Problem with Installing video drivers in two diferents kernel SOLVED!!!

miros84 · 12-30-2009, 03:50 PM

Hello
I have debian lenny with 2 kernels

2.6.26
2.6.30

I have Nvidia card Geforce 8200

Code:

02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GeForce 8200 (rev a2)
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GeForce 8400 GS (rev a1)

In kernel 2.6.30 X starts OK. My video driver is installed
In kernel 2.6.26 X doesnot startt.

I go to 2.6.26, I install nvidia driver this way

Code:

sh nvidia.run

it finished OK, and I X starts OK, but when I change to
2.6.30 X doesnot start OK.
So, I install the driver in 2.6.30 again, and my X starts OK, but when I go to 2.6.26,
X doesnot starts!!!!!!!!
So, if I want to change to kernel, I need to install nvidia driver every time............. (becouse in the current kernel when it is installed, everything is OK, but in the other kernel X broke) :roll: :roll: :x

ops: :mrgreen:

Is there some more smart solution?

lugoteehalt · 12-30-2009, 04:19 PM

Easy, you just use the -K option, I think. sh installerThing.run -K or whatever the NVidia thing is called. Think it's -K: use bash installerThing.run --advanced-help to find out. Failing that --help.

miros84 · 12-30-2009, 04:52 PM

So, you mean to use:

Code:

sh nvidia.run -K

???
Is that?
What does it doing this option?

lugoteehalt · 12-30-2009, 05:55 PM

Did this:

Code:

lugo@fido:~$ bash /home/lugo/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.42-pkg2.run --advanced-options

and it gave:

Quote:

-K, --kernel-module-only
Install a kernel module only, and do not uninstall the
existing driver. This is intended to be used to install
kernel modules for additional kernels (in cases where you
might boot between several different kernels). To use this
option, you must already have a driver installed, and the
version of the installed driver must match the version of
this kernel module.

So do what you did before with one of the kernels running. Then reboot into the other kernel and use the -K option. Do not know which kernel you'll have to use first, it may not matter.

damgar · 12-30-2009, 06:17 PM

I'm not sure about debian proper, but in both ubuntu and mandriva if you add the non-free repositories you can just download and use the proprietary drivers from the repos and synaptic or urpmi (urpmi is for mandriva) will install dkms (dynamic kernel module support.....I think is what it stands for) so that you don't have to do it manually.........this of course won't be the most current driver which is now 190.53 I believe but it takes care of the problem. If you don't want to use the repos, you can set up dkms manually. I did it for a slackware installation. Googling will tell you how to set it up.

Shadow_7 · 12-31-2009, 06:44 AM

There are some pretty major kernel changes > 2.6.28 that affects things like video drivers. So it's no surprise that you're having issues. You might make sure that you're using the latest nVidia driver. Which might mean beta, not stable. Depending on how old stable is. Most of my cards are ATI cards, and those cards with dropped support and therefor older drivers are kind of stuck in 2.6.28.10 land. I'm not sure why all of the API changes of late. But they're there, just deal with it as best as we can.

miros84 · 12-31-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugoteehalt

Easy, you just use the -K option, I think. sh installerThing.run -K or whatever the NVidia thing is called. Think it's -K: use bash installerThing.run --advanced-help to find out. Failing that --help.

That worked for me perfectly.

Thank you very much.

miros84 · 12-31-2009, 01:20 PM

Can you explain me please what process are installing video drivers?

Does it consist of two parts?
Installing kernel module and install driver?
In which folders is installed the kernel module and where is installed the driver?

lugoteehalt · 12-31-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miros84

Can you explain me please what process are installing video drivers?

Does it consist of two parts?
Installing kernel module and install driver?
In which folders is installed the kernel module and where is installed the driver?

Don't know, I've always been puzzled by it. Perhaps it says on nVidia's web site - the faq's?

Shadow_7 · 01-09-2010, 01:50 PM

There's generally a kernel part (hardware driver) and then a lib part (software driver). libGL.so for 3D rendering in software for the features NOT available in hardware(mesa3g). And other things like amdcccle for ATI cards to give a little gui for changing your settings. nVidia is different, but the same basic components. Kernel drivers for hardware support. Softwere drivers for X support. Kernel and X and almost always a WIP (work in progress), so evolve as your versions do. (if your versions do).