Installing a desktop environment
From Mandriva Community Wiki
It is possible to install more than one environment on the same computer under Mandriva Linux. These environments are independent and do not require any initial configuration. Installing a desktop environment is like installing any other software.
Go back to the environment list - Go back to the home page
Download and install the environment of your choice
To install a new environment, use 
Install & remove software.
As shown in the illustration above, you must:
- Change the filter at the top left to "Meta Packages"
- Expand the "Graphical Desktop" menu item
- Select the environment of your choice
- Select the checkbox next to the environment package
Regarding the selection of packages for the environment, you should know that:
- Task-gnome for example is the package which will select and install the GNOME desktop in full, with several software applications adapted to this environment and all tools supplied with it.
- Task-gnome-minimal is the meta-package that only installs packages based on the GNOME desktop, i.e. the environment will be installed with the configuration tools, but without additional software or third party applications such as instant messaging or internet browsers. Only the desktop is installed -- not the software that is usually included.
You must accept all the various dependencies associated with the package you choose to install. Make sure you have enough free space on your hard disc and your root partition '/' before installing a large environment. After validating the dependencies, click "Apply" and wait patiently for the download and installation of your new environment.
The meta packages are not limited to environments. You will notice that there are meta-packages offered for other categories of software. For example, you can install other meta packages containing several games at once.
Moving from one environment to another
When a new environment has been installed, it is stacked in the list of environments that can be selected and loaded in at the start (log in) of your session. Thus, to get to your new environment, you must first close the session without shutting down your computer and log back in.
After closing your session, you will arrive at the login screen of the system. You will notice small icons present at the bottom.
To access the other settings, click the icon 
. A list appears with several names. They correspond to different environments installed on your system that you can run at startup. At any time you can change the environment and return to the previous one by selecting your choice.
If your computer has multiple accounts, please note that each account starts the environment that has been designated as its default. Thus, logging into John's account can start KDE, but logging into Deborah's account can start GNOME and they do not have to be selected at each login. Each Mandriva Linux user may log into the environment they prefer by default without the need to select it at startup.
