Hello,
I was using windows XP and I decided to learn linux and get more into the open source thing. Im currently using Mandrake 9.2 but Ive come across a problem, I cant install applications and some wont even run. Ive had a few friends over that know linux and even they are puzzeled (though they were rusty on the topic). Applications show up on the bottom of the screen like they are about to run with the spinning hour glass but they never run. I tried to install JBuilder (Im a programer) and it final installed but the short cut and the .bin file say that they cant find the file. Ive even had problems with the game that came with Mandrake 9.2 called Tux Racer. Before I Installed my nVidia gfx card drivers it ran slowly but it at least ran, now it wont run at all. I also could not install macromedia flash (and I made sure all of these were for linux). Im not sure what to do and Im getting extremly frustrated, can anyone help me, if it helps my machines stats are as follows:

Pentium 4 1.6 Ghz
533 FSB
512 RAM
GeForce4 Ti4200
Creative SB Live! Sound Blaster Card
40 GB Hard drive 28 Gigs for windows 10 Gigs for linux

Thank You

I don't know why, but some of links to applications in MDK are wrong by default.

Right-Click on "Home" for example on your tool bar, select Properties -> Execute.
I don't remember what was the original setting, but when I changed it to the correct one it started to work. I use $slocate to find correct links.

Hope this helps. Another way to launch a program is to run it from konsole. If it runs from konsole but doesn't when you click an icon, the link is wrong. Most apps are in /etc/bin and /etc/sbin/

Thanks for the reply,
I dont think that its that though becuase the application tries to start up like all of the others when I run them but they crash before they start up. I tried running a program from konsole but it doesnt see it there, when I use the dir command it lists everything but the executable.

Thanks

Which programs do not start? Let's compare my box with yours (maybe I reply you tomorrow - it's late in Belgium).

Examples of programs that crash are Borlands JBuilder, and Tux Racer (which came with the distro) also this other linux game called cannon blaster crashed as well.

but why

running from a console what its says?
Are you installed the correct nvidia drive?

Press the first two letters of the program that you want to run ; then press <Tab> You'll see a list of executables that can be; choose and type what you like and press enter

you'll see the results