Updates?
 

Well, I'm trying to update Mandrake 10. I went throught he whole process witht he application that sits next to the desktop selection area - in the lower right. Now it satys service disabled awaiting payment. Arg. Does Mandrakersoft charge for updates?

Using that update applet is for paying customers. If you have set your sources to download from the internet (if not use the link in my signature and follow the instructions) open a console window switch to root, now type: urpmi --auto-select this will update packages currently installed on your system.

go to http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/ to setup urpmi

then you should be able to update your system either in mandrake control center -> package manager -> update (cant remember its name :) )

or as {BBI}Nexus{BBI} said type:
su
<your root password>
urpmi --auto-select

Well it looks like I'm updated then. It wants to "update" gaim to the first version ever. Yeah right.

urpmi --auto-select
One of the following packages is needed:
1- libgc1-6.2-3mdk.i586
2- libksi1-3.4.1-3mdk.i586
3- pnet-devel-0.6.2-3mdk.i586
What is your choice? (1-3) 3
The following packages have to be removed for others to be upgraded:
gaim-1.2.1-0mdk10.0.i586 (in order to install gaim-0.75-5mdk.i586) (y/N) n


How can I rpevent that dopey little application (for paying members) from starting at boot?

if you right click on the programs icon, there should be an option to remove it from the panel.

Um... where? the programs?

I meant the icon for the program that you want to remove from the panel. You could also right click an empty space on the panel and select "Remove from panel" and select the application/program to remove from the list of options available.