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Old 02-24-2012, 10:12 AM   #1
Blasphemous
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Registered: Nov 2011
Distribution: Debian testing XFCE
Posts: 50

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Wanted: simple driver install guide


I've got an Nvidia GeForce 2 MX400 and I'd like to install the proprietary driver in order to use the card 3D acceleration. I'm using Debian Stable 32 bit.

I tried many times using the repository, but everytime I get the same error during the boot process: can't load nvidia module. So i'm forced to switch back to the nouveau driver. But I'm not here to solve this particular problem.

Here's my question:
Can someone please tell me how to install the driver using the Nvidia installer?
I can't find it in the nvidia website, and I'd like to know where to download it, how to install it, how to blacklist the nouveau driver in a correct way and how to update my xorg configuration so that I'm sure it will use the proprietary driver.

I know there's plenty of guides out there, but believe me, I've tried many of them and the result is always that boot error.
I just need a simple guide that fits my computer configuration and someone to talk to in case I have a problem with it.

Thanks!
 
Old 02-24-2012, 10:30 AM   #2
suicidaleggroll
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Registered: Nov 2010
Location: Colorado
Distribution: OpenSUSE, CentOS
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First off, you'll need kernel-headers, etc. in order to compile the driver, so install those using Debian's package management system.

When I selected the 32-bit Linux Geforce2 MX400 on NVIDIA's driver search page, it brought me here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux-d...20-driver.html

Assuming that's the right one, usually what you do is switch to the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + F#), log in as root, and issue "init 3". That will kill X so you can install the driver. Once you're there:
Code:
chmod +x NVIDIA*
./NVIDIA*
Replacing NVIDIA* with your actual driver filename

If it complains about the nouveau driver, you'll need to disable it. On my machine, Step 5 from this page is what did the trick:
http://www.if-not-true-then-false.co...ouveau-driver/
But that was Fedora, not sure about Debian

The install will backup and modify your xorg.conf for you

Once up and running, I usually just use nvidia-settings to configure the display how I want it (dual-head, resolution, etc), it usually does a pretty good job and rarely requires diving into the xorg.conf manually.


Keep in mind that when installing the driver this way, it will be compiled for YOUR specific kernel. That means that if you update your kernel in the future, X will break, and you'll need to reinstall the driver to get it working again. It's not a huge pain, but it can be a little freaky when you update your kernel without thinking, and don't reboot. Four months later, your reboot the machine for whatever reason, and X doesn't load, and you get a little panicky because you forgot that you updated the kernel four months earlier and never recompiled the NVIDIA driver for it.

Last edited by suicidaleggroll; 02-24-2012 at 10:33 AM.
 
Old 02-24-2012, 10:34 AM   #3
Blasphemous
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Registered: Nov 2011
Distribution: Debian testing XFCE
Posts: 50

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: Disabled
It worked! I'm using Debian Stable with Nvidia graphic driver (A huge Nvidia logo now appears during the boot, so I'm sure I am XD)!
Thanks suicidaleggroll, my main problem was to find the correct driver from Nvidia and with your help I made it.
 
  


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