I am trying to install Mandrake 10.1 on my PC (first time Linux setup, I'm a newb to linux but have worked with UNIX in the past and am a Java software developer)

When I reboot after the installation completes. I get dumped into the command promt, even though I selected KDE and it got installed.

I have read a whole bunch of messages about other people having problems getting 10.1 to run on Nvidia cards. Responses to those have helped me a bit, took me further but still no GUI.

First off, during initial install the setup picks Nvidia 6800 by itself (I have a 6800GT).
When I do the test. I get an Error message saying no device selected. I also tried running XFdrake with the same results. Although when I did it from XFdrake I got an additional error message saying:
failed to load module "/usr/x11r6/lib/modules/extensions/libglx.a" (once-only module, 135962511)

I have downloaded the Latest and the 6.11 version of nVidia linux drivers. and tried to install them. It was first complaining about missing the kernel; then missing the driver source. I resolved both of those thanks to other people's posts.

Now I am down to the compiling stage. It does not complete successfully weather i try to make it with the --add-this-kernel option or not. it starts to compile and then failes and tells me to look in the nvidia-installer.log


Here is a fragment of the nvidia-installer.log.
Can anyone help? What am I still missing?


Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> Kernel source path: '/usr/src/linux'
-> Copying kernel module sources to temporary directory.
-> Building kernel interface:
executing: 'cd /root/tmp/nvidia-5971; make nv-linux.o SYSSRC=/usr/src/linux'
...
echo \#define NV_COMPILER \"`cc -v 2>&1 | tail -n 1`\" > nv_compiler.h
cc -c -Wall -Wimplicit -Wreturn-type -Wswitch -Wformat -Wchar-subscripts -Wp
arentheses -Wpointer-arith -Wno-multichar -Werror -O -fno-common -UDEBUG -
U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -MD -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -DNTRM -D_G
NU_SOURCE -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNV_MAJOR_VERSION=1
-DNV_MINOR_VERSION=0 -DNV_PATCHLEVEL=6629 -DNV_UNIX -DNV_LINUX -DNV_INT
64_OK -DNVCPU_X86 -I. -I/usr/src/linux/include -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-e
rror nv.c
In file included from /usr/src/linux/include/linux/sched.h:24,
from /usr/src/linux/include/linux/mm.h:4,
from /usr/src/linux/include/linux/slab.h:14,
from nv-linux.h:61,
from nv.c:14:
/usr/src/linux/include/linux/smp.h:29: error: conflicting types for 'smp_sen
d_reschedule'
/usr/src/linux/include/asm/smp.h:41: error: previous declaration of 'smp_sen
d_reschedule' was here
/usr/src/linux/include/linux/smp.h:29: error: conflicting types for 'smp_sen
d_reschedule'
/usr/src/linux/include/asm/smp.h:41: error: previous declaration of 'smp_sen
d_reschedule' was here
In file included from nv.c:14:
nv-linux.h:626:2: warning: #warning "conftest.sh failed, assuming remap_page
_range(4)!"
make[1]: *** [nv.o] Error 1
make: *** [nv-linux.o] Error 2
-> Error.
ERROR: Unable to build the NVIDIA kernel module interface.
ERROR: Unable to add a precompiled kernel interface for the running kernel.

Make sure that you have the nvidia driver selected in your /etc/X11/XF86Config file rather than vesa or nv. Replace it with "nvidia". Assuming you've already done that...

I have 10.1 with the regular 6800 128MB card, so our config will prolly be very close alike.

Install the 2.6.8 kernel (for some reason, I only got mandrake 10.1 and nvidia drivers to work with the 2.6.8 kernel) and install the source for the kernel.... type this in the command prompt as root:

urpmi KERNEL

(make sure KERNEL is all caps) when you type it all in caps it searches files for you that have that word in it, in this case, kernel.

Now after you see the source and the kernel you need, type

urpmi <name of the file>

the 2 files you want should be something like kernel-2.6.8.12mdk and kernel-source-2.6 (those files look something like that, can't remember exactly)

I got the nvidia driver to run good, but for some reason, mandrake 10.1 doesn't like my mouse when I run openGL games like enemy territory, so I have to look into that, but the FPS in games are great with the 6800 man

Good luck!

version -2.6.8.12 if kernel of what? Is that of linux kernell?

I ran urpmi it says everything is installed.

That is the kernel, figures its already installed umm... try this

install the kernel sourece packages, should be like kernel-source


It's weird, I would think you'd have to install the kernel, I don't think Mandrake has it already installed..

Can someone else help us out with this please.

I did have to install it separately before Nvidia setup even atempted compiling.
I think what they are saying is that we need to install an older version of the kernel .. is that right ? is there a special command for that? other then the urpmi KERNEL?

Ups, small question. You were root when installing the nvidia-dirver? when you installed the kernel source, you used the mandrake controllcenter? You are sure the configuration file for the kernel correspond to your kernel?
When you installed it first time, you come to a point were you can check all configurations. for what ever reason you have to configure there the X-Windowsystem, else it wont work. I guess you havent done that according to the error message nothing selected.
Good luck
lars

You mean during installation ? I chose KDE, which did get installed. Was I supposed to choose Xorg, or is there actually a selection there that says X-windows system.

I installed the source using the "urpmi kernel" command (It asked for the 3rd CD and added the source)
that command now returns with "Everything is installed"
Also I do not have any other versions of the kernel anywhere , as this is my first time installation and I only have the 4 Official 10.1 release CDs.

Should I rerun the whole instaltion again , or is there a config file somewhere that I can just edit?

I finally got the GUI up when I chose to use the "vesa" driver from Xorg section in XFdrake.
Now for the tricky part of getting Nvidia drivers to work (or is that pushing it for linux )?

OMG I finally got it to compile. Aparently installing the source via the uprmi source-kernel did not install the right stuff. when I did it form theGUI everything worked perfectly.

Ok, im a little confused about what you did to make it work, could you go over it it step by step for me, because im having the same problem. Maybe assume i start with a fresh install, what must i make sure i have?