X Server hangs up on blue screen after upgrading to Mandrake Linux 10.1

Mr.Ampersand() · 11-14-2004, 10:25 PM

Hello,

I've just upgraded to Mandrake Linux 10.1 from 10.0 and i'm having problems when I try to startx(KDE). It sounds like it makes the usual noise when starting up but stays on a blue screen. I've previously had problems with X and installed a new X server. I'm using KDE3.2. I've had to edit the .xinetrc file in the home directory and put exec startkde. but the thing is is where the hell is this blue screen coming from? It should be fine. I looked in the XFree86Config file(which would be strange to look in) and some other files in the home directory.

Any ideas? Should I wipe out a certain config file or look in one for any strange common lines. Is this a common error? If so I dont know what to search for.

thanks,
George

mithrascruor · 11-14-2004, 10:40 PM

Are you using a driver that comes with X? Because if you're using something that isn't, like the NVIDIA driver, you'll have to recompile the driver against the kernel source.

--
Kyle

Mr.Ampersand() · 11-14-2004, 10:58 PM

oh yeah,

I did compile the NVIDIA driver that I always compile and it didnt work this time so I did an older one an it worked. I do have the kernel source installed and I have 2.6 kernel. I'm going to try the newest NVIDIA driver...already downloaded it however I need to install it. I cant right now since its time for bed and school tommorrow.

bye,
George

Mr.Ampersand() · 11-14-2004, 11:12 PM

Hmm,

I just read up on the NVIDIA Readme.txt doc and according to them:

Code:

In April of 2004, the X.org Foundation released an X server based on
the XFree86 X server.  Many Linux distributions will use the X.org
X server in the future, rather than XFree86.  The differences between
the two X servers should have no impact on NVIDIA Linux users with
two exceptions:

    1) The X.org configuration file name, though it uses the same syntax
       as XFree86's XF86Config file, is called /etc/X11/xorg.conf;
       this README refers generically to these configuration files as
       "the X config file".

    2) The X.org log file, though its output is nearly identical
       to the XFree86.0.log file, is called /var/log/Xorg.0.log; this
       README refers generically to these files as "the X log file".

I havent read that document in a long time. I think before that date so this news is new to me. Hmm possibly this Mandrake upgrade upgraded me and i'm still using old configuration files. Anyway i'm going to just try to install the drivers when I get a chance.

bye,
George

Mr.Ampersand() · 11-16-2004, 06:38 PM

Hi,

I've tried getting a new NVIDIA driver and I have installed it successfully and the old driver was uninstalled. I still get that blue screen with cursor hanging up. Same thing happens. I'm starting to think I have a newer X server and i'm looking in the wrong spot? Possibly KDE is set up wrongly now. Maybe it needs to be reinstalled and that might resolve my issues. My stupid Shorewall firewall is blocking all of my ports that I use and according to the configuration file for it it should allow the ports I specified from before. Its annoying. I'm still looking for the configuration file I should be editing. I also have to fix GCC,G++. GCC is fine but G++ is of a different version(3.3.2). I tried specifing the C++ language for compiling with GCC but it didnt work. Well that should be easy to fix however schoolwork is in the way. Eventually in time I hope I fix this. At least I didnt lose data during upgrade

bye,
George

Mr.Ampersand() · 11-22-2004, 04:49 PM

Hi,

I'm still stumped on why this isnt working. I've tried to install the X server again. Before that XDM started up but the KDE didnt start up. So I figured that I'd install Gnome and see if that ran but that didnt and the error was something about default X fonts. Anyhow i'm not concerned to much on Gnome I am interested in KDE. I also had to install a new version of GCC. Version 3.4.2. I installed it from the source. It installed to /usr/local. The previous version was GCC 3.3.2 and it was installed from RPM and I left that installed. It doesnt matter that I didnt uninstall it. The only problem I had with that was that in superuser mode it read the old version. All I needed to do was remove the symbolic links /usr/bin/gcc and /usr/bin/g++ and then make new ones to the new install GCC binaries. Before I decided to install the X server I was trying to install KDE from source so I refered to the docs at kde.org and I got the newest version of QT since thats required. I found out a bit about it and took a shot at installing it. As it was installing it kept returning a error complaining about a library from the X server that said we need the old libstdc++ and it was conflicting with the new libstdc++ package. So I know how to fix that... All I need to do is to recompile the X server with the new GCC. I had to do that with my custom library. From my understanding for KDE I need Konstruct and I got it. Now from the description given of Konstruct and actually trying it it is nice. KDE installed to my home folder very nicely however it didnt take affect on anything. I still get the same activity?! I still am hanging at a screen with a solid color. Where would I look first to approach this problem?! I've looked at the XFree86Config file if that makes any difference (probably not).

Ok... So at this point I have a working new version of GCC, X server and my KDE is still broken.

Next step:

Uninstall all of the KDE RPMs dependencies and take a deeper look at what Konstruct did via the config logs. I'd then look at XFree86 Readme and extensive docs.

These problems all branched off of my upgrade from Mandrake Linux 10.0 to Mandrake Linux 10.1. I expected problems as there are now. At least they arent serious for a positive view of this problem

Any feedback on what I should do would be appreaciated while I try to figure out this mess.

thanks,
George

Mr.Ampersand() · 11-25-2004, 11:29 AM

I've tried some more things to get KDE running but its not worth talking about here. Anyway I feel that the kernel upgrade and the kernel source upgrade was the main problem. I think its loading some new module which conflicts with the NVIDIA driver. Also I think the X server is upgraded to 4.4.0 from some version I dont remember. Anyway I have some ammunition to fix this problem. I am going to check up on the NVIDIA homepage about their drivers to be installed on Linux (its been a while).

output from nvidia-installer.log

Code:

nvidia-installer log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log'
creation time: Thu Nov 25 12:08:28 2004

option status:
  license pre-accepted    : false
  update                  : false
  force update            : false
  expert                  : false
  uninstall               : false
  driver info             : false
  no precompiled interface: false
  no ncurses color        : false
  query latest driver ver : false
  OpenGL header files     : false
  no questions            : false
  silent                  : false
  X install prefix        : /usr/X11R6
  OpenGL install prefix   : /usr
  Installer install prefix: /usr
  kernel source path      : (not specified)
  kernel install path     : (not specified)
  proc mount point        : /proc
  ui                      : (not specified)
  tmpdir                  : /root/tmp
  ftp site                : ftp://download.nvidia.com

Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> License accepted.
-> There appears to already be a driver installed on your system (version: 1.0-
   6629).  As part of installing this driver (version: 1.0-6111), the existing 
   driver will be uninstalled.  Are you sure you want to continue? ('no' will a
   bort installation) (Answer: Yes)
-> No precompiled kernel interface was found to match your kernel; would you li
   ke the installer to attempt to download a kernel interface for your kernel f
   rom the NVIDIA ftp site (ftp://download.nvidia.com)? (Answer: Yes)
-> No matching precompiled kernel interface was found on the NVIDIA ftp site;
   this means that the installer will need to compile a kernel interface for
   your kernel.
-> Kernel source path: '/lib/modules/2.6.8.1-10mdk/build'
-> Performing cc_version_check with CC="cc".
-> Performing rivafb check.
-> Performing rivafb module check.
WARNING: Your kernel was configured to include rivafb support as
         a loadable kernel module.
         
         The rivafb driver conflicts with the NVIDIA driver; the
         NVIDIA kernel module will still be built and installed,
         but be aware that the NVIDIA driver will not be able to
         function properly if the rivafb module is loaded!
-> Cleaning kernel module build directory.
   executing: 'cd ./usr/src/nv; make clean'...
   rm -f -f nv.o os-agp.o os-interface.o os-registry.o nv.o os-agp.o os-interfa
   ce.o os-registry.o nvidia.mod.o
   rm -f -f build-in.o nv-linux.o *.d .*.{cmd,flags}
   rm -f -f nvidia.{o,ko,mod.{o,c}} nv_compiler.h *~
-> Building kernel module:
   executing: 'cd ./usr/src/nv; make module SYSSRC=/lib/modules/2.6.8.1-10mdk/b
   uild SYSOUT=/lib/modules/2.6.8.1-10mdk/build'...
   Your kernel was configured to include rivafb support as
   a loadable kernel module.
   
   The rivafb driver conflicts with the NVIDIA driver; the
   NVIDIA kernel module will still be built and installed,
   but be aware that the NVIDIA driver will not be able to
   function properly if the rivafb module is loaded!
   
   *** Failed rivafb module sanity check, but continuing! ***
   
   
   NVIDIA: calling KBUILD...
   make -C /lib/modules/2.6.8.1-10mdk/build		\
   KBUILD_SRC=/usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-10mdk	     KBUILD_VERBOSE=1	\
   KBUILD_CHECK= KBUILD_EXTMOD="/root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-
   pkg1/usr/src/nv"	\
           -f /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-10mdk/Makefile modules
   mkdir -p /root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/.tmp
   _versions
   make -f /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-10mdk/scripts/Makefile.build obj=/root/tmp/se
   lfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv
   echo \#define NV_COMPILER \"`cc -v 2>&1 | tail -n 1`\" > /root/tmp/selfgz507
   0/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv_compiler.h
     cc -Wp,-MD,/root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/
   .nv.o.d -nostdinc -iwithprefix include -D__KERNEL__ -Iinclude -Iinclude2 -I/
   usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-10mdk/include  -I/root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86
   -1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-stri
   ct-aliasing -fno-common -pipe -msoft-float -mpreferred-stack-boundary=2 -fno
   -unit-at-a-time -march=i686 -I/usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-10mdk/include/asm-i386/
   mach-default -Iinclude/asm-i386/mach-default -O2 -Wdeclaration-after-stateme
   nt  -I/root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv -Wall -
   Wimplicit -Wreturn-type -Wswitch -Wformat -Wchar-subscripts -Wparentheses -W
   pointer-arith -Wno-multichar -Werror -O -fno-common -MD -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-
   error -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNTRM -D_GNU_SOURCE -D_LO
   OSE_KERNEL_NAMES -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNV_MAJOR_VERSION=1 -DNV_MINOR_VERSI
   ON=0 -DNV_PATCHLEVEL=6111 -DNV_UNIX -DNV_LINUX -DNV_INT64_OK -DNVCPU_X86 -UD
   EBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DNV_CHANGE_PAGE_ATTR_PRESENT -DNV_CLASS
   _SIMPLE_PRESENT -DMODULE -DKBUILD_BASENAME=nv -DKBUILD_MODNAME=nvidia -c -o 
   /root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv.o /root/tm
   p/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv.c
   /root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv.c: In func
   tion `nv_acpi_event':
   /root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv.c:3697: er
   ror: `PM_SAVE_STATE' undeclared (first use in this function)
   /root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv.c:3697: er
   ror: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
   /root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv.c:3697: er
   ror: for each function it appears in.)
   make[4]: *** [/root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/usr/src/nv
   /nv.o] Error 1
   make[3]: *** [_module_/root/tmp/selfgz5070/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1/us
   r/src/nv] Error 2
   make[2]: *** [modules] Error 2
   NVIDIA: left KBUILD.
   nvidia.ko failed to build!
   make[1]: *** [module] Error 1
   make: *** [module] Error 2
-> Error.
ERROR: Unable to build the NVIDIA kernel module.
ERROR: Installation has failed.  Please see the file
       '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details.  You may find suggestions
       on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux
       driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

bye and thanks,
George

Mr.Ampersand() · 12-01-2004, 10:09 PM

Hello, An update of information since I last posted:

First of all this computer is a Dell 4300 with a 1.7GHZ and an intel archecture 32-bit. The kernel is 2.6.8.1-10mdk. So I deleted /usr/X11R6 and tried to get the X server again. This time I didnt get it from www.xfree86.org like I always did but I got it from www.x.org. I tried to install it and I had mostly success yet had some problems. I had to resort to installing each thing individually so that took a while. So overall my nvidia driver module works. It shows nvidia when startx invoked or if I do modprobe nvidia then init 5 in superuser mode the logo pops up. There is this annoying problem now where It complains that it cant load libglx.a and glx drivers. it says somethign about once-only. I cant post the actual error message since i'm booted to Windows. There was this other one like probe or something that wouldnt load either but I noted that out... So in .xinitrc i have exec startkde. It wont load that. Konstruct was successful in compililing the sources for KDE. I installed drm so that works. Oh and after startx it complains about not having a keyboard to load... I looked for that module and ???

I have read the manual for the xorg and kde and nvidia. I dont know what much else I could do. I think i'm close to getting it to work. I think I just need a couple of commands to get it working. I have spent days on this making notes on what I did and i'm finally posting these threads for some help.

so...

- Nvidia driver works
- X server works half way...xdm no longer works
- KDE doesnt want to work anymore...kdm used to show at least a flash of the screen then crash complaining about fonts and some other crap.

XF86Config has the right stuff to load according to the NVIDIA guide. If someone posts asking about xorg.conf its a sym link to XF86Config.

I feel as if I have left something out that I have already mentioned to myself before in my notes but this info should be good enough for now. I'll keep updating this as I progress.

Any help appreaciated,
--George