Problems installing an NVIDIA video card on Linux
 

Hi,
I'm trying to install Ubuntu (or Xubuntu) on a PC that has integrated on board video. After that I want to disable the onboard video and use an NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS video card.
I tried it before, and got a lot of resolution problems. This is what I did:
- First, I put the card in the PCI slot and modified the bios to use it as the default video, and booted from the ubuntu CD. The installation did not go through as I got no screen output (I guess ubuntu did not recognize my video card).
- Second, I restarted and modified the BIOS so that the onboard video was the default. This worked when I booted from the CD and installed, I got screen output and all. I completed the installation and turned off the computer.
- Third, I installed the card on the PCI slot but did not change the BIOS, booted and used the onboard video, downloaded the NVIDIA driver (190.53) from the NVIDIA website, installed it, and turned off the PC.
- Fourth, I modified the BIOS so that the NVIDIA video was the default, plugged the monitor to the NVIDIA VGA output, restarted, and got ubuntu working at a very low resolution of 640*320.

This is where I am stuck. I can't change the resolution to 1024*768 or 1366*768. I only get 640*320.

Is there any way to avoid all this and do a fresh installation of ubuntu 9.10 with the NVIDIA card already in and as default on the BIOS?

I am thinking the resolution problems started because I got video drivers mixed up with intel onboard during installation, then NVIDIA. I guess I should have removed the intel drivers first before installing NVIDIA drivers. If anyone agrees, how do I uninstall Intel video drivers?

If that is not the case, how do I configure the NVIDIA drivers to work properly?

My PC is an older IBM 8303 KKU at 2.26GHz, with 2GB RAM, 40GB HDD, and a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Thanks.

First, I would start with disabling the onboard video completely (if possible). Second, when you install the nvidia drivers, make sure that in the device section of the xorg.conf file, the driver line says nvidia. You can also try the nv driver too. That's the one built into X. Past that, see if there's a resolution line in the xorg.conf file that is restricting it to 640x320.

That would be what I would check first. If none of that helps and nobody has any better ideas, try posting the contents of your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file and maybe someone can figure out the problem from that.

opensuse works right out of the box with the card. I am switching this PC to that.

I have nvidia cards in 2 of 3 machines and they all worked out of the box, and then either offered to install the proprietary drivers (Mandriva and Ubuntu) or I just installed them from NVIDIA'S unix portal which will do the xorg.conf for you quite well.

Suse actually DIDN'T work for me, or at least the live cd didn't. I simply went to a blank screen after initial boot and at the time that was it for suse.

I would definitely agree that STARTING with the nvidia card will probably make your life easier.

NVIDIA did give me the option of doing the xorg.conf automatically, but at the end of the day, it got me at 640*320 only.
I think the problem is the monitor autodetect. If I plug the same computer to a 17 inch 4:3 BenQ, the resolution goes to 1024*768, and the NVIDIA configuration utility recognizes it by name and model number.
When I connect this to my TV (a 32 inch no-name ASTAR), it changes and gives me the 640*320.

If you are new to SUSE...

openSUSE uses the command "sax2" to configure the graphics card and monitor. "sax2 -r" configures the system. "sax2 -r -m 0=nv" configures and sets the "nv" module to the first(0) graphics card. "0=vesa" in place of "nv" will assign that module, and "0=nvidia", the Nvidia driver when it is installed. Modules for graphic chips other than Nvidia may be assigned in the same way.

"sax2" must be executed with the X window system stopped. From the desktop, open a terminal, become "su", type "init 3". The system will enter console mode with X halted. Log in, become "su" again and type the variant of the "sax2" command that you want to use. See "man sax2" for the details. Use the command "init 5" or reboot to return to the desktop

http://sman.informatik.htw-dresden.de:6711/man?p=SaX2

The sax2 window that opens during configuration should allow you to specify the resolution, the size, and the refresh rate of your screen. Before it is saved, sax2 will offer to test the screen, and you can adjust the screen size or return to the sax2 window again.

Using the "sax2" command makes it easy to make several attempts at the graphics settings, needing only "sax2 -r -m 0=nv" to start again or to get back to a desktop with the open source module "nv" As a fallback, this is quite useful when installing or adjusting the Nvidia driver. Have fun.