Linux + nVidia = DISASTER
 

Okay---Here's the deal:

I've tried installing:
Mandrake 10.0
Fedora 10.0
Redhat 9.0

And can't get into the GUI. I don't know WHY I can't get into GUI,
but I can't.

I've got:

Monitor: Sony SDM-M51D Flat Panel LCD (DVI)
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 4 Ti 4600
Hard Drive: WD 120 Gb 7200 RPM
Memory: 1 Stick 512 PC2700 DDR
Sound Card: SB Audigy Platinum
Mobo: Asus p4s8x

I don't know how to get into Fedora Command line to install the driver and make the necessary changed to the FX86Config-4 file, but I did on Mandrake and it yielded no luck.

I've got a friend with an nVidia Geforce 4 MX who had the same problem, but installed the drivers and his setup ended up working perfectly.

If you'd all be nice enough to help me out with a straight answer and a few options to fix this problem (I'm about ready to kill myself --- I've been working on it for three days) I'd be more than happy.

If it's easier for you, my AIM is haku401
and my e-mail isjsbarone@sbcglobal.net

Thank you every so much in advance.


Respectfully,
Haku401

Hi haku!!!

Where can't you get into the gui? The system boots and you go to the command line or something?. You don't have to install any external drivers yet, you should be able to get into the gui.

Doesn't both Mandrake and Redhat probes for your system monitor and graphics card during the installation? What did you get? Did you skip that step?.

Anyway, if you are on Redhat and you are at the command line after booting your system, do:

redhat-config-xfree

That should bring up a X server configuration. If it fails, I think you can try:

xf86config

that will do just like the previous command, but in a command line interface. Make sure to put the exactly things your have in there, including mouse, amount of video RAM, etc. You will be asked for all of these.

If all else fails, tell us where you get stuck and what error messages you get otherwise it's difficult to help ya :)

Good luck!

Hey Mega,

thanks for your reply. I'll try and answer your questions as best as I can.

Here we go:

With mandrake, I couldn't get into the GUI when I typed init 5, or xdm then kde, or booted into the linux option in lilo. The only way I could see any sort of linux related OS was to select the "failsafe" option, which brought me to command line. I CAN see that, mind you, just not the GUI.

By default, I think it loads up "X", but I told it to boot to command line just for the sake of not having to load into failsafe all the time.


Yep! They probed for mine. Fedora Found it, but Mandrake didn't. So, in Mandrake I just put in the horizontal and vertical refresh rates under custom, and crossed my fingers. I don't think it's a monitor problem, though...Only thing I can think is that the nVidia drivers don't support DVI, but I read somewhere that they do. Hmm....


See above.


How do I get into command line in Fedora? The only thing I can load is Grub, and I can see the boot processes, but past that I'm blank. "Out of scan range" I think that means my refresh rates/resolution are too high, but I can't edit XF86Config without being able to see it. Catch my drift?

Awesome, I'll be sure to do that. :)

...

...

...

I'm stuck.
With my Mandrake install, when I looked at my log it said that the nVdriver kernel module was not installed, and that the driver was unable to compile correctly. Funny thing is, I got the kernel off of the CD, and all the necessary driver files off of nVidia.com


Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Haku

Thanks a bunch Haku!. I wished everybody was as descriptive as you were :). Well, you've got quite some problem there :(. Try some or all of these:

1 - When you boot up linux and X tries to start, but fails, let it fail. When that happens press and hold CTRL + ALT + F[1-6], that means press any F key between 1 and 6. You will be in a terminal. You can return to X server anytime by pressing CTRL + ALT + F7(won't work for you now, but remember that). Now, try running:

xf86config

and answering the questions correctly. When done, try typing startx and see if works. It if fails(try it again bunch of times with different options first), then:

2 - edit the file located at:

/etc/X11/XF86Config

manually (depending on your distribution, it could also be XF86Config-4). Scroll down until you find:

Your drive may be different, depending how Linux had probed it. You could try to play with another driver, as vga, instead of nv. Change also the resolutions and refresh rate in there. Be always conservative. You can damage your monitor there if you don't know what you doing.

Either editing XF86Config or running xf86config, try using very low values for everything, like an ordinary screen resolution and dept color and keep trying to re-run startx when you're done editing. If still no go:

3 - Hopefully you've installed a text based browser and your network is working. If your network is working, but you did not install any text based browser, do it now(Mandrake):

urpmi lynx

you will be prompted for one your your Mandrake CD's. There should not be any problems, unless you are having a really bad day :). Now, fire up lynx and go to nvidia.com

lynx www.nvidia.com

and grab a driver there. Don't get the latest one, it's always buggy. Get 44xx if you can find. Otherwise grab 55xx. Download it and install the driver:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-xxxx-pkg1.run

Now, edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 again manually, and replace the marked line:

to:

Driver "nvidia"

be careful with upper/lower cases, Linux is a case sensitive OS ;). By now, you should have nvidia drivers installed and running. Cross your fingers and type startx (can you really type startx with your fingers crossed?lol).

If you network is not working with Linux, hopefully you are dual-booting and can grab nvidia drivers from Windows, boot into Linux and install it as described above. It'll do just as well.

If all else fails, I've no more cards to play and I will have to leave you at LQ experienced members :)

Good luck mate!

P.S: keep always in mind to, when running xf86config, to keep as accurate and conservative as possible. A bad configured mouse can crash the X server, a high resolution with generic drivers won't be good. Wrong refresh rate can even be dangerous for the monitor. Start with something like 800x600x16 and try to initialize the server. If it crashes, keep going lower and lower.

Good luck once again!

this is obvious I know, but did you try startx at the command prompt?????

Ed

...
 

I love you, Mega
You're my hero!

I'm typing this from Konqueror on Mandrake 10.0
It's working flawlessly!

The only thing I did differently this time around
is change the "nv" driver to the "vesa" and it works!
Should I even bother trying to install the nVidia drivers?
I'd hate to mess with a good thing...

Anyways,
thanks!

Haku

Great haku! Great! And congratulations for you who did all the job too, I was here just guessing the stuff and playing Tetris ;). It's all my pleasure :). You've no idea how glad I get when peoples get happy too when something works :).

Well, the nvidia drivers are only useful if you want to run 3D applications. Not only necessarily games, but say, Blender 3D or if you want to have TV-out ;). Sometimes, depending on your machine, Nvidia drivers can improve the X server performance. Other then that, it's not really necessary.

Either way, if you need help with TV-out, my humble Geforce MX is working with TV-out and I can give ya a hand ;).

Good luck my friend!