NVIDIA drivers install - RIVAFB conflict
 

Hi, I am trying to install the NVIDIA drivers for my GeForce FX5500.

The install runs but soon says:
No precomplied kernel interface was found to match your kernel; would you like to attempt to download an interface from the NVIDIA ftp site?

When I click Yes, it cannot find one for me and advises that the installer will need to compile a kernel interface for my kernel. I tell it to go right ahead.

Then I get this:

ERROR: Your kernel was configured to include rivafb support!

Now I have searched these forums, and it looks like a common issue, usually dealt with a kernel recompile disabling rivafb support.

Thing is, I have no idea how to do a kernel recompile (I know what the kernel does and what recompiling will do). Any help?

If your card is an Nvidia Riva then you'll have problems (iirc) but if it's a later model there should be no problem.

I've got various nvidia cards, from g-force 4 to g-force 6 and though I've seen that error message I've never had any problems.

Yeah mine is a GeForce FX5500. People say to just continue with the install, but mine doesn't give that option, it just quits after the final message.

Maybe I should try an older driver?

This happened to me running debian testing... everytime the nvidia installer asks to download from the net choose "no".
Did you upgrade your kernel? did you upgrade gcc? Check if the file "linux" in your /usr/src/ folder points to the kernel you are trying to install the nvidia drivers to. Also check: ls /usr/bin/gcc* and watch if you have more than one gcc version. If you do, just before running the installer try this: "export CC=gcc-3.3.6" (no quotes) or any other version you may have. Hope it helps. Good luck

My kernel is the one that was installed with Slackware, 2.4.31.

EDIT: I have no file called "linux" in that folder. There is a folder called /linux in there though

When I tried ls /usr/bin/gcc * I get three things:

/usr/bin/gcc
/usr/bin/gcc-3.3.6
/usr/bin/gccbug

I tried that export command and I wasn't asked about the rivafb, but I got a different error. It says the GCC version check failed because ./usr/src/nv/conftest.sh: line 19 gcc-3.36: command not found

I chose to ignore that message. And it says it cannot find the kernel source files. I am not sure where mine are kept, I assume it would be at some default place. I'll look.

EDIT: I think that gcc error was my fault. I may have missed a full stop (period), when I retype the export thing with 3.3.6 in it I still get that rivafb error. :(

I wonder if blacklisting rivafb might help. It's worth a shot in my opinion ;).

Install the 2.6 kernel.
It's on Cd2 in it's own folder on 10.2, on other vrsions it's on CD2 in a folder called Testing.
Just pop the cd in, mount it, cd to the 2.6 kernel folder and install everything therein.
Don't forget to add it to lilo.conf and run lilo before rebooting into the new kernel.

That might help the nvidia situation.

hmmm... make sure you have the kernel-source installed. http://slackware.it/en/pb/browse.php?q=10.2/slackware/k
I'm using 2.6.13, here's some info, may help to check your symbolic link
If you want to make a symbolic link to 2.4.31 type ln -s linux-2.4.31 linux

hey this is easy! All you NEED to do is to change the config of the Kernel you're using and took off the nvidia riva fb. the you recompile. I'll sugest you to install kernel 2.6 it has some good new features. If you need any help on how to compile your kernel just ask. I have already had those problens but the solution is very easy. Post what you decided to I'll help you.

Peace! Same happened to me the third time I compiled 2.6.12 ! Seems that RIVAFB is compiled directly in the kernel and not as a module so you can't unload it. Just recompile without riva (or whatever says nvidia). Generic framebuffer support should be enough. Then make the mistake to install Nvidia's crashware like I did. After a few deadlocks you'll get rid of nvidia's modules like I'm going to do soon.

I have the Kernel source installed - it was K I believe. The only thing I didn't install was that KDEI.

Anyhoo, I wanted to try changing the config or the kernel as mirto suggested. I might upgrade the kernel to 2.6, but I would like to know how to change the kernel to remove stuff beforehand, as a future reference?

Mirto, if you could give me some pointers as to where to go from here with regards to removing the Riva fb from the kernel, I would be much appriciated. I have no idea how to recompile the kernel with or without things!

When the time comes that I feel I can upgrade the kernel, I can look at that pinned thread in this forum :) Thanks for your help guys :)

hey the first thing to do is to decompres the files.
In case you downloaded the linux-2.6xxx.tar.bz2 you go to /usr/src ant do tar jxvf /where_is_your file. Well I'm not going on how to configure the kernel cause there is a lot of tutorials on how to do that. then you enter on the new folder created and type make menuconfig. this will show a menu to configure your new kernel. now you go to Device Drivers (first screen), then Graphics Support then you Select the first option as built in(Support for frame buffer devices). Whatch the legend on the top of the screen! Remove everything less VESA VGA graphics support. next you go down Console Display driver support > select as built in the first five options. back the last menu you can put up that Tux logo select so Logo configuration then just the last one (Standart 224 color...).
Well this is all you need to have the nvidia proprietary working. of course you need to compile this new kernel and install AFTER the nvidia driver. ps don't forget to select as built in the device file system that you're using (like reiserfs).

ok, I am just downloading the new kernel, 2.6.15, from kernel.org. Unfortunately with the downloading of slackware and other such large files I've gone over my monthly quota and have had my 24mb line shaped to 64kb. This will take all day to download :(

Thanks for the quick reply mirto, I'll be sure to post here again if I get it work, but more likely, when I need more help with this!

from hsimahdont do useless stuffs man please dont go for new kernels i can help u i had done it in slack 10.2 with 2.4 kernelit is a max 10 min job
i had done it, in their read me file they specifically said u have to remove the rivafb module if it is loaded, it will conflict so remove the loaded module ..


for installing the driver (this is an earlier post i am just copying it )
u have to download the installer from nvidia if u r usinf 2.4 kernel u have to install its source first(it will install it, if u want u can c in the /usr/src/linux dir, if not it is there in slackware 1st cd .. slackware/k/kernel-source-2.4.31-noarch-1.tgz
do an #installpkg)

i am just pasting the earlier o post of mine
----1st---
this is the problem, nvidia driver yu have to install it first and if needed edit the xorg.conf file.

go to nvidias site, it is a good script it will even edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file (i have the thing but it is 11 mb, its name is NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8174-pkg1.run )and get the file it is an installer (*.run file) they r also giving a help file.
before runing u need the kernel source to installed in ur machine
(it wil b there in ur /usr/src/)

when u run the installer (#sh installer.run i think)from the root
it wil edit the conf file, so need to worry after that u can c ur X
----2nd--
i managed to get the link now http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-8174-pkg1.run

what u want to do is
#wget -c http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-8174-pkg1.run

(copy paste above link hi :^))
$cd /to/the/directory/where it is downloaded
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8174-pkg#.run

it will ask for editng the conf file press ok

this part is editing xorg.conf by hand if needed only from their site.(it will automatically edit xorg.conf file if not u do this.)
-------------------
If you have a working X config file for a different driver (such as the “nv” or “vesa” driver), then simply edit the file as follows.

Remove the line:

Driver "nv"
(or Driver "vesa")
(or Driver "fbdev")

and replace it with the line:

Driver "nvidia"

Remove the following lines:

Load "dri"
Load "GLCore"

In the Module section of the file, add the line (if it does not already exist):

Load "glx"
------------------

i think after this only u could even use alsaconf ok
best of luck and regards
__________________

before doing ask and search(in nvidia site) dont do waste thingsfrom this link u can get other links of the help pages http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...l/part-01.html
regards