I recently ran the nvidia graphics drivers i downloaded from their website, now i cannot boot up into xserver at all, all it does is bring me to a blank screen asking for a username and password. I'm not that good at linux so please elaborate a little more for me. I have heard about checking the XF86Config log file, so please tell me how to get this working!!! thank you

have you followed all of the directions in the README file? It has been a while since I have installed it, that is my only advice.

Have you tried typing "startx" at the prompt after username and passwd? Maybe it just works. If not, there should be an error message telling you what the problem is

Also more information would definitely help: what distro, video card.

I am running mandrake 10.0 with an nVidia Geforce FX 5700 card.

running startx did boot up but gave me tons of crashes. After i started xserver it came up with the following errors:

kcminit
krootwarning
ksplash
klipper

when i reboot it gives me these errors:

kded
ksmserver

All of these errors said signal 11.

I will continue to read the readme file the nvidia driver has but its just so complicated. I am sure there are tons of people who have nvidia graphics cards and had this same problem. I did just what the instructions told me to do, but i guess i am doing something wrong, thanks for your time guys.

I have an nvidia card and recently installled the drivers but had none of the crashes you've experienced. The only obvious difference is that you use KDE whereas I loathe and despise its hideously slow Fisher-Price interface.

Anyway, to get your box to boot back to XWindows automatically (i.e. without typing startx) then edit your /etc/inittab file and change the line that looks something like:
so that the number in the middle is a 5. Then reboot. You'll need to do this as root.

I have recently dowloaded and installed nvidia drivers (yesterday ) And I have had no problem. May be you has forgotten to do some things after running the installation.

You have to edit the file etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (or similar)

then in the section Device replace the line
Driver "nv"
(or Driver "vesa")

with

Driver "nvidia"

In the section Module, you should have:

Load "glx"

And if they exists, You should remove the lines:

Load "dri"
Load "GLcore"


Then you shouldn't have problems to run startx. If startx doesn't start at booting the computer you may edit the corresponent file (posted above by a more experienced user )

Good Luck!
Now i'm going to play tuxracer. Since i have nvidia drivers i am getting addict

are you sure visualblind you're running the same kernel as when you compiled the drivers ? i compiled the drivers under 2.6.3 kernel and if i run 2.4.25kernel, i have the same problem as you.