we need just a wee bit more "DUH", instead of, "OMG"!
D idn't U nderstand, but H umming along anyways.
O nly M anaged to G oof up my os again.
I'll think of something better in the future. This was spur of the moment....but it works for now.
I installed Mandrake 9.2.1 from the powerpack 3 cd collection. I have a NVIDIA Geforce 3 ti500. I picked the Geforce 3 generic in the setup. It was the only choice for Geforce 3. The problem is I can't get to any GUI because of an error saying something about kernal # not matching kernel #.
Is there a way to get to the GUI without using the NVIDIA drivers?
Can you tell me all off the steps you took to install 9.2 on your machine. I will copy it all later and hopefully get it going???
I have a second HD, selected it, and then went to custom partition. I selected 'partition simple' and then continue. I selected the packages, and then let it do it's thing. You can follow all the defaults it prompts with, I just like less than the normal size/type of partitions Mandrake chooses. It really was that simple. It autoconfigured by X for my GeForce4. I added root password, added a user, disabled the autologin feature, then let it create the boot record. (I wrote mine to floppy, cause I now have 3 linux's on this machine, easier that way). It rebooted and I was prompted to log in.
I would recommend a complete re-install (or, try the uninstall procedure for the NV driver, and undo the changes you made), and like I said, later I will post how I got the NV driver installed. I think a re-install might be faster.
Stick with it, it will come.
Morbid, you are right. I have have never been blessed with using Windows, and after 14 years of Linux/Unix experience, I can't imagine any other way. I have the similar experience that most have going to Linux from Windows. I go from Linux to Windows and it is so counterintutive. That said, once you learn to use it, you will realize that you don't have to reboot to install. I installed all service packs while surfing and listening to music. Reboot, why would an OS need to do that?
Originally posted by Morbid When installing a program in my XP pro, a few clicks later and I'm up and running. Yet, when installing in Linux.....Well, let's just say I don't install anything unless I have to.
You also can't go wrong installing anything from the Suse CDs. Open up install software, search for anything you want
themes
icons
games
finance
...
select the package and install. They make it so easy, and I take the process so much for granted, I will still have 19 apps open, install the kmymoney app just to check it out. Suse 9 and Mandrake have the software install process down to a science.
I am truly sorry to hear you are having to use anything M$! Get ready for crashes mega-viruses, redundancies and security updates out the yang-yang! My condolences!
I'm personally going to try to convert our local courthouse over to Linux by this time next year. If anything, it will save the county a truckload of money.
I don't supose you know anything about compiling the 2.6.4 kernel in SUSE?
I keep losing those trying to help me in the middle of it. I see you are using the same program! Thank GOD!!!!!!! Have you compiled yet?
I have a 2 GHz system, and get 7000 fps in glxgears. I can run tuxracer at 1600x1200, UT, etc at around 300 fps fullscreen, so don't see the need to. I only compile a kernel once, back in Redhat 6.1 to get USB support. Never done one since. I think the only time to compile a kernel these days is for obscure hardware support, or your performance is lacking and you need the speed. Any particular reason want 2.6? I have used Windows plenty, before I converted all my family and friends to Linux. It was because I hated it and it's unreliability that I install Linux and only support Linux anymore. I have never even seen an XP screen live.
Well, yes, there is a reason. I'm hoping my MX 700 Logitech mouse might be better suported with 2.6. Also, I can't run my UT2004 demo for some reason. I don't know what TUX is running at, but it is smooth. I also can't get my new Epson Photo R300 to work. It recognises it, but doesn't have it in it's list of printers. Also, I'm hoping for mroe support of my Logitech keyboard as well. Not to mention I can't find my scanner in the list either.
HA! Let me correct that. I have now...for some reason lost any graphic support! No, I don't know what happened! No wonder I can't get UT or AA to work!
Well, I'm going to try what I have. I doubt it will work. If not, then I will have to re-re-re-re-re-install Linux again. I can't help it. I'm a pig-headed Leo! Nice chatting with you. If this doesn't work, then I'm off to do the other ten billion things I need to get done. Take care!
Originally posted by Morbid That's right...Brag, brag, brag!
Well, yes, there is a reason. I'm hoping my MX 700 Logitech mouse might be better suported with 2.6. Also, I can't run my UT2004 demo for some reason. I don't know what TUX is running at, but it is smooth. I also can't get my new Epson Photo R300 to work. It recognises it, but doesn't have it in it's list of printers. Also, I'm hoping for mroe support of my Logitech keyboard as well. Not to mention I can't find my scanner in the list either.
HA! Let me correct that. I have now...for some reason lost any graphic support! No, I don't know what happened! No wonder I can't get UT or AA to work!
The mouse? It has a USB to PS/2 adapter, doesn't that make it transparent? Have you tried direct USB and in Yast, all the USB mouse options?
UT isn't a kernel problem. I ran it on Redhat 8.0, Just started on Suse and will soon be getting it going on Mandrake.
Originally posted by THEBIGFISH Can you tell me all off the steps you took to install 9.2 on your machine. I will copy it all later and hopefully get it going???
Thanks
Alright, just installed the NVidia driver. It took about 10 minutes, but then again, I was writing this guide as I went. I installed a stsock 9.2 system, downloaded all security and bug updates (whether that affects this, I doubt it, but want to be complete). It looks long, but 3/4 of it is teaching how to install and prep work before you actually do it.
Now, the tweaking begins. Only getting about 4500 in glxgears...but that's another story.
RO
1) Create a directory somewhere called NewSoftware or something like that.
3) Start The Mandrake control center-->Software-->SoftwareMediaManager.
Select Add
Local files
Name it what you want, then add the above directory to the path.
Save.
4) Open RPM Drake
Enter 'nano' in the search line, then search
It will show up at the bottom. Click the box and then Install
(Ignore the signature warning)
5) You now have nano as a console editor (easy) and you learned how to
install new software on your system.
6) enter binutils in your search window. If it shows up, select the check box and install it.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.