I had mandriva 2005 installed. Then I formatted and installed it a few times due to many different things. Then I tried to install it again. First time my Mx510 didn't work. Then I unpluged it and ect... and I got it to work. But from now on in the linux installation it works for a few seconds then stops. So I did the rest with a keybaord. It froze once. Then the next time it completed. I started up my comp waiting for teh bootloader. Then I get a message saying 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
on my screen after the BIOS information. Then it just stays there. I did it another few times and it froze. Then I got the 9s. I flashed my firmware on my Dw1625 and it still does everything I said. It was working perfectly before. What is wrong and how do I get this to work?

I got those 9999999's before and what I did was I didn't not install the bootloader onto the MBR primary. There is a shortcut way to do this by putting in disc 1 and going into rescue/restore mode. Unfortunately, I do not remember the command to fix the master boot record.

The LONG way to do it is to reinstall Mandriva.

If you boot into rescue mode off the disk it'll be in the little menu it gives you once its started up - something like 'restore boot loader'. Anyway Mandrake/Mandriva uses lilo so you could always do something like

Yes I`ve had the 9999999999999999 twice before... was fixed by re-installing boot loader from rescue mode of CD 1 or the DVD.

Linux loves you, but first you have to TAME THE SAVAGE BEAST!

Here is one more piece of information.

On linux there are 2 boot loaders and you can choose witch one to install.

LILO or GRUB.

You probably installed LILO the last time, so you can try to install GRUB this time. There is a option for it on the install process.

I already had a computer that wouldn't boot with LILO, but would boot normaly with GRUB.

What's the difference between LILO and GRUB? I've tried them both and LILO seems fancier in terms of appearance.

Yes, I'd say LILO looks nicer too ^_^

But there are differences. I don't have enougth knowledge to say why, but it is a known problem that lilo may fail to boot on older PCs and grub seams to be the way to go in those cases.

grub is considered more stable.

The only proper answer to "why" is "because you were handy".

I will try the roster thing once mandriva doesn't stall on teh installation. And why doesn't my mouse work on installations anymore?

I currently only have windows on.

Still stalls and mouse quits. What is wrong?