Thinking of getting MDK 9.2
 

I got MDK 9.1 2 CD set during the summer when i didn't know much about linux and it didn't work to well for me, i couldn't actually even get online with it. I ended up getting red hat 8 with a book and now Ive been using linux awhile longer. Someone told me that the reason MDK 9.1 didn't work so well is because the 2 CD set doesn't include all the packages the installer thinks i have.

If i were to get the 3 CD set and the update CD of 9.2 do you think i would have better luck? I'm a linux n00b so i am trying n00b distros, i would maybe try Apt -for- Rpm once i got it all working. If mdk isn't worth it anymore anyone got some suggestions on another distro? Thanks

Most everyone in this forum is using mdk. It is a good distribution.

Re: Thinking of getting MDK 9.2
 

I have been using MDK since around release 7 or so, at least 5 years on and off.
It has been my main distro for quite awhile now. I have also tried almost all other linux distros and keep coming back.
I'm currently using 9.2 and I am very happy.
I have basically everything set up and customized to my liking, and believe me, I cant remember the last time I used windows....
If you have questions/problems, stick with the forums for alot of help. You can also try IRC chat, go to irc.freenode.net and join the mandrake channel. You can interact real time with questions, very helpful people there from all over the world.

alright ill order MDk 9.2 with update cd from cheapbytes later this week. I have 56k so paying 10 bucks is just easier. Mabey see you on irc hehe.

I am in the chat quite often. If I am not around most of the guys are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Good luck!

I am one who has been using linux off and on and love Mandrake
 

I started using linux when redhat, slackware, etc were in there earlier stages. Slackware 96 was the first time I touched slack and it was the "latest and greatest". Redhat was at 2 and change or 3, been so long I can't remember. But I am far from an expert. I can do what I need to to get by, but I need to get more proficient seeing I have been using it off and on for so long now.

I stumbled across Mandrake when it was at 7, it was the only one that would install on my first firwall PC, an out of date but funtional 486 DX4 100. I found the Mandrake version compiled for 486's and higher of version 7 and after Redhat and Slackware would not install on this system, supposed 386 compiled linux distros I said I'll give it a shot. Mandrake loaded beautifully and ran on that system for well over 2 years until the onboard IDE controller failed on the mother board. Then I broke down and built myself a new system and took my old one and made it into the new firewall. The replacement firewall is a PII 266 overclocked through the front side bus to a 333 with 128 MB of ram running 9.1 like a champ. I am surprised how well it loves its new role. Over this whole time I went and tried other distros on my PC and kept going back to Mandrake. On the replacement PC I built an Athlon XP 2600+ 1GB ram, etc I am running 9.2 and I am loving it. I haven't booted this system into winblows for god only knows how long.

I think it is worth it, but that is just my opinion. This system been up and running for almost 48 hours and the only reason it has only been that long was I cracked the case and was messing with hardware, was reconnecting a HD. It hasn't even hiccuped, slowed down or anything in that amount of time or the few weeks it was up prior.

about your previous post jchance
 

Hi jchance,

Im wondering which version of XFree86 your running with your radeon 9000. I'm trying to use my 9500 with XFree 4.3.0, and i've had nothing but issues. I'm wondering if I should maybe try downgrading Xfree. Im using mdk 9.2.

thanks,

-Kilka

Mandrake ROCKS!!!!!:D

kilka,

Get the ATI driver from http://www.ati.com/support/driver.html and also the "how to" file (I don't remember the name of the "how to" file). IF you follow the directions, this should take care of your problems.

----

Flak Pyro,

I have used Mandrake 9.0, Mandrake 9.1, Redhat 9.0, and now Mandrake 9.2. Other than a few problems with my ATI Radeon 9600 Pro and HSF winmodem (which I expected) and a few problems with the menu system, RPM system and screensavers (which Mandrake Upgrade took care of), I've been pretty happy with Mandrake 9.2. I understand that the winmodem issues are covered in the "boxed" version of MDK9.2 and that the XFree 4.3 drivers ALMOST covers the Radeon line. I hope that these will be included in future download versions.

Also, I don't consider Mandrake Linux to be a "noobie" distro, though I would strongly recommend it to new users. I personally do not have the time to spend "tweaking" my system and being on an eternal search inside of "dependency hell" to get my system to work. Although I am an Electrical Engineer, I like the "ease" in which Mandrake Linux works.

I get my fill of "trouble shooting" at work!

think i've solved my issue.
 

bgoins,

I have installed the ati drivers and that has actually been the cause of my problem. It appears ati's agpgart module is a piece of shit, and that has been causing gl to not work. The nforce2 drivers come with a gart driver, but it must be diff'd with your kernel source. I'll try this soon and will likely also post diffs for kernels other than 2.4.20.

-Kilka

The guy who wrote the driver for my vid card says the DRI (hardware 3D rendering) problems are due to XFree 4.3 (version that comes with Mandrake 9.2) switching from Mesa 3 to 4. Here's the blurb from his website:

"Due to the inclusion of Mesa version 4 in XFree 4.3, the SiS DRI driver was disabled because nobody converted it to Mesa 4. You can still use Mesa version 3 which came with XFree 4.2. Debian users may just install the xlibmesa3 packages from 4.2 (which are available in the download section on this page.) Users of other distributions should backup all existing libGL.so*, libGLU.so* files as well as all files in /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/dri/ before installing XFree 4.3. After that simply copy them back to their old locations. But beware: The DRI driver files *must* have been compiled with the same version of gcc as the X server. Update: An updated DRI driver is in XFree86 4.3.99.14, meaning that there is no such workaround required if you are using this version or later. "

hey
i also had the 2 cd set of mdk, the reason you cant get online is coz the rpm for kppp is on the third cd, just download the rpm and install the rpm and you should be set. i got a friend to download the 3rd disc for me. i think this is the rpm you are after...

http://rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/mandra...7mdk.i586.html

hope it helps
uvone

i just realised that was for mdk9.2 does this matter anyone? is it likely to work still?

uvone