I have been looking for help on this for a few days now, and have been very unsuccessful. I'm a total newb to Linux and when people tell me how to do things, I have no idea what they mean. So here's the deal. I installed Mandrake 9.2 on my computer, and when it comes time to load the GUI (KDE) the screen flickers a few times and comes to a command prompt type screen. I know it has something to do with my monitor and/or video card (Radeon 9600 XT). I've tried going into xf86config and changing the setting to generic radeon and again to VESA. I think I'm doing something wrong at the end of xf86config when I choose to save the changes. I'm not sure if it's saving the changes to the exact file used or to a different one, and that's why I'm not getting any different results. Could somebody please help me on this. Again, I'm a total newb so your going to have to explain things a little more thoroughly than you usually would. Thanks.

Nevermind, I'm in Linux right now.

what you mean by changing your xf86config file?
do you know you are doing?
if you don't, don't mess with it.
first of all, you need a driver or a file with rpm extension at
http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/l...4&submit=GO%21
and your xfree86 version was 4.3.0.
first login as root
make a backup of your xfree86config file.
then install the rpm file by "rpm -Uvh --force fglrx-glc22-4.3.0-3.2.8.i586.rpm"
use "fglrxconfig" to creat a new xfree86 file for you and your card should be working after you restart your machine.

Now that I'm in Linux, how do I install programs? I've downloaded AIM and another version of Mozilla, but I'm clueless as how to install them and get them working.

Actually you were in linux at the command prompt. The Graphical User Interface is just another type of program that runs under Linux or over linux depending on how you look at it.

to RezidentEvil09~
i still think that you haven't got your radeon 9600 xt working yet.
however, you could change your file which is at /etc/inittab. at the vary beginning which will tell you some information and below those line. there is a line that doesn't start with #. change the value on that line from 3 to 5.
it might be a different file. not sure . i use redhatlinux 9.0
still you could try.

Installing programs is easy if you use the rpm version. Try not to use tar.gz until you learn to use the command line. Its a pain in the butt, but eventually you will learn to love linux. I do, i just hate the little things about it patch wise. Sometimes its difficult. It just takes time.... youve probably been brainwashed for a long time now. Time to learn something different.

Yeah, I downloaded flash player but it's in tar.gz. Mozilla is an rpm but I don't understand how to use either of them. I think later i'm gonna head down to the bookstore to find anything on Linux/Mandrake.