Hi all. I am running Slackware 10.2, and I am having trouble installing the Nvidia drivers. I already downloaded the drivers, and when I run the installation, it tells me that it couldn't find the correct kernel source. I also tried to specify the kernel source path to /usr/src/linux..., but it didn't work. Anyone has a tip?
Also, I created a user and I can't get that user to start X. I can start X as root, but when I logon with another user X doesn't start. Any idea of why this is happening? Thanks

make sure the xorg.conf is readable by all

what kernel are you running?

It needs the kernel sources of the installed kernel. It looks under /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build.

If this path resolves to your kernel sources, then you shouldn't run 'make mrproper' after you've installed a newly compiled kernel.

When installing the drivers, I specified the kernel source path /usr/source/linuw... (I don't remember the last part, but it was the kernel source version), using the command --kernel-source-path. It did not help. I'm running the default kernel intalled with Slackware 10.2 (I think is bare.i). I checked Slackware packages and aparently the kernel source kernel-source-2.4.31-noarch-1 is installed . I am not sure I have what I need to install the drivers. Do I? Thanks

i ran into this same error back on slack 9.1,
at that time i was able to find some patch that i ran first then was able to run the nvidia installer.

i have googled my eyes out and can only find italian and latin sites with it.

there are 2 things i would try.
1. run the nvidia installer with : --extract-only
then you cd into the directory and run: make install
at the very least you might get more info on the error.

2. i would compile the kernel source for bare.i: meaning copy the config file from /boot to /usr/src/linux/.config and run make oldconfig. then try running the nvidia

If u can do it an alternative for u wd be to install 10.2 with test26.s kernel and get modules,alsa driver and source from 2.6.13 on 2nd install cd. U wd have to remove the 2.4.31 kernel,source and modules from install. That is how i got nvidia to work easily after trying with default kernel. Good luck.

1. Check if your graphics card is supproted by the NVIDIA driver you have.
2. If yes, look here: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ighlight=batev

It looks like I am up to something more complicated than I thought. I am as new as you can be in linux. I only installed Slackware because they told me that it would be faster than other distributions, and my computer is not super fast. But it looks like it may also be more challenging to deal with. I don't know.... On the other hand, I am also running Mandrake 10.1 on my other computer and it seems that I am running into the same problem. I don't know what to think. Thanks

Another question: I was under the impression that I the Nvidia drivers would work for a wide range of cards, but now I think I may be wrong. I think my card is something like "Vanta by Nvidia Corporation", or at least that' is what my configuration GUI shows. I already run the driver installation, so I don't kow if that would change the card name. Does anyone know if that card would take the drivers? Thanks

check the output of:
lspci
that will tell you what card you have, the nvidia driver should work with it.

did you try the extract only method?

I just tried the --extract-only method and this is what I got. It doesn't make any sense to me, it probably be a lot clearer to some of you guys... By the way, this was done in my other computer, running Mandrake, but I think I am running into the same problem in both machines.

NVIDIA: calling KBUILD...
make CC=cc KBUILD_OUTPUT=/lib/modules/2.6.8.1-12mdk/build KBUILD_VERBOSE=1 -C /l
ib/modules/2.6.8.1-12mdk/source SUBDIRS=/home/gusti/Desktop/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0
-7676-pkg1/usr/src/nv modules
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.8.1-12mdk/build \
KBUILD_SRC=/usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-12mdk KBUILD_VERBOSE=1 \
KBUILD_CHECK= KBUILD_EXTMOD="/home/gusti/Desktop/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pkg1/ usr/src/nv" \
-f /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-12mdk/Makefile modules
mkdir -p /home/gusti/Desktop/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pkg1/usr/src/nv/.tmp_vers ions
make -f /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-12mdk/scripts/Makefile.build obj=/home/gusti/Desk top/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pkg1/usr/src/nv
Building modules, stage 2.
make -rR -f /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-12mdk/scripts/Makefile.modpost
scripts/mod/modpost -i /usr/src/linux-2.6.8.1-12mdk/Module.symvers /home/gusti /Desktop/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nvidia.o
NVIDIA: left KBUILD.
PATH="/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbi n:/bin:/sbin" modprobe nvidia && \
echo "nvidia.ko installed successfully.";
FATAL: Error inserting nvidia (/lib/modules/2.6.8.1-12mdk/kernel/drivers/video/n vidia.ko): No such device
make[2]: *** [package-install] Error 1
make[1]: *** [install] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/gusti/Desktop/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pkg1/u sr/src/nv'
make: *** [kernel_module_install] Error 2

The answer to your question is in the NVidia README.txt file.

Here is an online copy:

ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Li...676/README.txt

Hint: You'll find the information you're looking for under "Appendix A."

I see, it looks like my card is not supported. Any idea of what driver do I need then?

I think I was able to install now. It looks that I just needed the right driver version. Thanks for all the advise!!!!
I don't notice any difference, though. I was running the "nv" dirver (aparently according to my old xorg.config) and now I am running the 7174 driver that seems to be the latest that support my card (Vanta). But the performance does not seem different now. I don't know..

What are you using to test it?

'glxgears' gives frame rates which will prove (or disprove) it scientifically.