Problems Running UT2004
 

Ok I am running Mandrake 10.1 I just installed UT2004Demo v3334 and the initial splash screen pops up saying Unreal Tournament 2004 Demo, but instead of loading the game it just disappears. I have no clue what it is doing, I am a newbie to linux and it took me a week just to figure out how to install it. Please help me anyone!!!!!

Intel P4 2.8C@800FSB HT
Chaintech S848P Mobo
Corsair PC3200 (512x2)
Chaintech Geforce FX 5500 256MB

Sounds like its throwing a wobbler about your graphics drivers. Do you have the NVIDIA graphics driver installed?

Yeah when i installed the OS i set it for the Geforce FX drivers, is there another way to update them? I'm new to all this and just tryin to figure things out on my own has been driving me crazy. Let me know. I downloaded the new drivers from the nvidia website, but for some reason it says i have to install them from root, but my access keeps getting denied, any suggestions. OK another update to this message I think i have it figured out but i need to be able to disable x server, but i dk how to pls help

Erick

If your already logged in as root. Open a console and type:

init 3

If booting. at the LILO screen press tab or esc (don't remember which) and type:

linux 3 (if the boot menu entry says 'linux' that is. Grub should be similar.)

log in as root and install your drivers. Has to be done via console mode WITHOUT X. You may have to make the file executable like:

chmod a+x filename.foo

run a search. its hard to throw a rock at this site without hitting some sort of NVIDIA help. :)

Just remember to do this as root and with no X running. AND don't for get to edit the X.org file or whatever its called now. It slips my mind at present. There maybe some other things you have to do because of Mandrake.

That all sounds clear as mud to me. Hope you can gleen a little out of that.

mightbe it aint your nvidia drivers (if you see a nvidia logo at boot they are installed)
mightbe your gamesettings are too high for your monitor or graphics card.

luck

happy gaming!

Well i will give it a try tomorrow evening, I don't really know how to use linux, but i tried the init 3 command took me out of the GUI into command prompt, but i couldn't get it to sh the nvidia .run file. I guess i will keep working at it and thanks for the help

Erick I remember trying to get Nvidia drivers to go for a friend under MDK 9.1 and having fits. Here is the fix and a link to that thread. I can't help but think the procedure would be similar. Let us know if it helps.

One tip. When you have the chance to enable distro provided 3d acceleration or distro provided Nvidia drivers. Don't. You will most likely wind up getting rid of it all anyway. Find whatever nvidia glx files that Mandrake throws in and ditch them. I'm sorry but I can't remember the directory.

Thread link:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=106497

I type in init 3 and it takes me to a login screen for the root command console. I don't know what to type to install the nvidia drivers. I tried doing the xf86config -4 but there are no nvidia drivers listed. I know when I installed the OS I selected Nvidia Geforce FX drivers from the list of video card drivers, I just don't understand why UT2004 shows the demo splash screen and disappears. I haven't done anything to the settings of the game because I can't get into the game to do anything. Can someone pls just let me know what command to type in the root console after I init 3 so i can get this installed. Thanks for all the help so far.

Same thing happens to me... Exept with ATi : / ...

try _learning_ the command line. Its generally a Good Idea, and wont take very long to at least have a basic understanding of it. If you have to be walked through it, try searching for "nvidia" here.

I know it happened to me the same thing on an ATI board and at this moment I don't know how I managed to solve it.
Try to open a console in X and type there [...]$ ut2004 (if you have the link correct) and if not try
[...]$ ./usr/local/games/ut2004

You will be presented with an error message. Please read that carefully and hopefully it will guide you to the answer. I can't remember what was the error nor how did I fixed it.

Reply to post and maybe I can help you.

good luck

OK here we go.

(TIP: the path to MDK glx may be present in you xf86config. if not issue the command: locate glx

The reason the Mandrake Nvidia drivers don't work is because....................... They don't work. Never have and until certain licenseing issue are dealt with they never will. Forget about them.

Don't forget to edit the files (as root) that I mentioned in previous posts. That Nvidia entry in that modules file proved to be a show stopper for me back then.

All of the following must be done as root.

In /etc directory find the modules file. If you see anything pertaing to Nvidia comment it out by placeing a # in front of it like:
# Nvidia

It will continue to try to load the old drivers if you don't. Find the Mandrake glx files and delete them.


After you reach runlevel 3 (init 3) and are root user navigate to the directory that holds the Nvidia driver. For me its:
cd /root/tmp

Once there you may have to make the file executible:
chmod a+x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6629-pkg1.run

Then to install the driver:
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6629-pkg1.run

Now you MUST edit your xf86config-4 file or your xorg.conf file (same thing different name). I don't know which one MDK 10 has but its located in the /etc/X11 directory.

At the top of the file look for the modules section; Your looking for glx. Yours may have a path spelled out. Listing the entire path may not be necessary. I can't remember if it made a difference and I don't see why it would. If present comment out dri like (# Load "dri"). Anyway here is my modules seciton:
Section "Module"

# This loads the DBE extension module.

Load "dbe" # Double buffer extension

# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module.
SubSection "extmod"
Option "omit xfree86-dga" # don't initialise the DGA extension
EndSubSection

# This loads the font modules
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "speedo"

# This loads the GLX module
Load "glx"

EndSection


Look for the "Graphics device" section. In that section look for "Driver" make sure it is followed by "nvida". Here is my Graphics Device section.
# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

Section "Device"
Identifier "FX 5700"
Driver "nvidia"
#VideoRam 4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection

Save your changes and you should be done... Reboot.

(TIP: after you install a game always run it from console at first. if the game crashes it should leave the console open with error output.

to run unreal open a console as normal user and type:

ut2004

keep track of any and all errors. they make the difference when asking for specific help on this or any forum.

Somebody double check me. I don't think I left anything out.

Erick, keep us posted whether it works or not.

oh yeah. after reboot hopefully you will see the nvidia splash screen for a second or two.

to test use a game other than ut2004 to test like tuxracer or something. the reason I say that is because games like unreal and quake are a little finiky and could be crashed by a sound problem. so verify that your drivers work then move on to UT.

the comand:
glxgears

will give you an indication of working or failing drivers. to exit the program simply CTRL-C

Ok got the drivers loaded, but it says it conflicts with rivafb, where do i remove that driver from.
Also i get this:
# Device configured by xf86config:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Chaintech Geforce FX 5500"
Driver "nv"
#VideoRam 262144
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection

It still won't load the Nvidia driver like you said. I don't get it.

Erick

Ok got into root ran all info given.
Ran driver intall
errors, had to install the gcc package and the kernel-source package.
Finally installed drivers, but i have to remove the rivafb drivers, how exactly do i do that it didn't tell me where to find the driver.
I ran xf86config -4, but the only 2 Nvidia's offered so I picked Geforce, but its the same driver i originally had.

I'm getting further in this solution just need a lil more help.

That bit from xf86config file is wrong.

Driver "nv"

MUST be changed to:

Driver "nvidia"

When you say; "I ran xf86config -4" I'm guessing you ran the MDK GUI thing for X?

If so stop it. Its breaking everything your working so hard to fix. Get comfy with the command line and manually editing these files.

Make that change to your xf86config file MANUALY (must be root) and lets try to go with that. It will be called XF86Config (if memory serves) or xorg.conf. the path is:

/etc/X11

You can either edit this file while X is running or not. (MUST be root) If the above example of your X config is what your running on it will NOT work ever. You MUST edit the X config file manually. Save it and then restart X or reboot.

rivafb is a frame buffer device and is a kernel module if I'm not mistaken. you should be able to run:

locate rivafb

OR


find rivafb

That frame buffer may be what's keeping you going right now. That's why I say make the edit to the xf86config file and try that first.

If possible paste the content of your X configuration file.

While doing this its impossible to keep flipping back and forth from X to CLI. You need to know some tools and get comfy with the Command Line Interface. While working with X it is very possible to loose X functionality.

A good, easy command line text editor for new Linux users is joe. MDK ships with it on disk or at least used to but does not install it by default. Some others around here will smirk for my selection of text editors but oh well.

After joe is installed and you are at the Command Line you open text files like so:

joe /etc/X11/xorg.conf

that opens my X configuration file. Do you always have to use the entire path? No. but that's another topic.

to navigate the document use arrow keys.

to save changes and exit use the key combo:

CTRL+K+X

to quit without saving changes:

CTRL+C

to get help within joe;

CTRL+K+H

Other wise it operates like any simple text editor.

Just wanted to give you a tool tip in case flopping back and forth is driving you batty.

Its possible if not prudent to do all of this work via Command Line.

Also in Command Line if want to have multiple files open on different "screens" use the following key combo:

ALT+F2

F1 - F12 are valid so you could have 12 consoles running in the same session each performing a seperate task.

OK guys finally got it to work the only problem is everytime I reboot my computer i have to reinstall the nvidia drivers just to get x to load the GUI. Anyone have a clue how to get it to stay loaded?

# **********************************************************************
# Module section -- this section is used to specify
# which dynamically loadable modules to load.
# **********************************************************************
#
Section "Module"

# This loads the DBE extension module.

Load "dbe" # Double buffer extension

# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module.
SubSection "extmod"
Option "omit xfree86-dga" # don't initialise the DGA extension
EndSubSection

# This loads the Type1 and FreeType font modules
Load "type1"
Load "speedo"
Load "freetype"
# Load "xtt"

# This loads the GLX module
Load "glx"
# This loads the DRI module
# Load "dri"

EndSection

# Device configured by xf86config:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Chaintech Geforce FX 5500"
Driver "nvidia"
#VideoRam 262144
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection


Also does anyone know how to overclock video cards in Linux

That file looks good. You still have something trying to load a bad driver. Check your /etc directory again for modules or modules.conf or something similar and either comment out or completely remove any mention of Nvidia.

What your experiencing is what happened to me. It's what prompted to me search what modules were being loaded.

Can anyone else think of a file that may be calling the unwanted driver at startup?

Have you found that rivafb file? If none of the start up or module related files in /etc mention anything concerning Nvidia (one of them pretty much has too.) then try renaming that rivafb module like so:

navigate to the directory housing the rivafb file and:

mv rivafb rivafb.old

use the entire file name like if the file name is rivafb.o then:

mv rivafb.o rivafb.o.old

I don't feel super good about doing that to a kernel module when something out there is still trying to load it. Especialy when I know that something simple is the hold up. Might be an invitation to disaster. Only do it when there is no hope left and your at the verge of suicide.

I really hate even suggesting it.

look in the file inittab in your /etc directory. might be something there.

for overclocking there once was an app known as nvclock. don't know if its still around or maintained.

when i locate rivafb i get:
/lib/modules/2.6.8.1-12mdksmp/kernel/drivers/video/riva/rivafb.ko.gz

can i delete that file or will it screw up my kernel?

Also NVclock doesn't support FX series yet.

Does glxgears come with MDK 10.1 or do I have to DL it?

Thanks a lot guys
Erick

have you exauhsted every file that I mentioned above for ANY listing of NVIDIA anything? I mean in the file not the directory.

Seems like when I had you search for glx earlier I remember seeing glxgears in the output you posted so you should already have it. Just run it in console. some distros want you to be root to run it some don't.

I wouldn't delete it. Just rename it like I stated earlier. If you have exhausted every effort ( I almost guarantee you that one of those text files has and Nvidia entry and is calling the bad driver). God I'm afraid if you ditch that Frame Buffer device you won't be able to even achieve command line. Buddy its your call but I'm posotive I'm right about one of those text files.

If you do rename that file like: rivafb.ko.gz TO rivafb.ko.gz.old then you will be more likely to recover if something goes awry.


does anybody else want to advise him about deleting this kernel module?

It won't screw up your kernel. Its a module. Modules don't load unless something tells them to. I'm afraid that when whatever is making the call doesn't find the module it will hang. I've been in your boat and I know what its like to see light at the end of the tunnel then screw the pooch.

your one step away. we just have to know why that other driver wont quit bumping your good drivers.

Been burning up google a little. Found a guy here haveing pretty the same prob as you.

look for a file in the /etc directory called modprobe.preload and add the line nvidia no quotes no nothing save and reboot. My system doesn't have the file so I can't paste a sample. Sounds like it will preempt the bad driver with the good one.


Also found some folks who have stated that there first install of the kernel source had gotten corrupted somehow. When the re-installed the kernel source their drivers then installed fine.

Your drivers seem to have installed just fine they just aren't recieving the call. Next time you boot instead of reinstalling the drivers issue the command:

modprobe nvidia

and see if that gives you X without re-install.

I think the first solution (modprobe.preload) comes much closer to your problem. The second one will certainly not hurt.