Abstract
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.
Abstract
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.
A search using “grub mailing list” keywords in Google has as one of its results a link to an archive's message of the GRUB mailing-list archive. Once there, you get the URL for the archive's root: GRUB mailing list archive. It even suggests a search engine, which when searched for “Minix” leads you directly to a patch.
Note that not all archives have an embedded search engine. However, using Google as an example, you can easily use the advanced field domain to limit your search to the specific site hosting the archive. This strategy may also be used to exclude sites which keep returning garbage.
For a newsgroups search, Dejanews has maintained an archive of an amazingly large number of newsgroup channels.
See the related sections above: the section called “Mailing Lists” and the section called “Newsgroups”. Reading How To Ask Questions The Smart Way may be of great help.
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 is not fixed today, it may be tomorrow...
Finally, when facing a really challenging situation, corporate users (especially) might consider hiring one of MandrakeSoft'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 Mandrake Linux as a custom routing application on special devices. Know that MandrakeSoft consulting services can help you.