Installing NVIDIA drives on FC2...
 

Here's the scoop, I now love linux. :) I've only been using it for a couple of days now (not counting when i tried last month and got pissed off and reverted back to windows) I have learned the basics at least, where to find programs in the file system, installing packages etc.. I have tried Linspire, Suse 9.1 and FC2, I personally find FC2 the fastest and best looking but I CANNOT get my NVIDIA vid card installed. I cant even run screen savers at a half decent frame rate and alot else is suffering. I fear I may have to go back to Suse since it took about 10 seconds to install the driver with YaST. The drivers readme says I need to exit X system... NO IDEA how, secondly, something im kind of embarassed at, I still dont know how to run an RPM package (in this case the driver) from a location if I'm not already in that location running terminal. Seems like a long problem, but Im sure itll be quick, I HAVE to get my card going, having no graphic power is killing me.
thanks in advance.

Hello bamn

I just did what you need two days ago!

I'm going to tell you each step, but keep in mind that i'm using red hat 9 and some paths may be differ, so look for the correct one.

In the linux system there is 6 levels (runlevels) of functionality. They differ mainly in the servicess that are running. Let's get a little explain:

+The last and the first will never be used., they are for init and reboot purposses.
+The 5 is the level of multiuser and x windows works.
+The 3 is the same that the 5 but without x system.
+The 2 is the level of single user system.

So you need to change the runlevel to 3 to shut down x system and when your are finished return to level 5.
Execute as root this in a virtual shell (# stands for the prompt and a virtual shell is a virtual console that opens with CTRL+ALT+some function key from F1 to F5. I recommend F1)
#telinit 3
Yo will see the messages of stoping services and initing others.
If the prompt doesn't come back hit enter or CTRL+c .
Now i recommend to you to use the nvidia auto installable driver pack.

Get if from here:
http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
Select your product and then the SO.

So make it executable (lets use nvidia-drivers.run as the name of the package):
#chmod +x nvidia-drivers.run
Then execute:
#./nvidia-drivers.run
This will install everything and guide you throuh some steps.

After that you need to make some changes in the config of the x server.
Go to the directory of the configuration, tipically /etc/X11
#cd /etc/x11
Make a backup of the actual file:
#cp XF86config XF86config.backup
Edit the file with vim
#vim XF86config
press i to enable modification mode and change the "nv" driver for the "nvidia" driver.
Put a "#" in the beggining of each line you want to comment.
Comment the lines that loads modules like "DRI" or "GLX".

to exit the editor press ESC and then the ":" and then put "w" and "q" and hit enter. (you can use any editor, you know).

now its time to return to the normal level:
#telinit 5
Hit CTRL+ALT+F7 or F8 to get to the graphic enviroment.

And now in a shell execute nvidia-config (i don't remember the exact name, push tab at the end to auto-complete),. You have to be able to configure your nvidia card.

I hope be in help, my desktop now goes at top speed :D

hello bamn,


mkaman did forget to tell you that if you visit www.nvidia.com, that you can download the driver as source, not as precompiled binary. That means that you need the kernel sources to successfully compile the nvidia driver.
The kernel sources are available under www.kernel.org, but if you are a newbie in linux than this could be a problem for you. mkaman has probably installed the kernel sources at his system that were shipped with his RedHat distribution, so he didn't even notice why the installation went O.K.
Also he said to comment the GLX line in /etx/X11/XF86config. If you do so you wan't have 3D hardware acceleration. If the 3D hardware acceleration is activated, that can be tested with the command glxinfo under X.
If GLX is activated than you can invoke the command glxgears. After this works than you can be sure that you really have 3D hardware acceleration, and than you should be able to play enemy territory (wolfenstein) under linux.

Hey thanks guy for your help, I actually have some graphic power now. Now that I'm finished that, I love Linux :). thanks again