Hey I installed mandrake 10.0 (via 3 iso's from linuxiso.org) a couple days ago and I'm completely new to linux, i have 2 questions:

1. where can i find kernel-source file(s?), I need it to install ndiswrapper. The procedures for the ndiswrapper installation also say that i need to start compiling the kernel sources so header files present. What does this mean and how do I compile?

2. Whenever I startup mandrake and it gets to the graphical login screen, root isn't an option as one of the accounts to sign into, how do i make it so I can start as root (i don't care how I login, graphical or text-based). Thanks

I look foward to learning more from great minds

You can grab the kernel source from http://kernel.org , I suggest you locate the same version you are running atm. They have every single version stashed in their ftp. Just unpack it under /usr/src/linux-<version>
You could also try to locate a mandrake kernel source package, there surely is one.. (:

Im not sure how the ndiswrapper is installed, but if it needs a _kernel_ recompile, then I suggest you do a forum search here with "kernel compile" and youll surely find help on that. If it just needs the kernel sources for its own compile, then you can just go as the INSTALL or README for it tells you to.

And the last one. Why would you want to login as root? The newer versions of kde have it disabled for a reason, it isnt a good thing to be actually logged in graphically as root. Does mandrake disable normal virtual consoles (ctrl+alt+F2 etc) when in the graphical runlevel? If it does, you can allways lower your default runlevel by one step. I have no idea how its done in mdk, but most distributions have it in /etc/inittab

Hey opitica,

1) The Kernel source should be on the CD that you downloaded, look on the start menu for something called Install Software, you will need to enter your Root password. Search for kernel source and install it.

If this failed, you can install the latest Kernel source & kernel (they NEED to match) via yrpmi:
please read this - http://www.speculation.org/garrick/kernelprep.html

2) Im not running Mandrake or KDE so i'm not too sure myself, but to point you in the right direction: You need to unhide/enable root from the log on screen (it is disabled by default) to do this look under Configure my Computer (Mandrake Control Centre) or Configure my Desktop (KDE Control Centre). You're looking for something like "log on screen" or something.

Sorry couldn't be of more help but at least this will point you in the right dirrection.

GlenX