Ok I get this message any time I try to use the Make command......"modules shouldn't use kernel headers . . .". I am running Mandrake 8.1 and when I looked at the installed components in the package manager it shows the kernel-headers as being installed.
When I looked in my modversions.h file all that was in there wa 2 lines which basically said ......#modules shouldn't use kernel headers....blah blah blah. Well after 2 weeks and trying to install several different things using the make command and geting this same error, I deleted the modversions.h file in hopes that I would get anything else but this error. I do but it's still wrong.
I have been searching the web for answers for 2 weeks with no luck and hopefully someone in this forum can shed some light on this.
I am a linux newbie so please explain everything very detailed as if I were a 3 year old. I will not be offended. What will offend me is if I have to stay with MicroSloth Windblows.
Thanks in advance for any help.

cyberclaus@home.com

Just curious - what's on the CONFIG_MODVERSIONS line in your /usr/src/linux/.config file? I ran into a similar problem a while back and I found this to be the problem when it was enabled.

I actually cannot find the .config file you are referring to. I also do not have a /usr/src/linux directory. I have a usr/include/linux directory but no .config file. This is the frustrating part of linux.... so many different distros.

cyberclaus,

Are you sure you don't have a /usr/src/linux directory? I'm running Mandrake 8.0, an that directory exists on my box. I wouldn't think there would be that much difference between Drake 8.0 and 8.1 (although I could be wrong). The line mcleodnine refers to in my .config file looks like this:As far as the /usr/include/linux directory goes, that's where the actual header (.h) files live, including modversions.h.

Try
$ urpmf /usr/src/linux

This shows me that kernel-source is what has that directory, which contains, BTW, various header files, consistent with your error.

$ rpm -q kernel-source

will tell you if it is installed. If not,

# urpmi kernel-source

(It has to be the same version as the kernel you are running; will be if you are running the stock installed kernel).

hth

Ok I am closer. Thank you rolf. Now I have the /usr/src/linux directory. Everytime I tried to install the rpm off of the disc it said "Package already installed" but apparently not. Now I have that I try to run the "make install" I get depmod: /lib/modules/2.4.8-26mdk/kernel/drivers/input/joydev.o.gz is not an ELF
file

followed by:

depmod: *** Unresolved symbols in /lib/modules/2.4.8-26mdk/joy-sidewinder.o

I think this is because I tried to make install before I had the kernel-source installed but I don't know how to break this link to /lib/modules/2.4.8-26mdk.

You're welcome. Two things: as root, you could try depmod -a. I think that gets done at boot and shouldn't hurt.

Also, if you are going to do make in a directory where you did make before, do make clean first.

Just a couple of guesses but maybe worth a try.

Good luck.

Unfortunately still get the :
/lib/modules/2.4.8-26mdk/kernel/drivers/input/joydev.o.gz is not an ELF file

if I do a depmod -a I get the same message.

This is really the last hurdle I have to getting linux up and running to the point that I do not need to reboot to Windows. I know I am new at this but I have spent countless hours reading posts from several different sites before I ask any questions and thus far I have been very lucky to find most of my problems have been addressed before. I would love to get this last task accomplished so I can start enjoying this new OS instead of wrestling with it. Thanks for everyone's help.

There's some similar language at google groups and this page,too, a good place to search for solutions, if you didn't know.