Installing nvidia drivers on fedora 7
 

Hey.. I have an hp pavilion notebook with geforce 8400M.. I just installed fedora 7..X server didnt pick my nvidia card during the installation so i did it in text mode.. now um done with the installation and fedora runs but it doesnt load gnome desktop environment. its the console that comes the one like dos.. Please tell me how to install the driver for my graphic card preferrably the livna one coz i've heard its the best for nvidia cards.. Please write the details as um a newbie. :o. Thanx

First you need to get the drivers. I am assuming you're running a 32 bit version if Linux. If you're using a 64 bit version then you will need to find the correct URL for the 64 bit drivers:

cd ~/
wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...69.12-pkg1.run
/etc/init.d/gdm stop (makes sure Gnome is not running in the back ground)
yum install kernel-devel (install required packages for drivers)
sh ~/NVIDIA*.run

Thats about it...

Normally you don't need to install the drivers as X will start up and select the standard nv drivers. Once the desktop is up and running then you would install the nvidia drivers..

Sounds like X is not running.

To get X running type in startx command and that may load in gnome..
try that first..

Hope this helps,

Gordy

He explained in his original post that the standard "nv" drivers don't work with his GPU.

He can however try to edit the xorg.conf (vim /etc/X11/org.conf) and change "nv" to "vesa" and reload X.

I would just follow the instructions to load the nvidia drivers.

Hey thanx for the quick reply.. Ok I've got the x server to start by using the vesa approach.. Now there's a problem everytime fedora starts it doesnt take me to the logon screen instead the same console comes.. nd i have to logon to root from there .. then 'startx' to start the server and when i do that the gui loads up.. Also in the main gui window in the system tab there is no shutdown option directly just a log off option. so i have to log off again and have to shutdown in console... how can this be worked around??

nd also do tell me which drivers are best for nVidia cards... The livna one or the nvidia one?? thanx

Livna is pretty simple for Fedora - means you don't have to reinstall the drivers when a new kernel comes out. A bit of a pain when the kerel gets releases a day ahead of the driver or vice versa.

I use livna for Fedora, unforunately most of my Linux desstop time is in CentOS which means manual work.

Very simple fix.

From the console login as root first then do the following:

Once you are in the file, find the section that says:

id:3:initdefault:

Now you want to change the "3" to a "5".

Save the file and once you're back in the console, press alt + f7 and X11 should load. You can also reboot your PC but I suggest the first option.

And for your second question, nVidia drivers are better IMO.

Use this LINK if you need more help with starting X automatically during start up.

Hey thanx alottt man... al the things working well. the nvidia driver installed and everything workin fine.. Thanx again

Don't forget when you install a new Kernel using YUM and the next time you reboot into the new kernel, you will need to re-compile those nVidia drivers...Takes less than 2 minutes.