upgraded driver, unable to start X

edgjerp · 03-03-2008, 03:32 AM

I just upgraded my NVIDIA driver, and now I am unable to start the X server.

when i try to initialize the server, I get

Code:

(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA graphics device!

(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration

I tried both the old xorg.conf and the new one, same problem.

bigrigdriver · 03-03-2008, 10:03 AM

Nvidia drivers include a tool called nvidia-settings. It's in /usr/bin. Try it. I beleive it's purpose is to re-configure the graphics card.

edgjerp · 03-03-2008, 11:56 AM

it seems nvidia-settings requires that you start X before running.

elliott678 · 03-03-2008, 12:15 PM

I think bigrigdriver was thinking of 'nvidia-xconfig'.

Hammett · 03-03-2008, 12:17 PM

Do as root

Code:

cat /var/log/Xorg0.log | grep EE

There you'll find the exact error X server has.

Did you use nvidia's xorg.conf configurator? If so, take a look at the file, as it screwed mine long ago.

Could help also if you post your xorg.conf for more details

edgjerp · 03-03-2008, 12:50 PM

Code:

cat /var/log/Xorg0.log | grep EE

gives

Code:

(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA graphics device!
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration

running nvidia-xconfig claims to update the xorg.conf file and moving the old one to backup, no help.

my xorg.conf file:

Code:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder3)  Thu Feb 14 18:20:37 PST 2008

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen         "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"

        # path to defoma fonts
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
    FontPath        "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"

#       Load            "i2c"
    Load           "bitmap"
#       Load            "ddc"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "int10"
    Load           "vbe"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "CoreKeyboard"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "no"
    Option         "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Configured Mouse"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "CorePointer"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Generic Monitor"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 72.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nVidia Corporation NV44 [GeForce 6200 TurboCache(TM)]"
    Driver         "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "nVidia Corporation NV44 [GeForce 6200 TurboCache(TM)]"
    Monitor        "Generic Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
    Option         "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
    Option         "NoLogo" "True"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       1
        Modes      "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       4
        Modes      "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

H_TeXMeX_H · 03-03-2008, 12:58 PM

EDIT:

How did you upgrade your nvidia driver ?

edgjerp · 03-03-2008, 01:22 PM

downloaded the driver package for linux from nvidia's website.

H_TeXMeX_H · 03-03-2008, 02:45 PM

Isn't there a pre-made ubuntu package for this ?

edgjerp · 03-03-2008, 03:02 PM

not with the newest version, I had a problem with the old version, and I was recommended to upgrade to fix it permanently

Hammett · 03-03-2008, 05:34 PM

Do you have the nvidia module loaded BEFORE running X server?

edgjerp · 03-04-2008, 12:44 AM

I just tried to remove the module and reinserting it, no effect.

Hammett · 03-04-2008, 10:37 AM

Any module error when loading? (use dmesg to see)

Seems quite odd you load properly the module kernel, but X server can't find it.... Your xorg.conf looks good to me.

edgjerp · 03-04-2008, 03:22 PM

I see an API mismatch error in dmesg, client version is 169.12, while kernel module is 100.14.19. seems this is the problem. how do I solve it without reverting to the old driver?

Hammett · 03-05-2008, 12:04 PM

Did you run the installer manually? Or did you use the package manager?

It seems like the older driver wasn't properly uninstalled.

I suggest you install nvidia's drivers manually, that is, shutdown X server, log into any TTY and do the install. The install process uninstalls automatically any older version it finds and also updates the module.conf file accordingly.

If that does not solve the problem, istall again the 100.14.19, and right after it, uninstall it by running the install file with --uninstall flag. After that, install the newest driver.

Hope it helps!