Startup Issues
 

I posted this in another forum and someone said I should post it here:

Okay, I've installed Mandrake Linux 10.0 (I'm new to Linux) And I'm done installing and stuff, but, when it re-boots I get a blue screen and with options like this:

linux-smp (or something)
linux
628-7 (or something)
failsafe

I've tried everone, they all lead to something like DOS. With a bunch of Green OK's. Then it asks me to log-in (Kinda like DOS) And I get

[name@localhost name]$ (But with my name in it)

How do I START Linux... I'm SO lost... One checks stuff and then re-boots itself, and the other (failsafe) asks me a bunch of questions.

Then I tried startx after I log in in this DOS thing. All I get is a clock in the topright hand corner and a menu when I RIGHT click. With options like this:

Inconify
Resize
Move etc.

Show Icon Mangager
Hide Icon Manager

Kill
Delete

Restart
Exit

The blue screen is the lilo bootloader. You should probably boot option 2 - linux, unless you've got a multi processor machine.
The login prompt you're getting is because you didn't specify to login automatically when you installed - don't worry, when you get into Mandrake you can change this. You did the right thing by typing startx. The desktop you're getting sounds like the windowmaker desktop environment - and what you're seeing is about right for this environment, although there should be at least a taskbar as well.

I think you're after KDE desktop environment, which is a lot like the Windows desktop. You'll only get into KDE if you installed it during the install, which should have happened by default unless you changed anything. To get into KDE select 'exit' from the menu and you'll (hopefully) get dropped back to a graphical login prompt. Click your user name. Then it'll ask you what session you want to start. There should be a cascading menu below that with options: KDE, Gnome, IceWM etc etc. Make sure KDE is selected and hit login.

Probably best to post back once you get to KDE for how to change your boot screen and auto login etc etc.
If KDE isn't on the list, try Gnome. If you don't have either, then something went wrong during the install.

Well, when I clicked exit before, it just took me back to how I got in, with my username and startx.

Try to restart your computer and after you log in
do NOT start x.

Instead type:

urpmi gnome

or/and

urmpi kde

Two things can happen. It will just list bunch of files and that means that gnome (or kde) is installed.
Or it will ask you if you want to install it. Then go ahead and install it.

If you install the kde or gnome then startx.