When I tried to install the latest Nvidia drivers on my Debian machine, I got an error I have seen before. It says I don't have the kernel source files installed on my machine and it can't proceed with the install.

Do you guys recall how I can find them in APT-GET? I know this was resolved on this forum once before but I can't find the thread that covered this

kernel version - 2.6.12-1-386

Using synaptic do search for nvidia. The sid 2.6.14.2 kernel(linux-image-2.6.x) pkgs come with nvidia pkgs made for that kernel,including nvidia-glx and nvidia kernel and nvidia kernel source so that nvidia driver can be installed the debian way.Then check /etc/X11/XF86conf-4(for sarge) or../xorg.conf for etch/sid file.
Another post suggested removing all nvidia debs,dl your kernel source from kernel.org then dl nvidia linux driver and install the driver that way. I assume you have kernel source already since you are using 2.6.14-2 kernel.

No, I don't have the 2.6.14 kernel. I can't find any kernels higher than 2.6.12-1 when I search using APT.

Where can I find the 2.6.14 kernel for my system using APT-GET?

Should I change my sources?

My list

#deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux testing _Etch_ - Official Snapshot i386 Binary-1 (20051111)]/ etch contrib main

deb http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ testing main
deb-src http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ testing main

deb http://security.debian.org/ testing/updates main

you can add Sid site by using your testing main site address( yours should say main contrib non-free at end) and make another with sid in place of testing. Then apt-get update and use synaptic to upgrade your kernel(linux-image). Try out the new kernel by reboot then install nvidia pkgs. Review debian way of installing nvidia. And install. Then check /etc/X11/xorg.conf to make sure nvidia driver replaced nv.
But if this sid kernel upgrade and nvidia install includes too many other pkgs from sid,and you are not comfortable with those changes ;you may want to hold off and try installing what saman007 suggested.
Some add Sid site and only use it,for example,to get k3b then uncomment Sid address line in /etc/apt/sources.list to keep their system as Etch as possible.You can do same thru synaptic.

There is also an LQ tutorial available for installing nvidia driver in etch with 2.6.12x kernel. This might be easier for you.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...GUI_Multimedia will get you there. Just scroll thru the articles. Good luck

dude just download module assistant (apt-get install module-assistant) and then type:
#m-a prepare (with sudo or as root)

and you can also do:#m-a auto-install nvidia (root/sudo)

Module Assistant can install a bunch of modules very easily, though sometimes they don't work (such as I'm on the 2.6.15 kernel) and you have to uninstall the driver through synaptic/apt and then install the nvidia official drivers. Anyways apt-get blah drivers isn't really a good suggestion. Considering how many kernels come out and how little the .deb repositories are updated with new nvidia drivers. I don't think I've ever had it install a pre-compiled driver, ever. And I'm glad because compiling video drivers is one of the best things you can do, it allows it to be more machine specific for efficiency.

Edit: Though the prepare command only gets the headers, you may also need other libs.