Installing video driver
 

I just had my video card removed because it popped its capacitors which necessitated the replacement of the power supply as well, leaving the onboard video (which is OK). I will need to identify which driver to use, or to download the proper driver for this onboard video. I will need to do this via the bios set-up, I beleive. When I first start the computer I get this: "Failed to start X server (your graphical interface) It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?

* Reloading postfix configuation"

So I click OK and proceed. I get to the login, I login and get: "me@computer:

If I can get into the set-up, then I should be able to navigate to choose the correct video driver and resolution. The problem is that I don't know which driver it is. Could use some help identifying the driver as well as installation procedure, or if I need to install via download if the correct driver is not found.

The machine is a PowerSpec about three years old. It is not dual boot w/ windows, but is Ubuntu Edgy on multi drive set-up with Mepis on one other drive.

The help I need is: How to get and install the proper video driver.

Hi there,

First thing you need to do is identify & tell us what is the onboard video device.
Go into your BIOS and enable the device if you have not already done so. Now, boot up into init 1 or the same way that you have been, as long as it gets you to a usable text console.
Log in as root, and execute the command:

lspci

and you will see a list of the PCI devices in the machine, one of which will be identified as a 'VGA Compatible video device' or something similar to this. This is what you need the driver for, so please tell us what type of VGA device it tells you you have.
Chances are excellent that there will already be an open source driver included with the X server, which will drive the device until such time as you either A) download/install a better driver, or B) get another video card.

To change which driver is chosen by the X server, you will want to edit the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf, specifically the line that looks like:

Driver "drivername goes here"

and you would put the driver name in there.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.
Sasha

You can edit the current video driver to "vesa" at least temporarily to get you started. This is a generic driver.

From the Xorg manpage:
Running one of these commands in the console can identify the make of your onboard card:
lspci | grep VGA

sudo lshw -C video

Make a backup copy of your old xorg.conf file. Some sections such as the Display or for the keyboard or mouse don't need changes.

I says- VGA: ATI technologies Inc, Radeon xpress 200.

Now I'm not into the bios set-up yet. So I need the command to get there. I have this command but it's in the computer not on paper so I'm stuck here.

You could probably use the 'radeon' driver. But I would recommend running something like 'xorgsetup', 'xorgconfig', 'Xorg -configure' as root to auto-configure it. Just use one of them.

for ATI technologies Inc, Radeon xpress 200, fglrx is the driver .

have you tried with the fglrx driver ?

This driver may do the trick. But for some reason I still can't get into xorg setup, even with the above commands. I am logged in as root.

I tried 'X -config/root/xorg.conf.new' and got this: 'No core pointer. Failed to initialize core devices(**) Radeon(0)LeaveVT...(list of radeon devices)'.

What I am doing here is trying avoid the expense of a new video card. Am I losing this battle, or just confused?

just try downloading the driver from the below site and see .

But am not sure how stable they are . It may also cause your machine not to work as well , keep a backup of xorg.conf file.

good luck
Peeths

I just lost this one! I installed a GeForce 7300 GS and have Mepis up and running on hda2 partition, but Edgy on hda1 still won't mount X server. I even tried reinstalling from the CD, and this even gets a FAILED TO MOUNT X-SERVER. The card is recognized as nVidia in the start up post (which is correct), and all the files are still there on hda1. I was able to save the home directory to my backup disc via Mepis, though. But if I were to reformat and install Edgy from scratch (from CD)I might loose my bookmarks and calendar. Right now I can work on all these files through Mepis except for my bookmarks and calendar. I need to know where these are located and how to save, and to restore them if I need to reinstall on a clean reformatted partition.

Hi, with the nVidia card, have you tried downloading proprietary drivers from http://nvidia.com , installing them, running nvidia-xconfig (as root). Basically this does the trick. I'm not quite familiar with *buntu, but I think they have nvidia drivers in their repos, so you may want to try that one also. About the onboard card, I think radeon driver is better than fglrx (with some configuration to get working 3d (if you need it)), but I don't know. Like someone proposed you could try the vesa driver since it's generic to get it running if you need it once again. ( I hope not ).

Hi OP,

Sorry you ended up dishing out some $$$ but at least you got a decent video card that WORKS well with Linux. I have exactly two of the identical nVidia card (PCI-E) that you just bought, and can at least assure you that it will work just great with Linux.

I don't use Ubuntu lately, but I believe Refractor is correct about the proprietary nVidia driver being in the Ubuntu Repos. That's about all I can tell you about Ubuntuisms related to nVidia, however following the link that Refractor provided, or going directly to The nVidia Driver Page will lead you to the README for the driver (if you cannot find it on your system) as well as downloadable driver installers (should you for some reason want to download the original non-Ubuntu driver archive)

Best of luck,
Sasha

I committed an error. The 7300GS was the one that blew up. I replaced it with a 8400GS because I couldn't find a 7300 anywhere. If I had installed another 7300 I probably wouldn't have this problem. I since have discovered that the 8400 is not compatible, in many ways, with Ubuntu using the "nv" driver that is already installed. The problem now is that after downloading, what I think is the proper driver, I can't seem to get it installed into the system. I don't have a good command to install. And how can I configure xorg.conf when I can't get root privilage to edit it?
So, I think I have to find another card that is compatible. I wish I could find another 7300 because I know that works! If anyone knows who sells it, please let me know. Or if you have a fix for the 8400, that's ok too!

envyng is in the ubuntu repositories:
So why don't you just use that?
Ubuntu uses sudo -i (and you give your password) if you want to become root.

Just to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf do:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf (and you give your password)

Or, if you like, you can create a password for root with
sudo passwd root

ERR ERR ERR.... Recompile your old nvidia driver!? OR...

(in root or sudo every cmd)

apt-get install module-assistant

m-a prepare

m-a a-i nvidia

Or you could apt-get install www-browser, then www-browser www.nvidia.com and navigate to the downloads for drivers (it's all text based I know but it works) and download the latest for the 8xxx series. Compile, voila?

the easiest ways for drivers and debian/ubuntu