Alright, so I finally got out from under Gates' thumb and uninstalled Windows then installed Linux! =) I tell you I am supremely excited and impressed from what I have seen so far!

A few basic questions only a newbie wouldn't know:

I am running Mandrake Linux 9.1.

--How do I install drivers?
--How do I set my refresh rate higher than the generic?
--How do I execute exe files?

Wow, I know, hold your laughter as I have read every documentation out there re: various components...but none touch the basics.

Thanks for the help and if you can point me to some documentation for newbies that would be great!

To answer the third question, there -are- no .exe files You just type the command name, and if it is an executable file, it will execute. In linux there are, almost universally, no extensions to regular files (zipped files and the like are obvious exceptions).

Welcome to the world of linux!

--How do I set my refresh rate higher than the generic?

Find out the vertical and horizontil refresh rates of your monitor and then edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 to reflect the monitor's values.

or you could try running mandrake's configuration tool to do it i hear it's easy to use

--How do I install drivers?

driver installation methods vary depending on who made the driver however reading the driver's documentation should usually point you in the right direction

unless of course the kernel already has the driver as a module then you would just modprobe it

For your monitor goto Mandrake Control Center, click the start menu then configuration and Mandrake Control Center, it will ask for root password. When the menu comes up click on "hardware" on the left then "configure your monitor" on the right. You should be able to select your monitor from there. It should also let you test the setup before it makes the changes permanant.
Good luck.

What drivers are you trying to install? If video, what kind of chipset do you have?

WOW, thanks for all the replies...

trickykid: sorry about that, but I had so many questions I didn't know how else to word the title.

dalek: I went into the control center and the options it gave me were insufficient. When I had xp loaded and all the drivers for my video card and the monitor as well, my refresh rate was at 90...the highest option is 76 within the CP. But then as I said, I have loaded no drivers!

grym & dalek: I am running a GeForce 4 Ti4400 card from ASUS. The problem is I found NO drivers at asus' website and have not yet figured out how to get them off the CD. During install I was allowed to elect generic geforce 4 drivers so things certainly do not look bad. But I would like the appropriate drivers.

grym: I have no idea how to locate that file. I still haven't found the run command in my gnome interface--not that I would know how to use it anyways!

As you can see, I really am a newbie, and would like maybe some links for the extreme beginner to walk me through this. =)

Thanks for all the help, I look forward to your replies.
Mike

for the appropriate drivers go to nvidia's website click on drivers then linux drivers then pick your architecture

Thanks...went there and it gave me options (which I am guessing is what you mean by architecture).

Linux IA32
Linux IA64
Linux AMD64

I am running Mandrake Linux 9.1 which I believe is the latest release. How can I find out which architecture I have?

Thanks,
Mike

Go to the NVIDIA website, here http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=li..._ia32_1.0-4363 and download the driver. You may have to right click and click "save link target as". It's about 6Mbs if I recall correctly. You cannot have "X" running when you install the driver. 'ctrl' + 'alt' + 'F1' usually works. I think the command is "sh" and the name of the file. Make sure of the case. All commands are case sensitive in Linux. Since you seem to be new, when you get through with the install you need to reboot. The command is "shutdown -r -now". If you want to completely turn off the puter the command is "shutdown -h -now". The "r" is reboot, "h" is for halt.
This is the driver I used. There may be another driver that is better but this is easy to install. It should get you started and some more options in the control center. I looked in mine and I have a lot of options. Maybe the driver will get you going.
Good luck.

You need IA32. It stands for Intel/AMD 32 bit.
I have to get over the headache now. The monitor is pretty tough.

Here you go

# Guides to software and installation and uninstallation
LNAG - How do I install a program I downloaded from the Internet?
Rute Guide's software explanation
You might want to check out CheckInstall to manage source code installations/uninstallation

# Find software here
The table of equivalents, replacements, analogs of Windows software in Linux
Freshmeat
Sourceforge
rpmfind

# Configuring X
Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO - video cards
The Linux XFree86 HOWTO
Common X configuring tools:
Debian - dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
Mandrake - XFdrake
Redhat 7.3 down - the setup utility leads to several config tools
Redhat 7.3 up - redhat-config-xfree86
You may have these tools:
XF86Setup
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config
xconf
ATI Linux drivers
If you need the nVidia driver, most likely, you want the Linux IA32 driver

# Mandrake links
Mandrake home page
Mandrake Users website
Easy urpmi config for Mandrake
urpmi mini-HOWTO
Easy software management: Red Carpet
Maximum RPM
rpmfind
You didn't install the developmental packages? As root, command:
urpmi gcc
An Introduction to the Midnight Commander. You can install it by commanding:
urpmi mc
Midnight Commander home page

# Compiling/installing kernel modules
You will need to have installed:
1. The developmental packages (compiler)
2. The kernel source code that matches your running kernel
3. The module source or install code

Check out your system and see what's under the hood and see if you installed the stuff you need to do the job. Open an x terminal and type in this sequence of commands to see what kernel we are running and see if you have the kernel source installed:I am running kernel version 2.4.18-3. Do I have the proper source code?I do have the same kernel version source code installed in the directory /usr/src/linux-2.4.18-3 and there is a symbolic link named linux-2.4 pointing to it.

If you don't see something similiar to this (but in color), you will need to install the kernel source.

NOTE: I noticed that Red Hat didn't make the symbolic link /usr/src/linux that all of the INSTALL files that I have read mentioned that I need, so I may as well make one now to save editing the files in the source code to install.So, I'll make it just now:Ah, there it is, so that's done.

Next, did I install the compiler?Yes, I have a compiler installed.

If you don't have those two things installed, you have to install them first off your install CD.

If they are installed, download the source and happy comiling. Make sure you carefully read the README and INSTALL files after extracting and before compiling/installing.

You could try chmod 755 <name of>.exe (that makes a file executable in Linux) and then command:

/path/to/<name of>.exe

It will probably fail.

Those files are usually Windows executable files and you will require wine for them to run.

Thanks, but you underestimate my newbieness. =)

I understand I need to execute items, but from where? I see that you are using the same Distro. as myself...I am in the GNOME setup as I like it better. Where do I go to run: sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run? Also, I saved it into a directory in my documents folder called: Download Archive, do I need to type the full path in the execute?

My newbieness rears it's ugly head! But not to worry, I am about to sign up for O'Reilly's Bookshelf Safari so I will hopefully learn.

fancypiper--just saw your post! I will follow the links and attempt to inundate my brain with as much as I can! Thanks for all of those helpful tips and links! =)