nVidia, kernel headers, etc

jrcreasy · 08-12-2005, 08:55 PM

I am a newbie trying to get my nVidia card to work. I am running sarge, kernel 2..6.8. I found instructions for installing the nVidia driver. These instructions use the module assistant. When I try to install the driver, I get an error saying that I don't have the kernel headers and that I should install the package kernel-headers-2.6.8-1-386 (which is my kernel according to uname -r). When I try to run apt-get install kernel-headers-2.6.8-1-386, I always get 'package not found'. What am I doing wrong? Is there a better way to get my nVidia graphics card to work?

ToastedToad · 08-12-2005, 09:41 PM

All you need to do is:

Download the current installer http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-7667-pkg1.run

and I always install my sources, although I don't think it is necessary for the drivers to install. :

# apt-get install kernel-source-2.6.8

# cd /usr/src
# ls
# tar xvjf kernel-source-2.6.8.tar.bz2
# ln -s kernel-source-2.6.8 linux

stop x-server:

# /etc/init.d/gdm stop ( substitute kdm if you use it )

navigate to the directory that you downloaded the installer to and run:

# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7667-pkg1.run

Edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

# nano /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

change driver from "nv" to "nvidia"

Save and exit

Load module:

# modprobe nvidia
# gdm ( or kdm )

You should see a nice nvidia logo before gdm/kdm starts. This works for me every time for the 2nd rig in my signiture, and has for a few others around the forum. Hope it works fpr you too.

jrcreasy · 08-12-2005, 10:25 PM

OK. Thanks; I will try your method. I do have a true newbie question though. How do I download the driver from the command line? Without the driver, I ahve no GUI...

Roger

Xian · 08-12-2005, 10:49 PM

You don't need a video driver to get a GUI.
Have you made changes to your X config?

To reset it from the command line:
# dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

ToastedToad · 08-12-2005, 11:49 PM

wget http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-7667-pkg1.run

Xian is correct you do not need the nvidia 3d driver to run x-windows. Just:

# apt-get install x-window-system

Then install what ever desktop environment you like, gnome, kde, xfce or whatever if you haven't already.

jrcreasy · 08-13-2005, 04:46 AM

uhh-ohh. Perhaps I am mis-informed. I installed from a net-install disc. When I start, everything starts up fine until it gets to x, where it fails. What else could be wrong? What info can I post that would help?

darkleaf · 08-13-2005, 05:55 AM

http://home.comcast.net/~andrex/Debi...tallation.html

THis worked for me installing the nvidia stuff the debian way. This is also the way for legacy cards btw.

There are generic drivers that can start x in 2d mode. But that's a waste of your video card imo. You can change the driver that's used in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 or with "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86" I think the 2d drivers is "nv" instead of "nvidia" in the video card driver section. But like I said nv is only 2d and that's a waste when you can have more and better. I found the nvidia driver is superior to nv and if you want 3d you'll need nvidia.

MaTrIx709 · 08-13-2005, 06:00 AM

try

Code:

#apt get install kernel-headers-2.6.8-2-386

then

Code:

#apt-get get install module-assistant

then

Code:

#m-a i-a nvidia

then

Code:

#apt-get install nvidia-glx

then you need to edit your x config.

Code:

#nano /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

put a hash (#) in front of any lines in the "module" section that have "GLcore" or "dri"

then go to section device, and change your Driver to nvidia

This should work, I've dont it a million times.

lpd · 08-13-2005, 11:23 AM

Also, if you're using the drivers directly from Nvidia make sure that you purge 'nvidia-glx' when you uninstall that since otherwise it will leave a script(/etc/init.d/nvidia-glx) that will remove the nvidia TLS links on reboot. (Which will prevent you from starting X)

Xian · 08-13-2005, 04:42 PM

I just did a Etch net-install of Debian on another box today, and received an error when installing the nVidia drivers from source that I haven't seen before. Basically, it was complaining that the kernel had been compiled using a different gcc version than what is residing on my system. I saw the gcc upgrade during the install but didn't realize it would cause nVidia to throw a fit and refuse to install properly. There is an override option but it didn't work.

Anyway, I just ended up installing the driver using the "Debian-way" method being discussed in the above posts. It still works fine just in case anyone else might happen to run across this issue.

ToastedToad · 08-13-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrcreasy
uhh-ohh. Perhaps I am mis-informed. I installed from a net-install disc. When I start, everything starts up fine until it gets to x, where it fails. What else could be wrong? What info can I post that would help?

What have you done so far? As far as I can tell from your posts is that you completed the base install. Have you done "apt-get install x-window-system" and then installed a desktop environment? Or, did you choose to install a desktop environment within the actual installation? (The blue screens).

What happens if you type startx?

Try to give us an accurate run down of the steps you have done so far. And any errors you come across. What does it say when x won't start?

czon · 08-15-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToastedToad
You should see a nice nvidia logo before gdm/kdm starts.

i dont get any nvidia logo :/ have been reading both your guide and the guide on nvidia.com and i have done what i am told

everything seems ok.. but no logo

Edit:

BTW i also installed the nforce 2 chip driver and there was no IDE module, and since i dotn use the ethernet card or soundcard i want to remove it.. how do i do that?

as i said. never made any config for audio/ether. just made sh nforce-lin......

ToastedToad · 08-16-2005, 01:37 AM

What do you get from glxinfo?

Quote:

i dont get any nvidia logo :/ have been reading both your guide and the guide on nvidia.com and i have done what i am told

everything seems ok.. but no logo

What do you get from glxinfo? Type at the command line:

Code:

glxinfo | less

Page Up to the top af the file, here's the first part of mine.

Code:

name of display: :0.0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
server glx version string: 1.3
server glx extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, 
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control, 
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer
client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync, 
    GLX_NV_swap_group, GLX_NV_video_out, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float
GLX extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, 
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control, 
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce FX 5600 Ultra/AGP/SSE/3DNOW!
OpenGL version string: 2.0.0 NVIDIA 76.64

czon · 08-16-2005, 07:39 AM

glxinfo | less, gives me this.. almost identical

Code:

name of display: :0.0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
server glx version string: 1.3
server glx extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer
client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info,
    GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync,
    GLX_NV_swap_group, GLX_NV_video_out, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer,
    GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float
GLX extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce FX 5900/AGP/SSE/3DNOW!
OpenGL version string: 2.0.0 NVIDIA 76.76

Biased turkey · 08-16-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToastedToad
All you need to do is:

Download the current installer http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-7667-pkg1.run

and I always install my sources, although I don't think it is necessary for the drivers to install. :

...
You should see a nice nvidia logo before gdm/kdm starts. This works for me every time for the 2nd rig in my signiture, and has for a few others around the forum. Hope it works fpr you too.

You are right, it's not necessary to have the kernel source installed, but the kernel headers must be installed in order to run the Nvidia graphics drivers installer