SUSE 9 pro on GRT816S with Onyx Black 16.5 LCD screen (1400 X 1050) and nVidia Geforce FX G0 5600 gives garbled screen when leaving X-server back into text mode.

X-server starts fine but if you come out of the X-server the screen is garbled.

If you use the automatic login you can swap to another user in graphical mode but if you leave X then you have to re-boot.

Tried downloading the Nvidia drivers and following the install -- still doesn't work properly.

I don't get the Nvidia start logo either that I get on my desktop (with a MX 400 card and a 1024 x 768 lcd screen).


I can live with this problem -- BUT IT's a nuisance if I have to come out of graphical mode.

Help --- Please

Added -- running SUSE 9 pro on both machines.

Hi,

I'm not familure with SUSE, but is sounds like the system is getting some bad values for your monitor horz/vert refresh rates? Look in /var/log for the XF86Free.log file, or something like that, and examine that file to see what it thinks your monitor is and the rates it's using. There is a lot of data in that file.
I've not seen the single screen text mode go bad before? You may need to run the config utility to probe your monitor to get things worked out? It really doesn't have anything to do with the XFree softwre, but you can learn a few things from the logs. And you might find an answer looking there...

Good luck,
Merlin53

If you don't see the Nvidia logo that suggests you're not loading the Nvidia module. Check your /var/log/sys.log for "localhost kernel: nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel". If you're not loading the Nvidia module, perhaps Xwindows is using the generic "nv" framebuffer driver. Check /etc/X11/XF86Config. If it says Driver "nv" in the graphics device section, change it to "nvidia". The nvidia module shouldn't have any effect on the screen when you drop back to the command prompt.

everything looks OK and the text mode works fine provided you haven't started X.

You only get a garbled screen once you've started X and then left it.
All the config files look fine.

The only possible clue is I still don't get the Nvidia start up screen when I start X -- which I do on the Desktop.

I've also tried the last 4 versions of the Nvidia driver from their site -- same problem.

This does seem to be specific with these Onyx black screens having a resolution of 1400 X 1050.

If I try a lower resolutin e.g 1024 X 768 then I only get a tiny screen -- I don't mind having a bit less resolution -- but I would like a full screen.

There used to be SVGA, VESA and XGA generic drivers but these seem not to be available anymore in SUSE's version of Xfree86.

Finally fixed -- Gues what -- ALL the later drivers than 4363 from Nvidia must have a problem in them -- That one worked !!.


What a Bummer

Anyway -- Here's how to do it
Orig problem -- leaving -X screen gets garbled

with CTRL-ALT-F1 .... F6.
When doing that, I only got a strange garbled multicolor screen without the
system reacting to anything. It was only possible to go back to X again
(with CTRL-ALT-F7). The same garbled screen was shown when shutting down
the system.

THE SOLUTION :

Throw away the 4496 driver !!!!! Or ANY LATER ONE And install the older 4363 driver.



For those who want to know, here's what to do
:
1. Download the 4363 driver from www.nvidia.com
2. Goto runlevel 3 (or restart in Safe Mode)
3. Do the following :
nvidia-installer --uninstall (to remove the 4496)
cd /usr/src/linux
make cloneconfig && make dep
cd << your download directory >>
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run
4. Goto runlevel 5

DON'T use the YOU (Yast Online Update) AND DON't USE SAX2

Edit the /etc/X11/XF86config file manually to ensure the nvidia driver is being loaded and not the nv default module.

(As a Bonus -- 3d will also work)


What a Bummer !!

Hi all,
Just to let you know I have the same problem.

I have just bought a new computer based on the nForce-GT chipset and attached a cheaper model Acer 17" LCD (sorry haven't got all details here at work).

I want to use the 2.6 kernel for some other USB devices I have that weren't working properly on my old Redhat 9 box so I installed Mandrake 10.

The nVidia drivers work great for graphical acceleration, but like the parent poster I am getting absolute garble when switching from X to text mode and no nVidia logo being displayed on startup. I have made sure that XFree86config-4 has my horizontal and vertical refresh rates and screen resolution are set to the ones in the monitor manual. I have moved these around a bit, but couldn't make any real difference to my problem.

I don't think I can install the previous version nVidia drivers because of my 2.6 kernel, so I am still looking for a solution.

Anyone got any other ideas to try other than replacing with older drivers?

Thanks,
Luke.