I don't think it makes a difference what engine you use, the sound should come out the same from any Linux apps because its handled by arts, alsa or whatever sound sysytem you have on your computer. I'd say HelixPlayer (and RealPlayer) on Linux/Unix are very poor in terms of sound features compared to other apps, e.g., they lack a mixer, you can't choose which sound plugin you want to use and sometimes they hang if you try and use other multimedia apps at the same time.

I just got the Mandriva 2006 DVD ISO and checksum file, I have 2 questions I hope someone can answer for me

1) How do I verify the ISO image with the checksum file md5 prior to burning.

2) My LE2005 installation is over 3 partitions, root partition, a swap partition, and home partition. When I install 2006 by upgrading 2005, I presume it will only alter the files in my root partition. If so, will it be easy to make a backup image of my root partition just in-case the installation of 2006 fails for some reason? and do I need to delete .kde folder in /home/user ?

Thanks

k3b burning dvd iso option will calculate the md5 for example

Upadte should be fine, many recommands a full install

no need to delete .kde
does not cost to make a backup

You can backup the OS if you have space, better than being sorry yes

Maybe look into the dd command to do that backup from one partition to the other,
or just plain copy of /boot /usr /etc and the rest.

Thanyou for the info, I`ll be going ahead with this today

Just FYI, I did an update from 2005LE to 2006.0 yesterday, using the DVD. Worked like a charm.

Upgrade went well, thanks for the tips in here.

I use Ubuntu because it's truly open source, however, only Mepis, Ubuntu and Mandrake (I tried 9 and 10) were the distros that detected my hardware correctly, so I have a lot of respect for Mandriva.

I would like to know one thing though. Yesterday I received an email telling that 3 free Mandriva 2006 CDs were available for downloading.

If I download those ISOs, will I have to pay in order to keep my Mandriva updated?

In Ubuntu all I do is use the update manager, and download updated software from the repositories, there are various mirrors for Ubuntu.

In Mandriva, are the any 'unofficial' URPM mirrors were I could update my Mandriva?

Or do I always have to pay the Mandriva membership in order to update?

I would like to install Mandriva on my mom's computer, she lives in the States, and I want her OS to be virus free.

You only need to pay Mandriva for automated updates and notifications, you can do it manually for free, I pay for automatic updates, but it`s very inexpensive and just to support Mandriva.

If you set up the package repositories at http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/ keeping mandriva update is as simple as typing this in a console as root.

urpmi --update --auto --auto-select

that is to update it with official mandriva released updates.

to get updated versions of all packages:

urpmi --auto --auto-select

So it's really easy to keep it updated. Although the second urpmi command might make some things unstable, as some packages might be updated when others won't be. Kind of hit-and miss.

All security and bugfixes will be included in the first urpmi command I mentioned.

Easy as pie.

xbaez: just go to Easy Urpmi (link in my sig) and set up your urpmi sources following the directions there. Then you can just manually check for updates as you feel the need.

Edit: purelithium beat me to it. But I would like to point out that once you have set up your urpmi sources, you can update graphically from the Mandrake Control Center. (For those who don't like command line. )

xbaez, in fact you can even do manual upload and get the bug fixes / security fixes
for THE software you use, not the all of them.
If you are short of bandwidth, what is the point of installing some new php thingy
that you may never use for example?

If the rpm package is not on one of the repository you can still get the tarball,
so it is very flexible.

I have 10.2, am happy with it. I upgraded from 10.1 to 10.2.
I customised a few things. It works all right. Will not upgrade to 2006.
But will upgrade next time. This flexibility is great. Long live linux.

Ok, you don't have to pay. You may or may not subscribe. I you like it,
maybe you can still buy a linux magazine or whatever that bring money back to the community

As I said earlier in the thread I just upgraded to 2Mandriva 2006 :-

Went well, with the following things that needed attention :-

Nvidia accelerated driver needed re-installing, but expected that as it`s a new Kernel.
XMMS failed to load, but removing it and re-installing the rpm fixed it.

Nice new stuff with KDE 3.4, also the fonts look nicer! was`nt expecting that.

One issue remaining to fix :-

ARTS sound server not working, artsd not running, and wont seem to initialize, it`s installed - I cannot remove arts because of dependencies, anyone have any idea what could be wrong? is this a known bug.
##### Fixed arts, the KDE soundsystem was turned off

Also had torepair the wastebin, I think everything is fine now

So how is the new Mandriva 2006?
I want to install Mandriva at my mom's computer, so that she will have a functional OS in case her windows breaks (she has millennium, I hate it)

I will install Microsoft Office XP with CrossOver 5, and I like Mandriva because versions 9 and 10 were very good with hardware detection, plus the ease of use of the Control Center

So at Easy Urpmi I will be able to use free sources?
What about software like Nvidia drivers, SmartLink modem drivers...

I'm especially interested in smartlink modem drivers, allthough I could compile them manually

Mandriva 2006 is very good. There is no need to install Crossover for MS Office usually since it already includes OpenOffice to read and write MS office docs. You can get all the updates free and there's plenty of free software available once you been to easyurpmi (eg. codecs for WMV, AVI files etc. and for playing movie DVDs).

You won't get packages of the Nvidia drivers unless you sign up for the Mandriva club or buy a PowerPack boxed set. They aren't that hard to install with Nvidia's installer (http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ake.2FMandriva) but if you were willing to pay for Crossover then you might consider paying for the club as well. I think the club also has packages for OpenOffice 2.0, which is even more compatible with MS Office docs than 1.1.x

xbaez, I imagine you know how to do a dual-boot, and you will
know where to find info about that. Mandriva can resize the windows
partition to make room for itself. If you have less experience
or little time you can also just get a spare IDE internal HD and
install Mandy on it.
If you install XP, it is best leave some room for extra partitions straight from the start.
Do not forget to add a fat32 so you can share files between OS. You could install XP as fat32?
I have heard ntfs or fat32 this was not that fantastic anyway
But I do not know much about Zin anyway, so no idea if this is accurate.

Modem, just have a look at http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/
so you know the beast. Smarlink should work. Look at the technion mailist archives

If you have spare time you can install wine instead of crossover...
Way to go is open office first anyway