Just so you peeps don't think I disappeared under a huge pile of Linux paperwork, I thought I'd let you know where I stand. I got the files downloaded and checked - they're okay! Yay!

I haven't installed them yet, as I've been waiting on a fix on a backup utility that I have. (Want to cover my backside before attaching anything new to the system.)

I probably won't get around to actually installing it till next week, so I won't post much till then!

Thanks again for all the help guys!

Sadie

In the time you were away 9.1 Final ( Bamboo) was released and ready for download on the mirrors. You might consider downloading them, and use them instead of the rc2 you downloaded already.
The final release is on all the mirrors since yesterday.

Bruno

Awww, bad luck! Heheh, that's the problem with distros that rev so quickly. You install one, then 2 seconds later there's an update available.

Anyway, you can just install what you've got then do an update. Updates of Linux don't always work, but usually they break when you've modified the system extensively. A fresh install should (touch wood) be perfectly upgradable.

to mhearn:
She did not install rc2 yet, so I thought that for someone new to Linux ( she is ) the Final would be a safer bet as a few bugs have been fixed since rc2.

Bruno

Last week I installed SuSE 8.1 professional, $79 at CompUSA, it works with my ATT cable modem through a router, it also offered to repartition my Win98 before installing. I had simialar problems for a WinModem with RedHat two years ago. I can print to a NT 4.0 box using Samba, and the only other problem I had was with the sound card, which this forum helped me fix.

I downloaded Mandrake 9.0. Are you guys saying there's a new update for that already? I just downloaded it like.. thre days ago??

Sadie

Yep, 9.1 final is just out ! ( has full NTFS support for your XP partition )

To israfel:
No you don't read the doc's and install manual.

Mandrake 9.1 is based on Linux kernel 2.4.21 and includes XFree 4.3, KDE 3.1, GNOME 2.2, OpenOffice.org 1.0.2, Mozilla 1.3, Apache 2, and Samba 2.2.7.

In addition to dramatic improvements in usability, Mandrake Linux 9.1 introduces many new features including:

# ACPI support for better power management with laptops
# NTFS partition resizing
# Zeroconf, which allows two computers running Mandrake 9.1 to automatically configure network settings
# Support for a number of WiFi devices
# Painless and safe upgrading/downgrading between Apache 1.3 and Apache 2

Yes, MDK9.1 final was released a few hours ago, see slashdot for some more info/discussion.

It looks really nice, but there's no hurry to upgrade. 9.0 will you do you fine for now, you can upgrade at your leisure later.

I bought a used 8 G HD and installed it as slave in a dell, with primary 40 g running Windows XP. I have used RedHat 8 and Mandrake 9, both work well. CAution: If you have an NVIDIA card, especially a newer one, there is a little difficult time, because the mouse won't work. YOu have to download the drivers from NVIDIA, and install and do small modifications to the file. But after that, everything works fine. I have an ethernet card, connected to a router, with a second computer also connected, and both are using an RCA cable modem, both RedHat and Mandrake found them perfectly.

Drat! I was going to stick it out with Mandrake 9.0 as someone suggested, but if it doesn't support Nvidia Vanta cards well then I should probably go with the upgrade, shouldn't I?

I can't believe they released 9.1. And everyone's sure it's stable? When I was on there a few days ago there was a beta, but I didn't want to risk my system on a beta.

Thoughts? Clarifications?

Sadie

-more confused than ever and still plodding along

Nvidia supply drivers for both windows and linux, and in both windows and linux you have to install the nvidia drivers to get full 3d performance from the card. Mandrake (from 9.0) include the nvidia drivers and will set them up during the install, however it's a good idea to install the latest version available from nvidia. Sadie, mandrake 9.1 is a point release from 9.0 and it would be worth while getting it but you will be fine with 9.0 as long as you download any security/bugfixes for it after the install.

I apologize if I misled anyone. Mandrake 9 has "generic" drivers for the NVIDIA card, the mouse did work; the visible pointer just stayed in the upper left hand corner. After reading through this forum a number of times, I found a link that walked a newbie through the complete installation of the latest drivers from NVIDIA. At the successful completion of that, everything works great.
On a second note, I am somewhat apprehensive to upgrade to 9.1, if I have to go through the same process of updating the drivers. AS a newbie, it was gutwrenching, to say the least. BUt it was very satisfying when it did work. I don't understand why Mandrake did not provide drivers for the NVIDIA GeForce 4 cards, they seem to be very popular. I looked on the website, and GeForce 2 cards are supported. I'll just wait and see what others say.

Well, I spent last night connecting and reconnecting to a mirror in Greece. I managed to get all of the files for 9.1, (hopefully without any errors!) and as soon as I finish wading through all of this client work, I'll check them, backup my system and run an install.

I did have a question though - I noticed on the Mandrake 9.1 download page at Mandrakesoft that they listed the md5 checksums at the bottom. Does that mean that I can't just run it automatically? Do I have to take those numbers and import them or enter them somewhere in order to check the integrity of the files? (I'm still not fully understanding this md5 thing - I just keep following the directions. I had a lot of trouble with getting it to work on the .iso files and am not sure I can repeat it.)

Thanks for all your patience!

Sadie