To I finally decided it was time to install my graphics drivers. After installing the driver said it successfully installed. I edited the config file by changing "nv" to "nvidia" and goto run startx and it fails. Talks about the chipset "Geforce 4" in Device Section "Card0" is not valid. Or something extremely similar. Was having trouble with cookies in the text based browser or I woulda had it word for word. After reading thru the README a few times I'm still stumped. Any help would be appreciated. Thx.

Is the driver loaded?

I have no idea how to check that other than by loading x to check.

man kldload

I saw the install process use that command and right after said was successful.

What does `kldstat' show?

name:

kernel
linux.ko
nvidia.ko

I assume that this is the column you would be referring to?

On a side note I rememeber reading something about user_ldt being required. And trying glxinfo resulted in a message stating I need to compile it into my kernel for glx to intialize. I'm starting to think that I need to recompile support for user_ldt into my kernel. Never compiled/recompiled a kernel before so I'm a bit scared to touch it. Also would this definately be a cause to my problems? Not even quite sure what user_ldt is..gonna do some searching on it now.

Erhm.. my intial searching came up with this page.. http://www.linuxsecurity.com/advisor...sory-1157.html Is this ONLY netbsd related? Or would it also lean onto freebsd as well? If so it sounds like this isn't an option I'd want to enable but seams to be one that I need to in order to get my video drivers communicating with my system normally.

If you installed the latest nVidia driver, it should be called `nv' in the XF86Config file, not nVidia.

I'll install it now and see how I go.

Okay, you are correct. In the `/etc/XF86Config' file, the driver is called `nvidia' (I just installed and it's running fine).

Now, when you start X, what is the output from X when it fails?

The offical minimum software requirements for the NVIDIA FreeBSD Driver
Set are:

- FreeBSD -STABLE, version 4.7 or later
- A kernel configured with the following options:
options USER_LDT
options SYSVSHM
While SYSVSHM is enabled in the GENERIC FreeBSD kernel, USER_LDT
is *not* included in the default FreeBSD kernel. Please see
"Chapter 9 Configuring the FreeBSD Kernel" of the FreeBSD handbook
for steps on how to recompile your kernel.



I was rereading the README file and I indeed need USER_LDT compiled into my kernel which it seams that "glxinfo" tells me I do not have. How do I find out for sure if it is or isn't compiled in? And if it's not where exactly do I add that line? I spent a bit of time going over chapter 9 of the freebsd handbook but I'm not certain where to place it. Also I'm a bit confused on which install procedure to use...I believe I should use the second but am not completely certain. I hope someone can point me in the right direction. Thx.

I don't have USER_LDT compiled in my kernel, only `device agp'. =\

*shrugs* I ripped that section from the last post directly from the nvidia README for freebsd.....I can check and see if I have that in there the device agp line. Gonna go and compile those options into the kernel now if needed. Wish me luck. = >

Ok I recompiled my first kernel with no problems. I used procedure 2 in the handbook and it seamed to work fine. The error persisted so I went ahead and deleted the line in the config that it was referencing to and the error left and allowed me to startx. This would be good news BUT it seams that my glx is corrupt. Running glxinfo still gives me an error.... trying to run any graphic intense games and they error out. This includes tux racer, xtron and games similar in that fashion. Not heavily graphiced games but alot more graphic heavy than a mud. I've been thru the xfree86 logs... and someone suggested also checking a command starting with xdpy**** I forget the last four letters but it the information in it seamed relevent to that which I'd find in XF86Config. Anyways.. the error states how it cannot intialize GLX both by running games and within glxinfo. Anyone have any ideas cuz I'm stumped. I am not even sure what GLX is!! I've tried reinstalling my graphic drivers after recompiling the kernel. I've also tried using a fresh Config file and editing the line for the nvidia drivers. Nothing I know of seams to work and the nvidia README doesn't help for squat.

I suggest you `buildworld'. What version of FreeBSD are you running?