Hi,
I've been using different Linux distros for 6 years, dual booting with Windows7/8 on a 64 bit Acer desktop. Except for 1 or 2 distros there is always a problem with the nvidia GeForce 6150SE video card. The installation freezes until I install the correct non free driver. Is there any way to avoid the problem with nvidia and get the correct driver first?
Thanks

I rarely see that issue, but it seems to be more common daily. I want to follow and see if there is a better answer than mine, which has been to do the install, then boot up and watch the gui go spaz before I open a curses terminal (ALT-1 anyone?) log in as root, add the non-free repo, and load up the drivers. This can be nasty, depending upon the distro and the first-boot process.

I really WISH the vendors would get up with the FOSS world support. Until they do we must keep on top of the "best solution of the day".

the main issue is it is a laptop chip on the MOBO
also it is using the now legacy " 304.1230 " driver

http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/drive...px/77034/en-us

i would use the nvidia .run driver
-- 64 bit "NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-304.123.run"
ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/304.123/


most distros have set the default nvidia driver to the " nouveau " open driver

the .run " should "???? blacklist that for you
and so should any .rpm or .deb or .xz from your package manager

i also use an older nvidia card on my desktop and never had a problem during installation.
it should just default to nouveau or vesa.

and...
a triple-HO and A-men to that!

Thanks for the replies, suggestions and links. If it's available I boot into safe graphics mode and then there is time to install the nvidia equivalent before a freeze. The default nouveau drivers work for various lengths of time and then invariably freeze. I have tried using (root/command line) but my 66 year old brain doesn't have the aptitude for it. Exploring a new distro is worth the effort so I usually find a work around! Often an installation goes without a hitch, then I start to customize the desktop or just open a browser and that brings the freeze. Things like this keep Linux adoption very low and that's unfortunate because the operating systems are great.

i just noticed that i have the same video card so i am stumped as to why yours freezes?
fwiw, i'm running crunchbang and arch (oh, it says that in the sidebar anyway).
both install and work with both nouveau and nvidia legacy drivers.
you know, it could be a hardware issue, or some dust?

I have an Acer laptop with an Ati Radeon 4250 graphics card. I've tried 12 or more Linux Distros on it and there was never a problem with the open source video driver. Perhaps it is another hardware problem but I have the feeling Torvolds one finger salute to Nvidia may have been justified. Although I read somewhere their video driver isn't the problem it once was. My desktop is three years old. Thanks for the input.