i tried both distirbution but none of them passed the X configuration. i'm using Creative GeForce2 MX with Samsung Syncmaster 15".

the LMandrake 8.1 installation can detect both my display and graphic card and started with graphical installation, but at the end of installation, the x wont recognize them.

why was that happened ?

Not being daft, or anything, but did you enable 'startx on boot'. If not (or if you can't remember) try typing startx from the bash (command) prompt.

I have an Abit Siluro t400 (which is really an NVidia GeForce 2 MX, or whatever) - you might like to try the NVidia GeForce 2 DDR Generic drivers when you install.

It could also be the monitor that's causing you problems. You should look through all the monitors types available. My monitor is an Eizo FlexScan 560i T. The 'driver' for this does not work very well at all. I've found that the 'General Monitor that can do 1600x1200 at 70Hz' works a hell-of-a-lot better.

i guess there's a chance that the chipset is maybe slightly nonstandard, and might only work with the closed drivers from nvidia.com