How to install NVIDIA drivers in laptops and desktops.

imdeemvp · 12-30-2005, 11:14 PM

This will help you install nvidia drivers for laptops and desktops.
I did ti for Compaq R3000 with nvidia geforce 2 (32MB) with fedora core 4. If you are a newbie I strongly suggest to create a backup of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

TIP: Everytime there is a new fedora kernel the nvidia drivers need to be re-installed.

1. Make sure you have gcc installed. If not you can install it from System Settings >Add/Remove Apps. >Development Tools...install everything if you want.

2. You will need the kernel source code AKA kernel-devel you can install using the livna repo.

Code:

yum install kernel-devel

3. Download Nvidia linux drivers ( I am using x86 so I am linking to that ).

Now that were are readay we need to exit X enviroment.
4. Open terminal, become root (su + password) and run:

Code:

/sbin/telinit 3

After issuing the above command you may get a blank screen so just hit ctrl+alt+F1 which will take you to the text login prompt. Login as regular user and then become root.

5. Run installation command and NOTE you may be using a different linux version or latets:

Code:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7664-pkg1.run

I am using latest version so keep an eye on the version you have or downloaded.

6. Accept agreement, in second window select NO, next window select OK, next window OK...and it that should do it. You will get a message that installation is complete.

7. Probe nvidia drivers:

Code:

/sbin/modprobe nvidia

8. Restart X enviroment:

Code:

/sbin/telinit 5

9. Now we need to edit the xorg.conf file:

Code:

gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

and remove these 2 lines under "Module":

Quote:

#Load "dri"
#Load "GLcore"

and add this line: Load "glx" and in the Section "Device"
change from:
Driver "nv"
to:
Driver "nvidia"

10. Reboot your laptop. You should be able to see and nvidia logo......

11. Once logged in lets make sure every is OK, open terminal and run:

Code:

glxgears

MINIMIZE glxgears window, I have a 32mb geforce and this is my result:

Quote:

[root@localhost imdeemvp]# glxgears
6180 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1236.000 FPS
6517 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1303.400 FPS
16292 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3258.400 FPS
18234 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3646.800 FPS
18240 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3648.000 FPS
18246 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3649.200 FPS
18042 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3608.400 FPS
18036 frames in 5.0 seconds = 3607.200 FPS
X connection to :0.0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
[root@localhost imdeemvp]#

12. Run:

Code:

glxinfo | grep direct

results should be:

Quote:

[root@localhost imdeemvp]# glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes
[root@localhost imdeemvp]#

If you want to check your nvidia settings simply run:

Code:

nvidia-settings

and you will see a nvidia linux logo with the graphics card information.

If you dont want to see the Nvidia Logo during bootup just add this line to your xorg.conf. Like this:

Quote:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
EndSection

Crito · 12-31-2005, 04:55 AM

The latest version is NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8178-pkg1.run and it now modifies xorg.conf for you automagically.

So you could really go from step #6 straight to step #10 by issuing the reboot at a command prompt with:

Code:

shutdown -r now

byhisdeeds · 01-04-2006, 09:21 AM

Hi, I'm trying to install the latest NVIDIA driver NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8178-pkg1.run and it fails telling me that the compiler has the wrong version number (gcc 4). When I try to install the livna kernel-module-nidia and nvidia-glx that goes ok but when I start it (init 5) it does nothing and the log tells me that no usable screens were found, but it loads everything and there are no erros listed in the log.

The glx module is loaded. Should I comment it out.

christopher5 · 01-06-2006, 10:23 PM

Or just add the Livna repository, that's alot simpler....

byhisdeeds · 01-07-2006, 08:26 AM

The problem was that my yum had not updated my gcc to 4.02 and with my 4.01 I could not get either livna or NVIDIA native drivers to work. Trying NVIDIA it would complain about not having the right gcc and with livna it installed ok but then it would not load and there was no message in the Xorg log except that there were no usuable screens.