Ok, odd problem with mandrake that has happened twice now. I am a newbie, so forgive me...but I went to install some packages from the cd from RPM Drake and when it was finished i went to click the KDE button in the bottom left and almost all of the major applications had been removed and all the pretty icons were gone on my menu. Also the buttons i added to the quicklaunch bar were gone.

I reinstalled mandrake and was back into it loving it and then i installed my printer. after asking for the disc and installing some packages, the exact same thing happened. The only way to get to Mozilla is to open aim (on my desktop) and click a link within. I can't even get to a console or settings panel. PLEASE HELP!!!!! Is there a restore feature like in windoze?

First off, there is not a restore feature in windoze for the start menu.

There is a restore feature in Mandrake, so you are in luck. You need to update your 'rpm' package via mandrake update so that this does not happen in the future.

To get the menu entries back, ctrl-alt-F2 and log in as root. Then enter 'update-menus' and wait for a minute or so. Log out and ctrl-alt-F7 to return to your desktop.

thanks, i'll try that in a bit when i get backl from class...but there is a restore feature for windows xp...where it restores from automatic backups and such...

First off the menu items in the KDE menus are not short cuts. They are files that not getting generated due to a bug in the generate menu item program. So please don't call them such. Confusing to real short cuts the the file system. User colnago it correct but he left off the -v option see "update-menus -v". This problem only affects the the initial MDK9.2 release. After the updates this should be fixed and dosn't exist in the 10 series of MDK

Thanks for the help, it seemed to fix my problem regardless of the lack of the switch you said. Is Mandrake 10 out now? I can't seem to find it on their site.

Also, using AOL's AIM client, it seems to work alright, but since this problem with the menu, when i open it, it doesn't show up. It has the "sign on" button in the panel, but the program seems to be off the screen to the left (following the trace of the maximized window). How can i get it to move on screen or just show up or whatever.

Thanks again for all the help!

Not including the option of -v dosn't always work for me on the 4 system I use but using -v as always worked. So if it worked for you good. No 10 not released yet just in betas and release candidates. I've been using it with-out any problems so far but some people have had problems. I've used gaim for my Aol account when I had it. My kids still use it without problems.

Yeah, I am using GAIM. I like it fine aside from the lack of file transfer and the inability to keep the away message up while you talk. Unfortunately I am in a band and people know my name and if I am shown as not being away, I get swamped really fast. I really don't have any urges to create a new name either...

So I'd really like to use AOL IM if i can...

Thanks again for everything, I'm loving Linux so much right now!

You don't have to create a new name for gaim. I didn't and I know my friends didn't. You can transfer files with the latest version.

No, what i'm saying is basically i want AIM. not gaim. there are features in aim that i want that gaim doesn't have (i am using my old SN in gaim right now, i know you don't need a new one.) it's a matter of not being able to stay away while i chat, otherwise i get a million IMs at once.

there is aim for linux. don't know how good it is but might be worth a try. Here:
http://www.aim.com/get_aim/linux/latest_linux.adp?aolp=

the rpm version for redhat might work. If not get the .tgz version and follow the insructions there.

haha...i have it, my problem is when i run it, it doesn't show up on screen. it used to until this funky problem with RPMs and mandrake. i'll figure it out i'm sure...thanks anyways guys! (and the linux aim client from aol is actually good aside from this weird bug...it has a lot of features and no ads.)