downloaded slackbuilds for nvidia. Need help with xorg.conf
 

Using Slackware 12.2
graphics card:

I installed the slackbuilds form http://www.slackbuilds.org/repository/12.2/system/
I installed:
nvidia-driver 177.82 2008-12-09
nvidia-kernel 177.82 2008-12-09

The README file from slackbuilds.org says to use
nvidia-switch --nvidia
and then to edit xorg.conf

I opened a terminal as root.

I used nvidia-switch

I also edited /etc/X11/xorg.conf > Section "Device"
changed Driver "nv" to "nvidia"

I couldn't get a screen when I used startx

I then tried:
nvidia-settings
I got this message:
I looked at man nvidia-settings. I didn't know which settings to choose.

I then tried nvidia-xconfig. I still couldn't get a screen with startx.

I could use some help.

Thanks.

You are using the wrong driver. According to the README of the nvidia .run fie (/usr/doc/nvidia-driver-*/doc/README.txt if you have the package installed) you need the nvidia-legacy71-* scripts.
Please be careful: I've never tested downgrading from a newer driver back to an older one. I recommend removepkg/installpkg instead of upgradepkg and do "nvidia-switch --cleanup" before you remove the nvidia-driver package.

After you have the legacy driver installed be sure to also disable the composite extension in xorg.conf or GLX will not work.

Perhaps the following will help:

Switching X Video Drivers

My concern lies in nvidia-legacy71-driver having not all libraries nvidia-driver has. I'm currently not sure how nvidia-switch would handle such a case on an upgrade. I *think* it would still work, but nonetheless recommend not trying it. I'll have a look at this for the next update.

I was told not to use the legacy drivers.

How do I know which driver to use from http://slackbuilds.org/repository/12.2/system/?
There are 3 legacy drivers.

I looked at the article 'Switching X Video Drivers'
It doesn't say how to edit xorg.conf or will that be taken care of when
I install the slackbuilds?

Thanks.

You should find http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_32667.html useful to understand legacy drivers and which you need.

Brian

# 4
No problems, used it some time ago for Slamd64-12.1 .
....

I know it will work fine if you install it on a clean system ("clean" meaning no other nvidia-driver is installed). I also know it will work fine if you update from an older legacy71 driver to a newer or even legacy96, legacy173, etc... What I do *NOT* know however is, how it behaves the other way around. Meaning, if you DOWNGRADE from legacy173 or legacy96 (or the standard nvidia-driver in this case) to legacy71.
nvidia-switch does handle libraries that did not exist before just fine, but I'm not sure if it does too for libraries that do no longer exists. This is ONLY a concern if you UPGRADE/DOWNGRADE. If you remove and reinstall everything will work as expected.

I hope I made it clearer this time.

I installed the nvidia-legacy71-driver and kernel.
I used I edited etc/X11/xorg.conf
Section "Device" -> Driver "nvidia"
I can get into X.

I tried running to generate an xorg.conf file,
but got this error:
Can someone tell me what to do with this?
or how to edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for the nvidia driver?

Thanks.

1) 'cd /etc/X11' , 'su' , # 'mkdir backup_nv' ,
.. # 'cp xorg.conf backup_nv'
Then you can use the file, if things go wrong.

2) # 'mousepad /etc/X11/xorg.conf' ( or any editor
by your choice.)

Change the word "nv" to "nvidia" and save. Then
logout ... and login to X again.
....