I've installed the 32 bit Mandriva 2008 from disk, and it automatically upgraded during installation to the free version of 2009. Unfortunately, when I boot and it tries to complete the upgrade in the desktop environment, it gives me an error, and directs me to a log file in my root folder. Because it is the free edition (I think), Mandriva does not allow root login (or at least it doesn't with me). So I can't view the log file. Here's what I do know:

1. Before it starts the packages download, it says "Sorry, some packages cannot be selected" and gives me a list of some gnome python packages (I'm using KDE, so I would think the gnome stuff wouldn't matter) and some regular python packages.

2. It gives me a list of packages to be installed (in order of dependency).

3. It gives me an error "transaction too small:" and then a list of a ton of packages, such that the message window extends below my screen where I can't reach any buttons, and so I have to x out of it.

It then downloads, and eventually either restarts at 1, or gives me an error that it failed, and asks me to retry or not (logfile in the root folder, as described above).

So, can you help me fix the problem that doesn't allow the upgrade, or tell me how to access the logfile so I can give you more information?

Thank you.

My suggestion if you can't get a terminal up is to boot a rescuecd and take a look at the file in roots home directory. If you can get a terminal up try su - (+roots password) or sudo su - (+your password). Sounds kinda like your drive may be full?

You can log in as root in the terminal and try running the update from there. To do that, at the grub boot menu, there ought to be a default entry highlighted. When you see that, press E to edit. You might get a dialog to ask if you want to leave the graphical boot. OK that and, if you have to switch between buttons, use Tab to cycle through buttons and press Enter to execute the one you want.

The first line of the grub entry, the kernel line, will be highlighted. Press E to edit that. The cursor is at the end of the line, make a space, type a 3 and press Enter to commit the edit. At the next screen, press B to boot.

After the kernel loads, you are brought to a log in prompt. Type root and press Enter. Type the root password and press Enter. At the root prompt, type

urpmi -v --auto-update

and press Enter. See what happens. You can navigate a bit of the history of the screen output by holding down Shift and pressing Page Up, Page Down.

Ok, so, a couple things.

I reinstalled several times. One of the biggest problems I'm running into is that when I update, apparently rpmdrake wants to update too. Unfortunately, when it does, I can no longer start it. Calling it from command line gives:

Can't load '/usr/lib/libDrakX/auto/c/stuff/stuff.so' for module c::stuff: /usr/lib/libpci.so.3: version `LIBPCI_3.1' not found (required by /usr/lib/libldetect.so.0.8) at /usr/lib/perl5/5.10.0/i386-linux-thread-multi/DynaLoader.pm line 203.
at /usr/lib/libDrakX/c.pm line 5
Compilation failed in require at /usr/lib/libDrakX/c.pm line 5.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/lib/libDrakX/c.pm line 5.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/lib/libDrakX/log.pm line 6.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/lib/libDrakX/log.pm line 6.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/lib/libDrakX/common.pm line 8.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/lib/libDrakX/common.pm line 8.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/sbin/rpmdrake line 30.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/sbin/rpmdrake line 30.

Can I fix this?
The next thing I noticed, is that the problems with packages not being able to install due to dependencies and older versions etc seems to be related to python and qt4. There's also a libxulrunner (I think) that won't install, and a couple others I can't remember. Plus, if the last few times this happened is any indication, when I log out, on trying to login again, I will receive a "critical error" and not be able to log in. I just don't know what to do with this, or how to get it working... please help...

Uninstalled drakx and reinstalled it, that seemed to work. I've just installed a bunch of regular updates, and now my X server isn't working. Here are the error messages in the log file:

(EE) module ABI major version (2) doesn't match the server's version (5)
(EE) Failed to load module "v4l" (module requirement mismatch, 0)
(EE) Failed to load module "type1" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) Failed to load module "freetype" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) Failed to load /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//intel_drv.so
(EE) Failed to load module "intel" (loader failed, 7)
(EE) No drivers available.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

How can I get this working?