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  1. Linux Manual
  2. Installation & Internet
  3. About the Author
  4. Content
  5. Installation
  6. Choosing a Linux Distribution
  7. Partition types
  8. Fdisk
  9. Understanding Mount Point /mnt
  10. Linux File Structure
  11. Creating a boot disk
  12. Welcome to Linux Installation
  13. Installation mode
  14. Partitioning
  15. Creating partitions with Druid
  16. Creating partitions manually
  17. Formatting Partitions
  18. Individual packages selection
  19. The root account
  20. Network configuration
  21. The time zone
  22. Configuring Services
  23. Configuring X
  24. Installing Mandrake 9.1 & 9.2
  25. Installation Class
  26. The Drake X Partitioning
  27. Package Selection
  28. Configuring X
  29. The Internet
  30. Creating a new user
  31. Getting online
  32. Configuring the connection (Dial UP)
  33. High Speed Internet
  34. DSL Modems and Cable modems
  35. Connecting DSL as DHCP
  36. Setting up a Plain Cable Modem (DOCSIS)
  37. Connecting an ISDN
  38. Using Routers
  39. Login Protocols
  40. PPPoE
  41. WAN IP Address
  42. Commercial Configuration
  43. Troubleshooting

Configuring X

At this stage of the installation, you will be configuring your video adapter, monitor and of course, here you have the option to set the resolution for your monitor.

DrakeX has been improved tremendously. Most models of monitors and video cards are in its database. The specs of your monitor might be detected as generic. You should accept that. If for some reason a device is not detected, you will have to specify it manually. Have the specs ready (brand, model, horizontal and vertical refresh rate, amount of memory on video card)

Choose Linux Monitor
Fig. 1.33

The X server

Xfree configuration
Fig. 1.34

XFree 4.2.x is the default video server for Mandrake 9.0, but the older XFree 3.3.6 is still available. If your particular video card supports 3D hardware acceleration, it will be offered as an option.

  • Accept the option Click OK.

The next section is setting up the video resolution for your monitor; the picture below shows a perfectly detected video card with a monitor supporting 1024 x 768; if your resolution is below this try to adjust it to match 1024 x 768 for the desktop to fit properly on the screen.

Choose Linux Screen Resolution
Fig. 1.35

If you got this far, you are in business. Now you can select the desired resolution and color depth for your display.

  • Click OK to continue and test the configuration.

The video will be tested, the test screen should appear. If the test screen looks OK, choose "Yes" to continue. If your display doesn't appear correctly, choose "No" to try some alternative settings.

Setting up the boot mode

Start XFree
Fig. 1.36

X can be set to launch automatically at startup to provide a Graphical Login, We don't want that, just yet. If your monitor or video card is not set correctly you won't be able to login at a command prompt for troubleshooting.

Note: Even if your video tested OK in the previous step. I don't recommend you login graphically.

  • Answer No to this option

The update Option

By the time you install Mandrake Linux 9.0, it is likely that some software packages have been updated since the initial release. Here you will be prompted to update your current edition. You will only answer yes to this question if you configured your Internet connection during network configuration earlier in this chapter. For security reasons don't do this. But if you answer yes to this option, it will list several mirror sites for your download and prompt for packages selection and installation.

  • Answer NO to this Option.

Congratulations

Finally the congratulation screen pops up, prompting that your installation is complete click OK to finalize and reboot.

OKAdvanced Fig. 1.37

Or click on Advanced for other options.
The advanced options generate auto install floppy – On this floppy record the settings chosen during the installation. These settings can be used on new machines that need to be configured in the exact same way.
Save package selection - This records the software packages, which were selected for this installation. When complete, remove the floppy and all optical media select "OK" to restart the computer. You can then boot into Linux or MS-Windows (if applicable).

Congratulations you just have installed Linux…