Is there anyone who can tell me how to get Mandrake to read my flash card reader ? I am so new to Linux I don't know where to start but need this before I can wash windows off the system for good

What make is the reader? Do you know if it is Linux-supported?
If it is supported, all you should need to do is right-click on an empty part of your desktop, and choose Create New Hard Disk. Then choose Device - and type in /dev/sda1 and then OK. Give it a sensible name and icon and click OK. Make sure your card reader is connected to your pc and has been for about 10 seconds. Then, click on your newly-made icon. A file manager window should open up with the contents of your card listed.

To help mount and unmount the card, you can use Start - Configuration - Hardware - KwikDisk.

Thanks, I shall try that asap. The reader is a PNY,

The option create new hard disk is not on my menu choices when I right click on my desktop (Gnome )

Sorry, I only use KDE. Have a look at your /etc/fstab, after your reader has been connected to your pc for a while (with a card slotted in). You may well find a line that looks like this -
/dev/sda1 /mnt/memory_card auto user,iocharset=iso8859-15,kudzu,codepage=850,noauto,umask=0,exec 0 0
So, you should be able to use any file manager to navigate to /mnt/memory_card and view your files.

Have you had a look at KwikDisk yet? That may also help.