I need to know how to install my headers.
 

I'm trying to install my driver for Riva TNT2 model 64 card. But its telling me that I have no percompiled kernel. So it looks for one online and fails to find it and than it tells me it will compile it itself - however it can't find the kernel tree. I asked someone about this - but being such a newb I didn't understand a word of it. She basically said all I need to do is install my kernel header and a C-compiler. Now all I need to know is where can download these things, what are these things, how many "headers" do I need, whats a header, whats a c-compiler, whats a kernel and what does it have to do with headers and c-compilers, whats a percompiled kernel, and what the heck does this have to do with me installing a driver. This marks day 2 of my linux experience so description is the key, remember that you probably forgot more about linux than I could ever dream of knowing right now. lol, PLEASE HELP so that I can enjoy my linux experience.
Some info: I ran uname -r and it returned 2.6.11-6mdk
I was told to run it, but I don't know what is for

Ok, so with what's been returned, that tell me that you have mandriva/mandrake installed (which you might have put in so that it appears under your username - it often helps for quicker answers).

anyway - it seems you're refering to the nvidia driver and it's installation. If the nvidia driver tells you that you want "headers" it's actually refering to what mandriva would call "kernel-sources".

What version are you using? because 2.6.11-6mdk is quite old - the current version seems to be the latest for mandriva 2006.

Now you have a choice. If that kernel version is the one from the install cd(s)/dvd then there will be a set of matching kernel-sources on the disc(s) they're just not installed by default.

If you want to make sure you're up to date as possible - then go to the easyurpmi site. follow the instructions (just select the version you're using, select the nearest geographical location for mirror addresses - all 6 - main, contrib, updates, jpackage and both plf - then "proceed to stage 3").

Once you've got some output in the "stage 3" box, open a terminal/konsole window, log in to root (command is: su followed by the root password) and then just highlight/copy the text from easyurpmi and paste it into the terminal/konsole window. Let it "do it's thing". When it's finished, you can close the terminal window, and open the MCC (mandriva control centre/"configure my computer") - software manager - you can then either go into the section to check the mirrors/repositories and if you're gonna get everything from Online sources you can delete the CD sources.

Out of that and into the "updates" section (or straight into updates if you want). Let it do it's thing (click the "yes" when asked) and you should then be presented with a list of stuff that your system needs to update (I always make sure that I have bugfixes, security updates and normal updates checked - top left). If you installed kernel-sources-2.6.11-6mdk from the CD - if theres a later version available it'll be listed there - that also means that when you look in the section about packages available to install, there'll be a new kernel version as well.

You need both - and they must be the same to install the nvidia driver. The gcc package will also be listed in the same place i.e. the "packages available for installation" section.

I know it sounds "painfull" from this little lot, but it's something you need to know for mandriva, because whenever theres a new kernel, you also need to install the kernel-sources after updating the kernel to be able to re-install the nvidia driver (or you need both if theres a later version of the nvidia driver).

It all sounds like a PITA, but it usually takes longer to type a post like this that actually install the nvidia driver - Your only issue(s) will be how fast your connection is, and hence, how long it takes to install the mirrors/repositories and run through the hdlist.cz stuff (happens automatically once you do the bit I said about easy urpmi). Then the connection speed is also relevant as once you fire up the MCC and start to think about installing/uninstalling/updating, it usually wants to check the mirror listing for comparison of whats available.

Hopefully that helps some.

regards

John