I followed the instructions here:
http://home.comcast.net/~andrex/Debi...tallation.html

I did not choose the kernel recompile. Instead I installed with APT.

If you've installed the nVidia driver successfully, and can't get X to start, then the most likely cause is an improper configuration in the monitor section of /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. Please check the manufacturer specs and only input the precise settings and ranges for your hardware.

And be certain to follow exactly the README at the nVidia download page.
For example, did you change the device driver to "nvidia" in X?

Well, everything works now i guess...
When i was choosing nvidia as the driver it always was failing. Now i choose nv instead. Resolution/color is up there and works just fine.

Everything works now - well yes, but you're *not* using NVidia's driver. 'nv' is the default, generic xorg module for nvidia cards.

Well if anyone could help me figure out how to use it, id love you forever.

I did it, I naw have 3D acceleration running on my Geforce 6600.
I basicaly did wht ToastedToad suggested:
1)via apt-get I installed the kernel-headers package
2) Downloaded the Nvidia drivers directly from Nvidia website then ran the install shell-script
3) Edited the XF86config being sure , as suggested by Nvidia README , to remove load "dri" and add load"glx" + replacing in the driver section "nv" ( in my case it was "vesa" ) with"nvidia".
Thanks to all the people who helped me to finally watch the Nvidia splash and to see
"direct rendering: Yes" when running glxinfo.

I did everything quoted above. What do you mean by direct rendering? Is that something I may have needed to change?

When you run the command "glxinfo" if you see the line "direct rendering: Yes" displayed it means that you have successfully installed the Nvidia drivers and that you have 3D hardware graphics acceleration .
If the result is "direct rendering: No" there is something wrong.

What is the result if you type "glxinfo" ?

Well, I would love to tell you, but I just did something really stupid. I remembered that I made a back up of the XF86Config-4 file so I "CP"ed it to the actual file. Now I can only boot to gnome.

Debian Current? Is that 3.1 as I have or do you have a later development version? When the driver works the NVidia logo popps up when you start Gnome. You cant miss it.

I think he is probably an ex-slacker using Debian Testing/SID and just got the terms wrong.

Gentoo is another Linux separate from Debian. I have not tried it yet. But the latest Debian 3.1 I found much easier than the previous releases where I did not even get Gnome to start:
http://www.debian.org

I agree , the Nvidia splash is a good indication that the Nvidia driver was properly installed. But that doesn't mean that 3D hardware acceleration is working
You still have to edit the XF86Congig file

From the Nvidia Readme:

If you have a working X config file for a different driver (such as the "nv"
or "vesa" driver), then simply edit the file as follows.

Remove the line:

Driver "nv"
(or Driver "vesa")
(or Driver "fbdev")

and replace it with the line:

Driver "nvidia"

Remove the following lines:

Load "dri"
Load "GLCore"

In the "Module" section of the file, add the line (if it does not already
exist):

Load "glx"

did that from the start. was not working

Alright, here it is. THE LOG FILE. hopefully someone can figure out what my problem is through this??? PLease help. A few days now struggling with this card.
Thanks alot guys.

http://kevin.artoo.net/?p=6 <--go there to view the log file