I keep getting the error to stop Xserver.. and i dont know how.. or what to do.. and Yes.. I'm a n00b...so if i could get a little help.. it would be awesome.. Thanks!

It would help if you posted the Linux distribution you are using to start with, but other than that, google will come back with 800 million pages on this subject. Never mind google...just search these forums :-))

Might want to try the "Readme" on nvidia's site too.

You must be trying to install the driver from a gui like KDE or Gnome.
You need to exit the gui and install the driver from a text only session.
To kill the xserver you can hit ctrl+alt+backspace but that may just put you back into the session selection screen.
You may have to edit your /etc/inittab file to boot to runlevel 3
Depending on your Linux distrobution here is what you need to change:
id:3:initdefault: <------change that to a 3. It is probably at 5 now.

# These are the default runlevels in Slackware:
# 0 = halt
# 1 = single user mode
# 2 = unused (but configured the same as runlevel 3)
# 3 = multiuser mode (default Slackware runlevel)
# 4 = X11 with KDM/GDM/XDM (session managers)
# 5 = unused (but configured the same as runlevel 3)
# 6 = reboot

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:3:initdefault:

Then restart computer and run the install script as root.

When your all done you can change the runlevel back to what it was when you started.

I am running Redhat 9.0...i'll find the kernal once i get home..

The README will help you go all the way if you check it out, its true.

However, after just doing the install myself to the latest drivers, I may be able to help you cheat a little. My installation is RH9, so if your distro is different, you may want to take that into account (hey, its your machine, not mine ).

Basically, open up a console.
In RH9, I can just su - to root, then type: init 3
This will drop me back to runlevel 3 (no X server running).
Login as root.
Then find your way to wherever you downloaded the run file from NVIDIA.
then type:
./whatever-the-run-file-name-is.run
Wait for it....
Wait for it...
Now when it is finished, it will tell you to modify your XFree86config file.
In my distro, it is located at: /etc/X11
Open up the file with vi, make your changes, save, then quit.
init 5
voila.

(I am nowhere near my machine right now, so a detail may be sketchy here or there, but that is basically the gist of things).

So learn to use vi, or, init 5, change the file (as root), then restart X (basically, init 3, then init 5 again).

If you see the NVIDIA splash screen on startup, you're golden.

All of the info above should help you on your way, but also check /usr/src/ and make sure that there is a folder in there called "linux" (it's just a link to the kernel source in the same directory). There should also be another folder called - or in the name somewhere - "linux-2.4.xx" in the same directory.

If that folder(s) is/are NOT in the /usr/src/ directory, you WILL HAVE TO INSTALL the kernel SOURCE FIRST or the info above will not get you anywhere. Usually Red Hat will install the source for you and i think Nvidia has already put support into their driver package for the common Kernels that come in most of the popular distro's.

open a console, type su to switch to the root user, and type "init 3", this should shut down the X server. Then install the nvidia driver. After installing make sure to adjust your /etc/X11/XF86Config file with the options/settings mentioned in the nvidia readme file.