I am a linux newb
I am running Mandrake 9.0, and loving it, but I have a problem. My mouse recently got damaged and was unusable, and I had to get a new one. The problem is, I cannot figure out how to navigate or to install the new mouse using only the keyboard, as I said I have only been using linux for a short while.
Could anyone help me through this?

I have been using the graphical menus to complete tasks and now without the mouse, my arms have been cut off

Thanks in advance, hope to hear from someone soon,

-fr0st_bill-

you shouldn't need to 'install' a new mouse... just plug it in.
; )

Unless you're switching from say ps/2 to usb, in which case you may have to play around in console to get the correct kernel modules, etc. working - and then editing you're /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

yes it is a usb mouse, and the previous one was ps/2, hence the problem

and i have no idea how to edit the kernel or anything else, i've only had linux a week

sry, but I don't use any usb devices, so I'm not on top of things as far as which modules are necessary. This should give you a starting point. For more specific information (such as how to compile a kernel try to google for info):

http://rtfm.dyndns.info/tips/2002/02/01/44.shtml

If you want this explained in a little further detail, then I guess we could keep on chit chatting.
; )

So as it said, you have 3 modules to choose from:
usb-ohci or usb-uhci or uhci

I'm going to hope that MDK compiled its kernel with this stuff.
So try to modprobe all the modules it listed. Maybe we'll get lucky. If not, we'll have to recompile.

Oh yeah...I recommend for the time being to boot the computer and press ctrl-alt-F1 when you get to the graphical login. This will put you into a console login, and it will be easier for you to move around.