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I searched these forums and google before posing this question to you. I am a slackware fan but really want to get into debian as I like the idea of building my own system and not being filled with stuff I don't need. On to the problem at hand.
I am having a fairly common problem with debian. I downloaded the Woody iso and burned it to cd. Booted it up (bf24 : 2.4 kernel) and installed the base system. At this point I LOVE it. However here is where the problem comes in.
After installing the x-window-system and fluxbox, I tried to startx (just to see how I am doing). I get the dreaded "No Screens" error. I am running a geForce4 card which isn't supported by the version of X that comes with Woody so first I changed my apt-source to testing and got the new one. No love. Still "No Screens". Next I read a post here at LQ that said to install my nVidia drivers. No love again. No kernel source to build driver module from. So: apt-get install kernel-source. No love. Didnt have the exact kernel available so I download the closest. 2.4.18. bunzip2'd it untar'd it, linked it to /usr/src/linux, No love. still not able to install drivers. Still no screens.
At this point its a little frustrating. New Idea. I downloaded Unofficial iso's of sarge and sid. Installed sarge. went to apt-get x-window-system. {Insert Insane Laughing} {insert hair pulling} No connection to the net. Kernel didnt recognise (sp) my SiS onboard NIC. Same exact problem with Sid.
At this point, I am just thinking that maybe, just maybe, Debian hates me. I really love the concept and really would love to see it work but I cant get it going. I think I have installed 20 distros from feebsd to slackware and have never had problems like this. Don't get me wrong, i am not complaining about Debian. I know once I get over this minor _MOUNTAIN_ of a hump all will be ok. I would really love some help from one of you Deb Gods out there.
Background info: I have very little experience compiling new kernels. I did it once but lost features in the process. ie: NIC Thanks in advance for any help. I am at work right now so I will not be able to post any data from files until later on today.
Just when I thought I was getting good with linux in general, debian throws the button back on me.
(Hint: you can boot the installer with "linux26" to install Sarge with the 2.6.x kernel.)
Concerning your nic detection problem: Since you're a Slackware user, I assume that you know the kernel module that your nic needs. In Debian you can use the modconf utility to load the needed module or, alternatively, you can edit config files manually and then run the update-modules command to make the new settings permanent. You can find more info on both methods in this thread:
Of course, modprobe also works in Debian but only temporarily. The next time you reboot, Debian has restored the old settings and you need to modprobe again. So use modconf or the update-modules method instead.
Perhaps the new Sarge installer can make Debian to fall in love with you. It's a very friendly installer.
Last edited by Dead Parrot; 06-17-2004 at 11:32 AM.
Installing nvidia's drivers wont work if you only download kernel-source-*, you must also install the kernel from source. However, since it seems like you are still using the default kernel-image you can just "apt-get install kernel-headers-2.4.18-1-i386" (iirc), or take whichever kernel-image your using and replace "image" with "headers"
From some more reading on how to get this done I have found that geForce4 cards do not work with the version of xfree86 that comes with debian. Anyone know why this is. I have been able to install 10+ distro's on this box with no X problems. Why debian?
The latest XFree86 version that is available in Debian at the moment is 4.3.0. If your geForce4 card doesn't work with this version, then I must agree that Debian, at the moment, doesn't like you very much.
Perhaps you should try Debian again at some time later, when Debian has moved on to using X.org?
Last edited by Dead Parrot; 06-17-2004 at 08:12 PM.
I have a geforce4 card (the ti4200 to be exact) and have no problems with the X in Sarge.. To install the drivers all I needed to do was run the installer (sh NVIDIA*.run) from nvidia.com and change a few things in the XF86Config-4 file. Speaking of which, did you remember to follow the README on the nvidia site?
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Originally posted by blueCow From some more reading on how to get this done I have found that geForce4 cards do not work with the version of xfree86 that comes with debian. Anyone know why this is. I have been able to install 10+ distro's on this box with no X problems. Why debian?
ps: I told you it hates me.
i am using a Geforce4 MMX 440 with debian....normal install...no problems....i just follow
instructions in the Readme on the Nvidia site....used it in stable, testing and Sid...no problem with 2.4 kernel or 2.6.6 kernel....just followed instructions...each time i make a change..
download nvidia-kernel-(your kernel) and nvidia-common and install them
also this is tricky
startx calls XF86Config-4. But xf86confing, when run, edits XF86Config not the -4 version.
I got the no screens error with the nv driver too. Only thing I needed to do is apt-get kernel-headers and source for my kernel (it might be that only the headers are needed) and run the nvidia installer. After that I changed nv to nvidia in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and everything worked.
I think the nv driver doesn´t work with geforce4:s at least (the xfree 4.3 one - I got the same error in slackware too) Suse 9.1 liveCD works fine with nv as it uses a tweaked xfree 4.4 rc2.
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