So, I’m just starting to get into the whole linux thing (hence the post in the forum) and I’ve run into a number of problems just starting out, and I have a few questions. Please answer any or all if you would like.

1) Distro suggestions: I’m running Mandrake Community 10.1 in KDE right now, and it’s working fine, but I’ve heard a lot about Ubunto and possibly a couple others that were a little easier to use. Also, is there a distro out there that is better for gaming?

2) Cedega: I’ve heard a lot about it (good and bad), and I am debating on buying it. I am an avid gamer, so if I REALLY want to use linux I am going to need to be able to bring my games over. I play pseudocompetitively for a clan, [shameless plug] ncgamers.com; it’s a really cool site[/shameless plug] and I need a couple of games to run well if I am to play them. Right now, the two big games I play are BF1942 and World of Warcraft. Others that I play occasionally are HL2, Battlefield: Vietnam, and Vampire TM: Bloodlines. Right now I am running a 9800 pro, but I will be very soon be changing over to a 6600 GT on an nForce4. I’m mostly looking at this from a nVidia standpoint, because I will be using their brand of cards very soon. How well do games perform relative to XP and how difficult are they to install (mind you I am a newbie)?

3) Microphone – Works fine, except that it’s always on (playing through the speakers). I have an audigy 2 ZS. I’ve heard a lot about alsa, but I’m at college right now, and I can’t use FTP to download it (which is the only source I’ve found it at so far). Is there a simple way of only having the mic work with programs that need it to (like teamspeak), or can someone link me to a download of alsa that doesn’t use FTP?

4)Kopete – I can log into MSN just fine, but when I try AIM, it connects for a second and then drops me. I guess my first question is: is there a better instant messenger client I could use (MSN, ICQ, AIM)? I’m running 8.something, and I’ve tried to upgrade to the latest version, but I can’t seem to; which leads me directly into my next question.

5) C++ Compiler – I can’t seem to compile the newest version of Kopete from a .tar.bz and I don’t know why. I’ve installed everything I can from the mandrake cds dealing with gcc, and I still get “configure error: C++ preprocessor “/lib/cpp” fails sanity check. See ‘config.log’ for more details.” It’s all been downloaded, unzipped, and I do the ./configure, and it just fails on me with that message.

I think that’s all I got now. I’m sure I’ll have more later.

First, Mdk is a very friendly to user linux, so, don't try to use an easier one, because you'll never learn to really use it, second, for games, if you have all the libs required(OpenAL,Mesa,SDL,etc), Mdk is good, instant messaging, give a try to amsn.
Alsa comes with the cd's Mdk 10.1
about the gcc problem, I dont have any idea, sorry. But I'll look around for it

2) i use Cedega, and i havent had any problems - well i have had loads of problems - but thats because i bought a stupid Nvidia and there drivers dont work with newer kernels *fume*

4) try GaAM (it should also be installed somwhere with mandrake) if that also dosent connect then its an external problem

5) Try installing gcc-c++ (or gcc-cpp)

1) Stick with Mandrake. (And update it to 10.1 Official, while you are at it. (You may have done so, and don't realize it, though.) It's easy. Just visit the EasyUrpmi site listed in my sig, and follow the instructions there to set up your repository sources. Select your version as 10.1 Official, and be sure you select mirrors for at least "Main", Update", "Contrib", and "PLF". After you have set up your sources, go to a command line as root, and enter the command "urpmi --auto-select". After it has downloaded and installed a few hundred (!) packages, when you reboot, you should see you are now running Official Edition. )

2) Cedega: Look at the transgaming site to see what games they support, and at what level. Sad to say, but for most games, still, you really need to boot into Windows.

3) Don't have a mike, so can't really answer your question. As to downloading what you need, see my answer to your first question.

4) If kopete isn't working for you, I would try gaim. Download it from the urpmi sources.

5) install gcc (and its friends) from the urpmi sources. More importantly, you shouldn't install *wild* rpms and/or sources if you don't have to. If you aren't really sure of what you are doing, you can break your system that way. The best way to install software on Mandrake is to use the urpmi repository sources to get apps pre-packaged for Mandrake.

For Transgaming,... the unofficial Transgaming Wiki is the best choice for checking out whether your game works or not. Those who let their Transgaming accounts expire can still run Cedega, but can't participate in the official Transgaming forums, etc.

The Wiki is freely available to all people who use Cedega, and so you will be able to tell if your game is supported and detailed info on how to set it up.

http://digital-conquest.ath.cx/wiki/index.php/Main_Page