I dual boot Winxp and Mandrake 9.2. I loaded Mandrake on a free partition of the same drive as Winxp. I go throught the entire setup process. I get no errors, I set up my root password and user name and tell it to boot straight to KDE. After setup is done, it reboots, Lilo gives me these options:

linux-smp
linux
linux-nonfp
failsafe
windows
windows2

if I choose and of the linux options or failsafe, it looks like it is booting Mandrake. Everything loads fine, it flickers a couple of times but then finally I get a black screen with this on the top:

Mandrake Linux Release 9.2 (Fivestar) for i586
Kernel 2.4.22-10mdk on a dual processor i686 /tty1
localhost login:

I enter my user name. then:

password:

I enter my password. I get:

last login: Wed Feb 4 11:27:59 on vc/1
[jeremy@localhost jeremy]$

I just want to get to KDE. What did I do wrong, or what am I missing. I am very new to this.

BTW here are my comp specs

P4C800 Deluxe
2.8 P4 with Hyperthread
Maxtor 40GB IDE (NTFS)
WD Raptor 37GB SATA (with Winxp and Linux)
16X DVD
Radeon 9600 Pro 128mb

Please Help.
I was so happy when 9.2 recognized my hard drive when 9.1 didn't and so I gave up on it. I just want it to work.
Thanks

You can boot to different "runlevels" in Linux; runlevel 3 is usually for the console (which is what you're getting), and runlevel 5 is for a GUI. The default runlevel to use at bootup is in the file /etc/inittab. Open up that file (as root) and look for a line towards the top which says something like:

id:3:initdefault:

Change the "3" to "5" and you should be good. You can also switch to the GUI login screen without rebooting, by logging in as root and typing:

/sbin/init 5

So why does it automatically go into command line when I told it to boot straight to KDE? I will try later to change the run level so that it will go into the GUI. I am at work now.

Dunno, maybe something went awry during installation. It's also possible that there is some problem with launching the X server - does it give you any errors when it boots up? Does it work to run 'startx' after you login using the console? Could be that X is not configured properly, or KDM isn't installed, or any number of things

It doesn't give any kind of error. I don't know if it would work to run startx because I am really a newbie and didn't know how to do anything when it got me to the console.

It has to do with your video card. Log into root and type in XFdrake and reconfigure the xserver. Don't forget to test the settings. Their will be an option to start x on boot up.

I have the Radeon 9600 Pro 128mb, what settings do I put it at in XFdrake? Or is it a driver problem? How do I put in a different driver if it is a driver problem?

That depends. Which 9.2 MDk do you have? The power pack and up havehe drivers. Just follow the on-screen menu. It will select the correct driver. It will help you set up the card.

I just have the download version. I have now been able to get into the KDE GUI. I had to set the resolution to 800x600. I want it to be 1024x768, but if I choose that, I test it and it causes an error. I tried to download the drivers from ATI but when I install them it gives me and error saying:
Installation failed:
file /usr/X11R6/lib/libGL.so.1.2 from install of fglrx-glc22-4.3.0-3.7.0 conflicts with file from package libxfree86-4.3-23mdk

where do I get the right driver?

In my experience, the video modes you have available depend more on having the correct settings for your monitor. Try to make sure your monitor is either detected correctly, or if not, see if you can set the horizontal sync and vertical refresh rates manually. Usually that information is printed in the manual for your monitor, or you can probably google it if you don't have the manual. Using generic monitor settings can often reduce the number of different resolutions you can run at.

I just have my monitor detected as Plug and Play. But when I go into the console to see which video card it has set up and where I can change it, I can choose either Radeon, Radeon 8500, or Radeon (dfeb), or something like that. Why can't I load the driver from the ATI site so that I can get the right one for my Radeon 9600???? Why does it give me this error??


Installation failed:
file /usr/X11R6/lib/libGL.so.1.2 from install of fglrx-glc22-4.3.0-3.7.0 conflicts with file from package libxfree86-4.3-23mdk

I don't know, but why don't you try the monitor settings first; I bet they'll at least help you get the video mode you're looking for.

I would like to get the monitor settings right, but in the monitor list, it doesn't have mine listed. It is a Sony CPD-2401.

I just had this same problem. The defualt drivers for the ati radeon 9600 do not work. I have the same card and I would get bumped to the command line. You need to install the drivers off of ati's website. That is how I got it to work. Good Luck. ATI drivers suck.

edit: I am a moron and didnt read all the posts :P. You have to use the command rpm -i --force to install the driver if you get an error. Read through atis notes. Kind of long but you will get there. FInd the specs of your monitor on Sony's site.