"(1) I tried the "Radeon x1950 and Earlier" driver, which I found under ... Custom > Vendor > ATI. When I rebooted to
make it take effect, I got stuck again at a non-graphical login. So, first question, when I'm stuck there, how do I
re-install the vesa driver, or try a different driver, without re-installing the system all over again? I tried "xstart",
but it didn't recognize that command at that point."
ati 9808 doesn't exist, it must be a radeon 9800 xt, a very old video card, 9+ years old
the support for this card has been problematic lately if i remember correctly
the x1950 and earlier has a couple options, try the other two
since you don't have options, in the console write XFdrake and set the driver again it that text based menu and restart, if it happens again, try again with another option and if none of the options work, set vesa again or xorg ati
"(3) Do I understand correctly that Linux can be made to use MS drivers? This
computer came from the store only a week ago or so with Windows 7 installed
and working perfectly (well, no video problems, anyway). If I can identify
the correct Windows driver, can someone tell me how to trick it into working
under PCLOS?"
if it is a new pc it cannot be a ati radeon 9800xt, is it a second hand pc? if new, the problem is that video card is new and you need to use proprietary amd drivers from repos
pclinux and linux in general can't use windows drivers to work with the kernel, there is a trick to make wifi cards work but doesn't work for every model
drivers for windows kernel at 32 or 64 bit are designed specifically for that os, linux has no relation to the files offered including directx(microsoft only) and other technologies
could you post the specs of the machine, maybe the model of the machine, brand, other stuff to determine what you have there
