I have wanted to try Linux for the the past year or so, and it wasn't until a few minutes ago I installed my first distro, Mandrake Linux 10.1. I have a few questions though, I am typing from it right now, so I am using it. My questions are:

1. Where can I get a driver for my sound card? I have a Integrated and a Creative PCI card.

2. Whate are some nice applications, or download sites, or graphical (i.e. Screen Savers and Desktop's etc) I can use for Mandrake?

3. Are all distros this much like Windows? I think Mandrake is almost too Windows-ish.

4. Anything I should know about Mandrake, or any advice?

1) www.google.com
2) gnome-look.org, kde-look.org, kde-apps.org, Xfce-Look.org
3) no, they're more like *nix, but you can make it look like anything you want
4) Read the docs

I have looked on Google, and I can't find anything. Is this card not supported?

The card is prob supported. search google for your card and linux

Yeah, I did, I said Creative Soundblaster Live 24-Bit Linux drivers, and a few sites came up, but none of them had drivers.

Welcome to linux then!

The integrated card is likely to have been detected,
I would start with this one (otherwise maybe disable it in the bios
and work only with the soundblaster or vice-versa)

Are you sure the sound volume is enabled?
Try to start Kmix or aumix
(type kmix or aumix in a terminal)

if you want help with the cards you are best
posting (try from a terminal these commands)
lspcidrake -v
(you can then go up and down with <shift> <arrow up>
or
lspcidrake -v | grep -i sound

you will have a better idea about the module needed for the internal sound card

in a terminal as well try
dmesg | grep -i sound
dmesg | grep -i sound

to see what the boot messages were about

you might need to be root to use lspcidrake
type su then the password then exit when finished

Too windowish?
Mandrake is a good start, and you can do lots of command line,
and bash programming etc.
I would say good to start with and learn linux, then you can move
to somthg else if you wish. Lots of choice out there, and not zindozish at all!

screensaver google (or right hand click on desk and change the screensaver)

Read Starter Guide Mandrakelinux 10.1
should be on the hardrive or help menu somewhere

I find this a good reading
http://mozart.informatik.fh-kl.de/do...teUser_2up.pdf

Mandriva has built in drivers for your card. You may need to disable the onboard soundcard (in your bios) so that Mandriva uses the Creative soundcard.

1. you'll need to disable one of your sound outlets

2. download & updates

http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/

http://rpmfind.net/

http://rpm.pbone.net/

wallpapers & screensavers

http://www.linuxhotbox.com/fun/Linux...ux-Humor-1.htm

http://www.linuxforum.com/linux_wallpaper.php

3. Linux is nothing like windows
you mean the look of KDE, that you can change

4. its a good distro to learn on, however its is a rpm based distro, if you want something based on debian to learn on - Mepis or Ubuntu

one last thing
memorise this, because you'll be tested on it


Google is your friend



live long and prosper
floppy

Where would I find it in Bios, when I bought my comp, the Live-24 bit was the default, I have never used the onboard, ot gotten frivers, let alone what kind it is.

Ok, I found out what card it is, my PCI card, and I got a screenshot, easier than typing

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...Screenshot.jpg

You may still have to go into your bios to disable the onboard sound - I did and my pci card is slightly earlier i.e. soundblaster 5.1 digital.

You'd then have to go into the mandrake/mandriva control centre (configure my computer) and run the hardware config facility, it should (in theory) detect the sound card and then offer you the correct driver (I always had to change mine as it uses a driver called emu10k1, but mandrake/mandriva always wanted to use the Audigy() - which is probably what your card wants).

Oh and just for info, I'd also get an updated version of that distro - the latest incarnation being Mandriva 2005 LE (sometimes refered to as 10.2). You'd still have to do some updates but probably a hell of a lot less than with 10.1

the link posted for easy urpmi is the place to go to set up your repositories for updates etc.

The mandrake default for desktop is usually KDE (unless you went for gnome). So just google for kde-look thats where you'll usually a fair number of bits to customise it (if you set up your repositories, get them all i.e. main, contrib, updates, plf-free, plf-nonfree and jpackage - when it's "done it's thing" if you then look at the "add software/RPM+" facility, you'll see loads of listings for extra artwork - that's a nice easy place to start with for backgrounds, themes, icons, etc etc - you'll then find even more at the kde-look site already mentioned).

For further info, theres a mandrake/mandriva forum here at LQ or have a look here

Thanks, I just got this distro the other day, it's fully updated, and a free version. Also, I have Gnome, I have seen KDE though, and Gnome is better in my opinion.

Ok, I really feel like a noob now, I forgot how to get into bios, I know I have to press a F* key, but there is Setup and Boot Menu, I am lost from there.

Anyone??? I really want to learn Linux but I have to have music going pretty much nonstop or I get massive headaches and I can't think as good.

Usually it's F2 to get into your bios (if not that one, then try F12)