I first had Linux Mandrake 10.0 and i had a GeForce 2 Mx graphical adapter - I installed the drivers .... ( compiling new ones from my kernel source and all that bla bla bla shit that it asks me to do ) ! And when i boot the X server it just stops with no warning ... Xfree86.0.log file is spotless!!! :O ! Oh and i forgot to mention that i also tried both the 2.4 kernel and the 2.6.7 kernel ! And same thing happened !
Ok let's say it has a problem with mandrake ( though i seriously doubt that ) ! I went on intalling Gentoo 2004.2 With the kernel 2.6.7 . Install went fine . But the same thing happened!Nothing in the log file but still when the xserver started loading !it hangs when it started testing my resolution ( 640x480 !!!! ) ! I cannot post my config files right now but i followed the exact instructions in the help file and i believe them to be ok !
Another thing that worths mentioning is that i recently changed my graphic adapter from geforce 2MX to a Geforce FX5700 and still the nvidia drivers do not work!I clearly must be doing something wrong!! If anyone else has the same pb please respond to this thread!I will try to update this with my logs and configuration files ( so other people can post their opinion ) !
Any way thank you for support so far , this site has been quite helpfull ...

I'm currently using 6111 with my gForce2 MX 200 on Slackware. I've also used it on Mandrake, SUSE, Fedora and PCLinuxOS. So, I have a hard time believing it's a driver or distro problem.
If I had to guess, based soley on the limited info you offer, I'd guess you have an error in your X config file. Syntax is crucial. If it isn't correct, it just simply won't work.

The X log must say *something*. Does it say no screens found? Does the nvidia module show up in an lsmod?
Pasting the logs and config will likely clear this up, because from your description it all sounds good.

are you using the 'nv' unacccelereted driver or the 'nvidia' driver for the gf2?

i also have a geforce 2 (mx400) and this is waht i did: (on slacware)

you need to download the binary driver from nvidia.com for a 'Linux IA32'

then under root run 'sh NVIDIA_blablabla-i386.run' (in the console, not X)

afterwards edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change "nv" to "nvidia"

and type 'startx'

it should work

I have a RedHat 9. And gnome wasn't starting well, then I have installed the NVidia drivers and changed the line 'nv' for 'nvidia' on the /etc/X11/XF86Config file. And it works!!!

But when I reboot (or shutdown) the computer, seems that the system looses configuration, because the 'startx' doesn't starts!!!
I have to install all over again and then startx works...

What could be the problem? Is there a file on configuration is lost?

thanks

Moacir.

Well, I've discovered something...

I have installed the NVidia drivers and changed the line 'nv' for 'nvidia' on the /etc/X11/XF86Config file.
But when the startx loads automatically on reboot, the gnome doesn't starts!!! If I start from the shell and then type startx, the gnome starts...

Whats going on??

moacirponti:

If I understand correctly, you want to start X when the computer boots?

I find it easier to use xdm for this. Test if your xdm runs with:

/etc/init.d/xdm start

If that works, you just need to start xdm at boot. RedHat used to start xdm in runlevel 5, so have a look at your /etc/inittab and look for the default runlevel. It should be right near the top, looking like this:

id:3:initdefault:

if the second number isn't 5, change it and try rebooting.

I too have had problems installing nvidia on Fedora core 2 and fx 5200 card.
Have you updated the kernel?
Two things you could try.
1st. try an older driver. I believe nvidia has the archived. if not let me know I have one of the older ones I think.
2nd. if you did update the kernel, boot to older kernel and install driver.

let us know results.


Good Luck!!!

The problem with FC2 was caused by the default kernel being compiled with 4KStacks support. The NVidia driver couldn't handle it. That's been fixed by 6111.
The OP's situation has nothing to do with this since he's using MDK10 and Gentoo with 6111.

So you're saying that the MDK10 default kernel is not compiled with 4k stacks support, and that the Gentoo kernel does not have this turned on automatically either (naturally, you could turn off said support when you compile the Gentoo kernel, but not if you don't know it's a problem)?

I'm just asking, since I don't know what MDK 10's default kernel was compiled with, and I've never checked my kernels under Gentoo for whether 4k stacks is set on or off by default, since I don't have an nVidia card.

I noticed that 2.6.7, I think, had the stacks problem. I had to change it on mine. It is sort of new so I'm sure some will have to catch up. I change kernels a lot so I'm not 100% it was 2.6.7 that started it.

Hopefully Nvidia will catch up soon. Then we won't have this issue.

NVidia already has caught up. 6111 fixed the problem.
2.6.6 in Fedora Core 2 was the problem kernel. Recompiling 2.6.6 or compiling 2.6.7 without 4KStacks support fixed the problem until NVidia released 6111. Now it isn't necessary because 6111 has 4KStacks support.