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Problems Installing Nvidia Driver on multiple distros...Help Please...

For some reason I can't seem to get my driver installed on my
PC with Nvidia graphics...
Only Ubuntu seems to be able to do it and it still doesn't do it correctly..

Heres my hardware

BIOS

Code:

vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD

version: 6.00 PG (07/06/2004)

size: 128KiB

capacity: 448KiB

capabilities:

        ISA bus,

        PCI bus,

        Plug-and-Play,

        Advanced Power Management,

        BIOS EEPROM can be upgraded,

        BIOS shadowing,

        ESCD,

        Booting from CD-ROM/DVD,

        Selectable boot path,

        BIOS ROM is socketed,

        Enhanced Disk Drive extensions,

        5.25" 360KB floppy,

        5.25" 1.2MB floppy,

        3.5" 720KB floppy,

        3.5" 2.88MB floppy,

        Print Screen key,

        i8042 keyboard controller,

        INT14 serial line control,

        INT17 printer control,

        INT10 CGA/Mono video,

        ACPI,

        USB legacy emulation,

        AGP,

        Booting from LS-120,

        Booting from ATAPI ZIP

Motherboard

Code:

product: NF7-S/NF7,NF7-V (nVidia-nForce2)

vendor: http://www.abit.com.tw/

version: 2.X,1.0

CPU

Code:

product: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+

vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]

bus info: cpu@0

version: 6.8.1

slot: Socket A

size: 1995MHz

capacity: 3GHz

width: 32 bits

clock: 133MHz

capabilities:

        mathematical co-processor,

        FPU exceptions reporting,

        wp,

        virtual mode extensions,

        debugging extensions,

        page size extensions,

        time stamp counter,

        model-specific registers,

        4GB+ memory addressing (Physical Address Extension),

        machine check exceptions,

        compare and exchange 8-byte,

        on-chip advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC),

        memory type range registers,

        page global enable,

        machine check architecture,

        conditional move instruction,

        page attribute table,

        36-bit page size extensions,

        multimedia extensions (MMX),

        fast floating point save/restore,

        streaming SIMD extensions (SSE),

        fast system calls,

        multimedia extensions (MMXExt),

        multimedia extensions (3DNow!Ext),

        multimedia extensions (3DNow!),

        up,

        CPU Frequency scaling

Host Bridge

Code:

product: nForce2 IGP2 [10DE:1E0]

vendor: nVidia Corporation [10DE]

bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0

version: c1

width: 32 bits

clock: 66MHz



configuration:

        driver: agpgart-nvidia

resources:

        irq: 0

        memory: e8000000-ebffffff(prefetchable)

lspci

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: nVidia Corporation nForce2 IGP2 (rev c1)

00:00.1 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation nForce2 Memory Controller 1 (rev c1)

00:00.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation nForce2 Memory Controller 4 (rev c1)

00:00.3 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation nForce2 Memory Controller 3 (rev c1)

00:00.4 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation nForce2 Memory Controller 2 (rev c1)

00:00.5 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation nForce2 Memory Controller 5 (rev c1)

00:01.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation nForce2 ISA Bridge (rev a4)

00:01.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation nForce2 SMBus (MCP) (rev a2)

00:02.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation nForce2 USB Controller (rev a4)

00:02.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation nForce2 USB Controller (rev a4)

00:02.2 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation nForce2 USB Controller (rev a4)

00:04.0 Ethernet controller: nVidia Corporation nForce2 Ethernet Controller (rev a1)

00:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: nVidia Corporation nForce2 AC97 Audio Controler (MCP) (rev a1)

00:08.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation nForce2 External PCI Bridge (rev a3)

00:09.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation nForce2 IDE (rev a2)

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation nForce2 AGP (rev c1)

01:07.0 Communication controller: Rockwell International HCF 56k Data/Fax Modem (rev 01)

02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV18 [GeForce4 MX 4000] (rev c1)

On slackware, arch, etc I can't get the driver installed
SBOPKG, etc all fail....
They all say it cant find kernel source/modules,etc

Any ideas why it wont install??
Thanks

On Slack, get the NVIDIA-Linux-whatever-version-etc.run. Drop to runlevel 3, as root cd to wherever the driver is, then:

Code:

chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-whatever-version-etc.run

then

Code:

./NVIDIA-Linux-whatever-version-etc.run

Accept the options, then log in as normal user, and startx, or reboot.
Install the kernel source first, of course.

Thanks BrianL
I actually have done all that multiple times...
in Slackware, and ARCH
I tried using SlackBuilds for nvidia,etc
no dice...

On all of them it says are you running kernel 2.4?
no..
can't find kernel source, etc
and it stops...

I tried hacking jockey-gtk into both slackware and ARCH, but it doesn't work right..
also tried using sgfxi
http://smxi.org/site/about.htm#sgfxi

didnt work either...
Kinda stuck at this point...

kernel 2.4? That was Slackware 11's default kernel. :confused: :)

no, when it bombs out it asks if I am running kernel 2.4
which I am not
kernels I am running on that PC are
2.6.34-ZENS32 (my nFluxOS Slackware install)
2.6.33.4-smp (my slackware current install)

arch kernel
2.6.34-ARCH (my arch install)
2.6.34-ZENA32 (my nFluxOS arch testing install)

full sources, etc installed in all 4 installs...

I am actually building some stuff on that PC now and will switch back to it
in a moment to give full error messages for you...

If you have a Debian install try using smxi.

the .run nvidia driver -- i have never had a problem with
BUT on some distros you NEED and i do mean NEED to reinstall mesa -- fedora and centOS i know for sure
Arch there is no need to reinstall mesa

but on Arch just use pacman to install the driver
that is a "no brainer " it just works "out of the box"

Code:

pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils

see:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Nvidia

If it says it can't find the kernel source, then you need to give it the kernel source.

OK
here's nvidia log in Slackware current
via SlackBuild...

Code:

nvidia-installer log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log'

creation time: Tue Jun 29 22:28:58 2010

installer version: 1.0.7



option status:

  license pre-accepted    : false

  update                  : false

  force update            : false

  expert                  : false

  uninstall              : false

  driver info            : false

  precompiled interfaces  : true

  no ncurses color        : false

  query latest version    : false

  OpenGL header files    : true

  no questions            : false

  silent                  : false

  no recursion            : false

  no backup              : false

  kernel module only      : false

  sanity                  : false

  add this kernel        : false

  no runlevel check      : false

  no network              : false

  no ABI note            : false

  no RPMs                : false

  no kernel module        : false

  force SELinux          : default

  no X server check      : false

  no cc version check    : false

  force tls              : (not specified)

  X install prefix        : (not specified)

  X library install path  : (not specified)

  X module install path  : (not specified)

  OpenGL install prefix  : (not specified)

  OpenGL install libdir  : (not specified)

  utility install prefix  : (not specified)

  utility install libdir  : (not specified)

  doc install prefix      : (not specified)

  kernel name            : (not specified)

  kernel include path    : (not specified)

  kernel source path      : (not specified)

  kernel output path      : (not specified)

  kernel install path    : (not specified)

  proc mount point        : /proc

  ui                      : (not specified)

  tmpdir                  : /tmp

  ftp mirror              : ftp://download.nvidia.com

  RPM file list          : (not specified)



Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface

-> License accepted.

-> Installing NVIDIA driver version 96.43.17.

-> Performing CC sanity check with CC="cc".

-> Performing CC version check with CC="cc".

-> Kernel source path: '/lib/modules/2.6.33.4-smp-K7z/source'

-> Kernel output path: '/lib/modules/2.6.33.4-smp-K7z/build'

ERROR: If you are using a Linux 2.4 kernel, please make sure

      you either have configured kernel sources matching your

      kernel or the correct set of kernel headers installed

      on your system.

      

      If you are using a Linux 2.6 kernel, please make sure

      you have configured kernel sources matching your kernel

      installed on your system. If you specified a separate

      output directory using either the "KBUILD_OUTPUT" or

      the "O" KBUILD parameter, make sure to specify this

      directory with the SYSOUT environment variable or with

      the equivalent nvidia-installer command line option.

      

      Depending on where and how the kernel sources (or the

      kernel headers) were installed, you may need to specify

      their location with the SYSSRC environment variable or

      the equivalent nvidia-installer command line option.

ERROR: Installation has failed.  Please see the file

      '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details.  You may find suggestions

      on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux

      driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

Also tried in Debian Squeeze using sgfxi with Liquorix kernel
same error

Note the slackware install it installed, etc
but upon trying to load the nvidia module it says
invalid module format

I would again attempt in arch, but when I do it says it wants to install kernel26, etc
which I have custom kernel and dont want kernel26....

It sounds like one of two things are happening (my input is slackware-centric, but the ideas still apply since mainly the kernel and the nvidia driver are the problem, not the distros):

1) You have Nouveau installed/enabled. Remove that (disable it from within the kernel and blacklist nouveau module) and try again.

2) The version of the nvidia driver you're using is one that needs to be patched with certain kernel versions. Kernel 2.6.33.x IIRC is one of the versions where the (latest driver around that time) needed a patch to find the kernel sources.

Since you have not yet tried to boot up and got problems with video, I'd lean towards #2 - need to patch the driver (or get a newer version of the driver, if possible for your $ARCH). If you're on 64bit, FWIW I just built the 256.35-x86_64 driver on a 2.6.33.1 kernel and it worked perfect; but I dunno if that driver version is available for x86 -- have a look.

Search LQ for several relatively recent threads about this situation. There are some that will help. :)

thanks GrapefruiTgirl
I'll check that out

Here's what happens in ARCH (testing)

Code:

[root@nfluxos src]# pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils

resolving dependencies...

looking for inter-conflicts...

:: nvidia-utils and libgl are in conflict. Remove libgl? [y/N] y

error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)

:: ati-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: intel-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: mach64-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: mga-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: r128-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: savage-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: sis-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: tdfx-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

:: unichrome-dri: requires libgl=7.8.2

[root@nfluxos src]# pacman -R libgl ati-dri intel-dri mach64-dri mga-dri r128-dri savage-dri sis-dri tdfx-dri unichrome-dri

checking dependencies...

error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)

:: libva: requires libgl

:: mesa: requires libgl

:: xf86-video-ati: requires ati-dri>=7.8.1

:: xf86-video-intel: requires intel-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-mach64: requires mach64-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-mga: requires mga-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-openchrome: requires unichrome-dri>=7.6

:: xf86-video-r128: requires r128-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-radeonhd: requires ati-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-savage: requires savage-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-sis: requires sis-dri>=7.8

:: xf86-video-tdfx: requires tdfx-dri>=7.8

:: xmms: requires libgl

:: xorg-server: requires libgl

:: xorg-utils: requires libgl

Just for clarity sake, in case you mis-interpreted me -- where above I wrote $ARCH, I meant "Architecture", not Arch Linux ;) so I was referring to x86 or x86-64.

What you showed up there in your last post, I have no clue about, since I've never used Arch Linux nor pacman.

ok
I added my own 2.6.34-ZEN kernel and source to this install
and will attempt again the SlackBuild...

This is a shot in the dark but is /usr/src/linux linked to the source files of the kernel you are running and not a different version.

So
I installed slackware kernel source, headers, and generic kernel
then again attempted sbopkg nvidia
this time all seemed to go well...

after installing I rebooted and issued
"nvidia-xconfig" at runlevel 3

then I did startx
which ended in segfault for X..

Heres nvidia-xconfig xorg.conf

Code:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig

# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Thu Jan 28 16:14:36 PST 2010



Section "ServerLayout"

    Identifier    "X.org Configured"

    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0

    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"

    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection



Section "Files"

    ModulePath      "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/local"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/OTF"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/misc"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/CID"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi"

    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"

EndSection



Section "Module"

    Load          "dbe"

    Load          "extmod"

    Load          "glx"

    Load          "dri2"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier    "Keyboard0"

    Driver        "kbd"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier    "Mouse0"

    Driver        "mouse"

    Option        "Protocol" "auto"

    Option        "Device" "/dev/input/mice"

    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

    Identifier    "Monitor0"

    VendorName    "DCL"

    ModelName      "DCLCD  DCL9C"

    HorizSync      30.0 - 81.0

    VertRefresh    40.0 - 76.0

    Option        "DPMS"

EndSection



Section "Device"

    Identifier    "Card0"

    Driver        "nvidia"

    VendorName    "Unknown Vendor"

    BoardName      "Unknown Board"

EndSection



Section "Screen"

    Identifier    "Screen0"

    Device        "Card0"

    Monitor        "Monitor0"

    SubSection    "Display"

        Viewport    0 0

    EndSubSection

    SubSection    "Display"

        Viewport    0 0

        Depth      4

    EndSubSection

    SubSection    "Display"

        Viewport    0 0

        Depth      8

    EndSubSection

    SubSection    "Display"

        Viewport    0 0

        Depth      15

    EndSubSection

    SubSection    "Display"

        Viewport    0 0

        Depth      16

    EndSubSection

    SubSection    "Display"

        Viewport    0 0

        Depth      24

    EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Extensions"

    Option        "Composite" "Enable"

EndSection

and xorg.conf from Ubuntu Lucid install with nvidia driver

Code:

Section "Screen"

        Identifier        "Default Screen"

        DefaultDepth        24

        Option        "AddARGBGLXVisuals"        "True"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load        "glx"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier        "Default Device"

        Driver        "nvidia"

        Option        "NoLogo"        "True"

EndSection

The Lucid xorg.conf is not really working all that well either
and it doesn't work for the slack install...

anyone know why it wont work in slackware current??
thx