Nvidia/XOrg problem

knappster · 03-01-2007, 06:40 AM

I recently posted this on the nvidia linux forums, but I wanted to ask here because I use this forum regularly, and I have never used that one before.

I used the Debian Etch auto-update utility to update the kernel from 2.6.18-3 to 2.6.18-4. X failed to load after the update. I downloaded the kernel source files and ran the NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9746-pkg2.run file in an attempt to fix the problem. Then I rebooted. When I look at the Xorg log, the problem it returns is:

Code:

Fatal server error: Caught signal 11. Server Aborting

So I ran dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg and Xorg would start up again.
Now anytime I try to install the nvidia drivers, I can't start Xorg. When I run the reconfigure xorg command above, I can't use any 3d apps. What can I do to get the nvidia drivers to play nicely with Xorg again?

I have related nVidia logs posted here:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/show....php?t=87293#2

jay73 · 03-01-2007, 06:42 AM

Did you remove the old drivers?

craigevil · 03-01-2007, 09:42 AM

Don't use the Nvidia installer for starters.

Then follow the directions here:
NvidiaGraphicsDrivers - Debian Wiki
http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers

Any time you update your kernel you have to reinstall/update your video drivers.

knappster · 03-01-2007, 08:53 PM

Thanks for the link Craigevil, I will try to walk through that when I get back home to my computer.

Jay73, how do I remove the old drivers?

jay73 · 03-01-2007, 09:09 PM

Well, the most convenient method would be to use Synaptic Package Manager. If you can't find it under Desktop/Administration, then it hasn't been installed yet. You can do that by issuing the command
apt-get install synaptic
Synaptic is a gui frontend to apt-get which lists all available and installed packages. By simply selecting an item, you can have it installed or removed. Just locate any nvidia drivers in the list and remove them completely.

Alternatively, you could use the command line but that would require some work. First you would try to hunt down any nvidia packages by issuing the command:
dpkg --list 'nv' or dpkg --list 'nvidia'
(Sorry, I'm an ATI guy, I don't know whether Nvidia drivers are identified as nv or nvidia, try both).Then you would have to remove those packages one by one (unless you know of an expression that would capture them all at once):
apt-get remove (package name)

Note: if you reboot before you install new drivers, you need to make sure your driver in xorg.conf is set to 'vesa' - or you won't get much X at all.

angryfirelord · 03-02-2007, 08:35 AM

nv is the open-source 2d driver. You'll want the nvidia one.

Installing it is super easy. Do an apt-get install nvidia-glx. Next, run dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg & change the driver to nvidia (accept all other default values).

You should only use the nvidia insaller when you can't use anything else.

knappster · 03-02-2007, 08:52 PM

I've tried it all... I tried the synaptic I tried the tutorial, and I still couldn't get it to work. In the end I booted in the previous kernel, which also didn't work (2.6.18-3-amd64) and typed:

Code:

dpkg -l | grep nvidia

and ran

Code:

dpkg --purge packagename

on everything.
Then I ran the nvidia .run file again, rebooted and that kernel worked.

I then rebooted using kernel 2.6.18-4-amd64 and typed:

Code:

dpkg -l | grep nvidia

to ensure that everything was still gone.

Then I ran the nvidia .run file and rebooted and now X is working in this kernel.

I don't understand it, because the .run file was the first thing I tried. Anyway, thanks for the input everyone.... hopefully this method will work for anyone else that gets stuck.