I don't know what has happened, so I will try to describe it as best I can.
Everything was fine this morning as I used my computer in the regular fashion. After updating Mandriva 2008 via the automatic update thingy that is on the top panel (big red exclamation point if you are not up to date), I went about my usual business, and when through, I shut down the computer. After returning home this afternoon and booting up again, I find several issues:
The computer is unbelieveably slow...my dual core processor running above 75% on both cores.
The appearance is choppy and wobbly...even on the startup screen. It looks chunky instead of the usual smooth gradients. I am guessing this is something to do with my graphics card and the update?
The other thing I noticed was an additional entry in GRUB. Among the other "laptop" choices recently added to the list is "laptop 2.6.22.12.1" I don't know if I got the decimal points right but that is the correct numerical sequence.
Anybody have any ideas what the heck happened? I can't use my computer like this. Even typing in a text box is taking forever.
Hair on fire while screen flashes and wiggles.

then numbers are important.

grub menu should have an option to boot you into the old kernel ....the new is 2.6.22.12something and the old depending on how often you update is 2.6.22.9 or some number lower than 2.6.22.12 got it?

Before we reboot, check /boot to see you still have the old kernels....and you can have a look at /boot/grub/menu.lst and see if there is an option to boot old kernel

also have a look and the timestamps on file /etc/X11/xorg.conf....and any other file that should be there xorg.conf~.....are they consistent with the date of your update?

so reboot and choose that lower kernel option....

2) check all is good now for the fun ...if good reboot and allow that nasty kernel to boot.....this time read /var/log/dmesg and open a shell and type command top and look at memory use...and in your home folder look at hidden file xsession errors

I suspect your xorg.conf is playing up or a driver is not loading properly.

I do not have a laptop

Thanks AUS9,
I turned off 3d display and that has helped...at least it's relatively functional now.
I read elsewhere there was an issue with the kernel update released today and that the nvidia drivers were not released concurrently. I still don't know how I'm going to get everything back to normal, but I am very relieved to at least be able to have minimal function. Compiz will not work at all, and I have yet to find out what other functionality I have lost, but I am glad that my processor doesn't seem to be on speed anymore.
I did try and reboot into a previous kernel...no success.
With respect, I don't understand the other things you suggested I try. I am a complete n00b. Sorry.

thats ok we all have to start somewhere.

lets talk about your old kernel...so you arrowed down and selected and old kernel in the grub menu......having verified old kernel existed in /boot

or are you saying you were not able to see into the /boot folder using your file manager?

was my short way of posting too confusing for you? be honest I was always told...I am thick skinned as I am a sunburnt aussie

2) leaping way ahead....and I am not trying to force you....you can compile a kernel component called a module to work with your existing kernel....have a peek at the instructions for linux users here


I can see you have a 64 bit processor but not sure if you are running the 64 bit version so I only post the 32 bit link just to give you the idea

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d...100.14.19.html

Hi AUS9!
I learned a lot through this little process, thanks to your help!
However, this morning, the wonderful Mandriva people had put the required drivers into automatic update.
I snagged them and reconfigured and voila!, everything is back to normal.

I nearly had a heart attack when this happened, because my Windoze installation on the other hard drive is unstable after installing activesync for my husband's cell phone (so I would have had not much access to anything!). <Place generic Window$ sob-story here...we've all been there!>

I am so grateful to the folks on this forum for being so willing to help such a completely green n00b figure out the simplest things. Thanks to you people, I don't feel so much like I'm in over my head anymore.

Your method of posting wasn't the problem, AUS9, it was my inability to understand language common to Linux users. I AM learning, though!
Thank you SO much.

well since you are willing to learn I will try to seduce you into a kind of backup called partimage. I have a spare partition where I write the images to and from.....I have a dvd burner to burn the images to...onto dvdrw.

Its a special kind of backup that restores the partition so you can make all sorts of mistakes and get of jail free.

2) another thing that noobs may not know, is some Mandriva mirrors are slower to update than others.

if you are interested, open mcc and go to your configure updates and click on one the entries, lets call it main_updates and click on edit.....just so you can see the web address.....copy and paste that address into a text file and save it....

then exit that edit function and click on add....choose official sources and choose a mirror like japan even tho you are in US.....let it add the updates and choose the exact style...like main_updates and save that web address.....then un-check the japan sites

now use a web browser....copy and paste the links into each tab and compare them by clicking on modification date.....you may be surprised to see US is better or worse.

of course it may take a few different countries to try before you find a faster one but as a hint....France is the home of Mdv