I have been experiencing endless difficulties (several re-installs) getting 9.2 to function properly on my AMD Nforce system. The usual scenario is that X is no longer accessible and (sometimes) that drives are missing. After yet another screw-up and re-install I have established:

1. All problems follow the use of urpmi, whether or not I use Mandrake Control Centre or command line, and irrespective of update source.

2. That most of the bugfixes are for problems which do not exist on my PC (It has screensavers, I can rename directories on the desktop etc..)

3. That I cannot trust the "security updates" - attempting to install the x86 security updates again crashed my system resulting in a loss of X.

4. That my system oprates flawlessly as long as I do not attempt to update anything. Ever.


I am using a set of powerpack CDs from Mandrake (originals). They install the following kernel:

NVIDIA_Kernel-2.4.22.10mdk-4496-3.mdk

for which no source exists on the disks. Attempting to install the source which is there, 2.4.22.10, destabilises X and sooner or later results in X not running from boot.

After posting earlier about unnecessary and damaging updates (when I knew even less than I do now) it looks like my version of powerpack has had many if not most of the original bugs fixed. But I am unable to ever update it because the updates all seem to address the ordinary 2.4.22.10 kernel and not the NVIDIA version. Which is sometimes not a problem, but sometimes is disastrous. This may be complete nonsense, but please bear with my newbie-ness as I try to sort out this (to me) perplexing phenomenon.

Any Nvidia/recent powerpack owners out there got any ideas?

I have also tried to initiate update during install in the hope that this might address problem. All that happens (twice) is that I connect and immediately disconnect, Mandrake telling me the install is complete..!!!