OK, here's a simple one.
I have Mandrake 8.1 but tuxracer dont work :-(
I think it's down to open GL cos when I'm looking through my screensaver's any screensaver that says GL dosent work.
I think I have to download an Nvidia driver for my graphics card to get open Gl working.
The problem is I think I have to install a Kernel module which I've never done before & when I went to download it from Nvidia's website there was two of them, one had SMP after the version number & the other had UP.
Can anyone tell me what UP & SMP stand for & which one do I download ??
Also when I went to download it (WinNT machine in work) Realplayer popped up & when I closed it the download stopped, WTF.
What has a media player got to do with downloading a kernel module ?

Thanks in advance

amp2000

RPM = Real Player Media.... wrong extension type... or dupliacte rather.

ko, very very easy thing to do this is.. get the tar.gz files NOT NOT NOT the rpm's, keep scrolling down to the bottom of the page i think. then just decompress them both, go into the NVIDIA_kernel.... directory and just run 'make'. if yuo get errors, it'll probably be because you've not got the kernel headers installed for your system. install the rpm from cd.

the rest of the info is on nvidia.com website and in the files you dl'd.

smp is for multiple processors. dunno what UP is.

SMP stands for multiprocessors (2+ processors), UP is for UniProcessors (1 processor only).

OK, since I did this last night...

I am pretty sure that the version numbers for the tar.gz files (the source code) are not compatible. I would dearly have liked to install with this method, but alas.

Here we go. If you are connected to the internet with your Linux box at the moment, then download the NVchooser.sh file. You should then go to the command line (the bit that looks like the MSDOS command prompt, but different) and move into the directory that contains the file you just downloaded: cd /downloads/nvidia for example. Then just type ./NVchooser.sh (that is 'dot forward slash N V in capitals, chooser dot sh). If this does not work then type sh NVchooser.sh. This little program will tell you which RPM files to download.

Since you're running a fresh install of Mandrake 8.1, though, I can tell you that they are:
The first RPM on the list (NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-2313.i386.rpm) and the first RPM under the Mandrake 8.1 heading (NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-2313.mdk91up.i686.rpm).

That's the easy bit. Now for the nitty gritty.

If you downloaded the README, then read it.

Now, log in as root and shut down the graphics (X) by pressing CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE (this is right, isn't it?). You should now be presented with either a text login, or the command line (can't remember - it was 4 o'clock this morning (UK) that I did this). Go to where you downloaded the RPM files and type:
rpm -Uvh NVIDIA_kernel-whatever.rpm and let it do it's thing. Then type rpm -Uvh NVIDIA_GLX-whatever.rpm and let it also do it's thing. You're nearly done!

You should now edit the XF86 config file. If you're using XF864.1.0 (which you probably are), then move into the /etc/X11 directory (it might be /etc/X11R6) and edit the XF86Config-4 file. I personally make a copy called XF86Config-4.working before doing so, just in case. I also use jed because it's damn easy to use (it probably won't be installed by default, but it's on the 2nd Mandrake CD, and you'll need to install the 'common' package first).

You should look for the line (near the beginning) that says:
Load "dbe". Put in the line
Load "glx" underneath it. Then down near the bottom, you should look for the line that says:
Driver "nv" and change it to
Driver "nvidia". Save changes to the file and restart X (by typing startx at the prompt.

With any luck, all should be well. If not, then you know where we are.

Oh, forgot to mention. On the rpm lines, the capital U is important. Do not use the lowercase U.

Good luck.

Thanks for such a detailed description Thymox.
I thought I would have got away with just compiling from source (how wrong I was)
If you hadnt given me such a detailed description I probably would have given up after a few hours of pulling my hair out.

Well I've been using Linux about a year now so it's about time I got my hands dirty & got in & messed about with the Kernel

Thaks again for the reply's

& dont worry if I have any more problem's this is the first place I'll come to, it's the best Linux forum on the internet

amp2000

Thanks Thymox
You have just saved me a few hours work.
When I got home & logged onto Linux I followed your instructions & managed to install the Nvidia drivers & had Tuxracer working within a half an hour. (very clear instruction's) cheer's

P.S. Mandrake 8.1 rocks !

amp2000

I did the exact same thing but when i startx i just get a black screen and nothing will get me out of it (ctrl+alt+backspace) There is nothing in the XF86 log file it all seems normal. Im using Mandrake 8.0. Ive had it partialy working befoure but this time it wont work at all and ive even tryed a fresh install.
:smash:

Ok. Give us some details on your computer. I am presuming that you set up X to work properly the first time round. I would suggest that, providing you don't have anything to lose, you start again. From the very beginning.

Install Mandy. If you can, get a copy of 8.1, I've found it's much better than 8.0.
Set up X when you install. Obviously, you must select the correct gfx card & monitor.
Go to the NVidia site.
Download the nvchooser thing.
It should tell you to download NVIDIA_GLX_-1.0-2313.i386.rpm and NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-1313.mdk80up.i3896.rpm, so download them.

Make sure that X is not running. You can do this by either pressing CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE, or you can go into MandrakeContorlCentre and make it boot to a command line (and then reboot).

Do the above (rpm -Uvh xxx.rpm) for both, but the kernel ones must go in first.
Edit the XF86Config file (you're not using XF86-4 or above, so the file doesn't end in -4) and apply the changes.
startx.

It should all be working. You must make sure that X is not running when you rpm the files.

I'm not sure, but you could try using the sources. I know that the version numbers are not the same (a bit annoying, if you ask me!), but it might work (note: I'm not sure, so don't do it if you don't fell up to it).

In which case, you should download the source files in .TAR.GZ format. Untar these to a good dir (/root/files/nvdia-drivers?) with tar zxpvf xxxx.tar.gx. Make sure X is not running, then move into each directory and type make install, but remember that the kernel must go in first. Edit the above XF86Config file (the same changes need to be made). StartX.

As always: You really should make a backup copy of your original XF86Config file, so that should everything go belly-up, you can simply replace it and it should work fine.

Hope this helps.

Thymox.

AMD Athalon 750MHz
128Mb Ram
GeForce 2 GTS 32mb (Asus 7700 Delux)
S3 Virge (not configured to run)

Ive reinstalled mandrake twice with the same instructions

I carnt get mandrake 8.1 because my ISP only allows for 3gb dl and theres no good alternatives

I used "-ivh" becasue the guide said so but i doubt there would be much diffrence. I have XFree86 4.0.3 running not the default 3.0.8 or whatever it is running. Im also going to try to get 4.2.0 woking. And update the kernal. If i can find out how to do either of them

Ill try the TAR files later becasue i must sleep now.

I have had the nvidia driver kind of working befoure. They were an old version 15xx and it woldnt allow me to run 3d in full screen maby ill try to find a copy of them also.

Any thing else i can try?

Im afraid I cant help you with your Nvidia/Xwindows problem as I had the same problem with X on a laptop using Mandrake 8.0
I tried 8.1 & it worked perfect

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QUOTE-----------------------------------------------
my isp only allows for 3gb DL so I see no good alternatives
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I dunno if I'm wrong but 3gig should be plenty to download mandrake 8.1 unless your downloading a 3gig file which has Mandrake & a load of other shit.aswelI which I doubt as Linux is FREE

amp2000

3gb max downloads a month not just 1 file. And i only just manage to make that with out an extra 1.2gb's so i guess im stuck with 8.0 i might try to download 8.1 over 2 months.

You know if you do a little mission to a book store with magazines that have like linux format or something similar (in nz it took me two weeks to find a shop that sold them) they usually have cover cd's with free distros on them..just a thought..

Ye, your definitely better off trying to get your hand's on 8.1 whether it's off a CD with some Linux mag or even buy it.
8.1 is a big improvement from 8.0

amp2000

Your're not a telstra bigpond victim are you?
If you are you can download drake 8.1 from wireplay without any effect on your 3ziggybites......

Yep bloody telstra i didn't know wireplay would have mandrake so ill get it off there tnx.