[SuSE 9.0] [GeForce3] Issues with installing nvidia driver

elusive · 11-28-2003, 06:41 AM

Hi all,

Let me just start off with saying im pretty *NEW* to Linux. I toyed with it a bit, but thats about it.

I recently bought me a copy of the SuSE distro (v 9.0).

I installed it next to my Win XP, and it works very nice !

BUT i've got a problem installing a new driver for my GeForce 3 ti 200. I went to the nVidia site, and downloaded an .run file.

The description said to boot to console (not X) and do the command:
sh filename.run
Where filename is the name of the downloaded package.

When I entered this command, an nVidia program started. This program asked some questions, but it turned out I needed the kernel-source package installed on my system..

Where can i get this package? and how can i install it?

moovida · 11-28-2003, 08:28 AM

Hy elusive, this is just the Linux kernel source you can find on the installation CDs.
The package is: kernel-source-2.4.21-99

Enjoy
Andrea

Caeda · 11-28-2003, 09:56 PM

Or you could have just run Online Update like suse's doc's specifically tell you to do. Clicked on "Install Nvidia Driver" and been done and over with it.

h/w · 11-28-2003, 11:39 PM

well, its only gonna compile a kernel module. just let it do its thing. itll say it has to download it, and then say it cant reach the nvidia site, and then go and build it itself. lol

so, u dont have to search for anything as it apparently comes within that installer u downloaded

you dont need anything if u downloaded NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run. just click yeah yeah yeah

elusive · 11-29-2003, 03:13 AM

Hi all,

Thanks for replying, I'll try it as soon as possible (which will probably be about monday). Because im pretty busy atm..

> I'll let you know if anything works

alican333 · 11-29-2003, 08:30 AM

As @Caeda already said..
you can use YOU .. it can install Nvidia driver.. while you are running X server..
Great isnt it..

nightcap · 11-29-2003, 10:26 AM

Yes by downloading through Yast it downloads the driver but then when you go into the config section to enable 3d support it says that you must download the "commercial driver" from the nvidia website. ; )

I was currently installing on my wife's machine and ran into this.

encee

Caeda · 11-29-2003, 01:28 PM

? Dunno what your talking about nightcap, but if you cant get 3d your doing it wrong.

Install Nvidia drivers through YOU...

Switch to runlevel 3.
run sax2
Change Configuration.
click on Nvidia, pick your card next.
Check resolutions.
If you properly picked your card, and it says "Driver nvidia" instead of "Driver nv" it will have 3d enabled.

spartan85 · 11-29-2003, 03:11 PM

I just installed suse 9.0 over ftp 2 days ago, pretty much a linux noob. I've got a 2 year old compaq with a geforce 2 MX200, I tried the YaST install of the driver, it seemed to go off fine. I rebooted the machine, saw the Nvidia logo, things moving much quicker. Demoed a few games that I assume use 3d like tux racer, seemed to go quite well. I didn't go into sax2 to see if 3d was enabled, I just assumed it would be with the driver, am I wrong?

Or am I just lucky it went off without a hitch?

Now if I can get my AC97 sound to work......

Caeda · 11-29-2003, 07:38 PM

Yeah, got that messed, that was the instructions for the sh.run file thing.

And nightcap? What the heck are you talking about? Yast online update downloads the nvidia driver, from nvidia.com, for you. And installs it. WIth 3d support enabled. If it gave you some message about installing the driver that means you messed it up somewhere along the way. Perhaps you allowed a kernel patch to install, or some update that was checked requires drivers to be re-installed.

elusive · 12-02-2003, 12:53 PM

UHM,

Ok, installer tells me to install kernel packages, and can probably find them on the CD's,

BUT; how do I install those packages

Caeda · 12-02-2003, 01:26 PM

With the system icon that says "Install Software" ? Maybe you should peek through the suse docs and read about Yast2 and Control Center...

nightcap · 12-02-2003, 02:06 PM

But I got it working manually anyhow..

It may have been one of the scenarios that you had mentioned. Her system is running sweet and she is soooo happy to be of M$oft..

cheers.

elusive · 12-02-2003, 05:14 PM

OK, I installed the kernel packages (using YaST). And again tried to install the drivers.
(1) [CTRL] + [ALT] + [F2]

(2) cd - to dir where the NVIDIA....run is located

(3) sh NVIDIA-......run

(4) Go trough nVidia installer, Yes Yes Yes:

(5) And then it again stops.

This is the nvidia-installer.log (partial)

Code:

Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> License accepted.
-> No precompiled kernel interface was found to match your kernel; would you li
   ke the installer to attempt to download a kernel interface for your kernel f
   rom the NVIDIA ftp site (ftp://download.nvidia.com)? (Answer: Yes)
-> No matching precompiled kernel interface was found on the NVIDIA ftp site;
   this means that the installer will need to compile a kernel interface for
   your kernel.
ERROR: The kernel header file '/usr/src/linux/include/linux/modversions.h' does
       not exist.  The most likely reason for this is that the kernel header
       files in '/usr/src/linux/include' have not been configured.
ERROR: Installation has failed.  Please see the file
       '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details.  You may find suggestions
       on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux
       driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

The "No precompiled kernel interface was found .." -- Does this mean I have to compile the (kernel)packages I installed before??

nightcap · 12-03-2003, 08:50 AM

That is exactly what had happened to me as well. I had asked to download the source, etc but still I had no acceleration or drivers. I also downloaded the .run file from nvidia.

From there I logged out of my account and logged in as root.
I then opened my console.
I typed "init 3"
Then I changed to the directory the file was saved in
I then ran the file "sh filename.run"
It did not find a kernal so it looked for a kernal. It did not find one so it did compile the kernal correctly itself. The install seemed to work flawlessy.
I then ran Sax2
I configured my 3D settings a ran a test before exciting and saving options.
I then ran "init 5" < not sure if you need to do this
and I rebooted the PC and it has worked great ever since.

- Maybe I had to install the kernal source after it download? It said that it installed itself via Yast? I have many questions as people have said that there was no reason to do it this way but It is what worked for myself. I still don't have the kernal source but am hoping that one day I will get it installed onto the wife's compy once I have a bit more time to fiddle and do some more reading.

Being new to linux only a year and a bit I have ran into many small problems but nothing that can't be done with some researched and help from some very knowledgable people that read these forums. Don't let this get you down. Linux is so far the best and most enjoyable operating system I have ever used going back to my C64 days with allot of BBS programming. Oh the fun memories. Anyways goodluck.

encee