[lugee]

as you can see, im a linux newbie.

everytime linux (mandrake 9.2) starts up, i get into the log in and i log in through my user name (which takes several tries for some odd reason).

after i get in, i type in "startx" or "startkde"

i get a an error saying "xset: error while loading shared libraries: libXmuu.so.1: cannot open shared object file: no such file or directory. and it continues on.

i tried reinstalling and now its having trouble with my cd rom. i tried several different ones and its still not working correctly. anyone got an idea whats wrong?

[fadirocks]

Bad copy of Mandrake is a probable cause! Anyhow Mandrake 10 is already out so maybe you should download it if you want to stick with Mandrake!
Also just to make sure Hardware set right try http://knoppix.net it's a linux on a CD no need to install I use it for emergency use and if I want to test OC setting

[lugee]

thanks. i figured it was probably a bad hd, after trying to format with winxp or any of the other linux os's, ist still doestn work.

[fadirocks]

If you like to go back to winXP then use any bootdisk that has fdisk and type

fdisk /mbr

That would clean you master boot record on you hard drive