Mandrake, problems booting after failed nvidia driver install
 

I've been running Mandrake 10 Community for a couple weeks now, and I just tried installing the nvidia Geforce4 driver. I followed all the steps, changing the initab and XF86Config files. The installation doesn't work, it says something about the kernal needing to be compiled or something, but that's not my question. I exited the nvidia installer, and typed in 'startx'. It tries to start up but it comes up with an error. I'm sure if I could change the files back it would fix it. Is there anyway to do that through that screen, the dos like screen? Is it possible to access the hard drive through MandrakeMove?

I assume you changed your XF86Config-4 file before you attempted to install the nvidia drivers. You can edit that file using vi in the "dos screen" by logging in at the command line prompt with your username and password and running:

$ su
<enter root password>
# vi /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

That will display the text of that file on the screen. Next hit the "i" key to put vi in insert or edit mode and you will be able to edit the file, probably just need to change "nvidia" back to "nv". Just navigate with the arrow keys to get where you want to go. When your done editing, hit he "Esc" key to put vi back into command mode and type ":wq" without quotes and hit the Enter key to save the changes. If you totally screw the editing up, type ":q!" to exit vi without saving your changes.

thank you very much for your help, it worked great.