Hi, first post here, so be gentle with me. Installed MDK 9.1, no problems

even managed to install my speedtouch modem with little hassle and get Opera up and running, but then I started to run into problems.
1. I somehow lost the login screen for Root, can only log in as user. I have tried to rectify this in the control center in settings there but it does not seem to save the settings as I leave. Only have OK or cancel in the bottom, no save. Is this correct?
Think the option I am changing from default to yes is allow Root login
2.Ldm_Validate_Partition failed, have absolutely no clue what this means, but it was there before when things were running fine.
3. A friend of mine told me to try "ctrl+alt+f3", login as root and then "startx -- :l" which should have brought me in as root in graphic mode, do not work and I get something along the lines cannot start because already running 0.
Additional info. Running a dual boot with Xp Pro and MDK9.1
Mandrake is on hda 7,8,9, where 8 is the main.