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Here are the different means available to you in your problem-solving quest. Try the first option and only then, if that does not work, try the second, and so on.
The various Internet sites previously mentioned are excellent starting points. They deal with general and very specific aspects of your potential problems. Finally, try a general search engine such as Google™ or, as mentioned above, the Linux-specific Google™ search engine. And do not hesitate to use the Advanced search option with very detailed questions, such as the error message you are receiving.
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The previous searches may lead you to general answers which hide the results of your specific question amongst many other answers. To refine your search, you can try the following.
First, try to find a list which seems specifically geared to your problem, then perform a search in its archive pages.
Example
You've noticed some strange behavior while trying to use GRUB with a minix partition.
One of the results of a search using the “grub mailing list” keywords in Google™ is a link to the GRUB mailing list archive. It even offers a search engine, which when searched for “Minix” leads you directly to a patch.
For a newsgroups search, Google Groups™ maintains an archive of an amazingly large number of newsgroup channels.
Use this option as a very last resort and in really extreme situations — unless you want to offer your collaboration! Software developers generally receive mountains of e-mails, so your anguished question on the use of the cd command will most likely... be ignored!
The addresses will be found either on the home page of a project's site or in the software documentation.
A last word: do not underestimate your neighbors' skills or those of your local LUG (Linux Users Group). And please, do not throw your computer through the window. If your problem isn't fixed today, it may be tomorrow...
Finally, when facing a really challenging situation, corporate users (especially) might consider hiring one of Mandriva's consultants to address their specific needs.
This is one of the strong suits of open-source products: we have the source, we have the power! Therefore, almost any problem, no matter how complex, specific or high level, may be solved right in the heart of the software.
You might also want to customize your Linux environment to meet very precise goals. For example, you could use Mandriva Linux as a custom routing application on special devices. Know that Mandriva consulting services can help you.