Nvidia driver installation help

T_1000 · 04-15-2009, 02:58 AM

I am very new to linux. yesterday I installed linux debian 5.0 and since then trying to figure out installing Nvidia drivers for my old Gforce Mx400 card. I somehow found the proper driver but when i tried to install it, i came across several error. i sorted out first error (x server running)but couldnt proceed further now. i am stucked at kernel error. when i run the setup, it says" no matching precompiler kernel found". it also ask for searching suitable kernel compiler on ftp.nvidia.com but later says "it failed".

after doing some rigourous reserach i found that i need to install some kernel source and kernel headers or somethng like that. i though i would cleared this up without asking anyone. but finally linux broke me down and i am here for solution.

please guide me. thank you.

colucix · 04-15-2009, 03:11 AM

Which version of the NVIDIA driver have you downloaded. I have an old Mx440 running properly with NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.07-pkg1.run.

The first messages you described are the normal behaviour. I always answer yes to all the questions, but it always fails to find a suitable pre-compiled driver. Have you properly installed the kernel headers? Which error message do you get at the final step?

T_1000 · 04-15-2009, 03:59 AM

just now I used synaptic to install linux headers and then i tried nvidia driver. it gave me the same kernel error but i dont know it procedded further & nstalled everything successfully later. then i restarted x server and my screen flashed in blue color two times and went off. i turned off n on my monitor again but it went off again automatically.

what to do now. the version i installed is NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.11-pkg1.run.

I can only run from console now by ctr+alt+f2. when i tries to restart server my monitors goes off.

colucix · 04-15-2009, 04:21 AM

First check if the nvidia module has been properly loaded:

Code:

# lsmod | grep nv
nvidia               4715536  23 
i2c_core               23745  6 it87,eeprom,i2c_isa,i2c_ec,i2c_i801,nvidia

Have you checked for some error messages in /var/log/Xorg.0.log?

Code:

# grep EE /var/log/Xorg.0.log

tredegar · 04-15-2009, 04:25 AM

Try this link:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...70#post3227670

T_1000 · 04-15-2009, 04:45 AM

how do i uninstall the current nvidia driver and get system as earlier. i had saved the backup copy.

colucix · 04-15-2009, 04:47 AM

Code:

# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.11-pkg1.run --uninstall

then replace the original /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

T_1000 · 04-15-2009, 06:26 AM

it says file not found. actually i mistakenly deteled that setup file. any other command to uninstall?

the trooper · 04-15-2009, 06:34 AM

Try as root:

nvidia-installer --uninstall

This must be done without X running.

T_1000 · 04-15-2009, 06:47 AM

It has removied the driver but now it dosent showing any screen. its crashing on the console. its telling me that X server is failed to load and then asks for wheather you would like to view the log report. i cant type the entire report here but its written that

(EE)Filaed ot load module "type1"(module does not exist,0)
(EE)Filaed ot load module "nvidia"(module does not exist,0)
(EE)No drivers availabale.
Fatal Server Error:
No Screens found

I have the debian dvd. what should i do now?

colucix · 04-15-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_1000

(EE)Filaed ot load module "nvidia"(module does not exist,0)
(EE)No drivers availabale.

It looks like you did not replace the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf with the original one. The module nvidia is the name of the proprietary driver, whereas the original module is called nv.

monsm · 04-15-2009, 08:23 AM

Did you have a look at the debian Nvidia howto? Here: http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers

Mons

T_1000 · 04-16-2009, 08:59 AM

didnt work. i have removed the debian and now installed the Ubuntu distro. btw which driver version should i use for my Nvidia Mx400 64mb card in ubuntu?

rerushg · 04-16-2009, 09:19 AM

Too bad you gave up so soon. I've arrived in Debian after over two years in Linux trying out almost every distro out there. I love it.
Sorry about your Nvidia card. From what I can read here you would probably have been better off if you had simply gone to the Debian site and looked around a bit. The documentation is excellent and the package listings are especially useful. For my Nvidia card it was a simple matter of installing the .deb package. The long-timers around here keep saying that doing it "the Debian way" will almost always give the best results. They're right.
As for your card, I'd suggest you visit Nvidia and find the correct Linux driver (probably the "legacy" driver). Don't install it though. Just use that for reference over at Ubuntu. Actually you probably don't need to do anything. Ubuntu (as I recall) has a proprietary driver installer that should take care of it for you.

Good luck.