Installing a nvidia video driver. Anyone know how?

kcredden · 11-30-2013, 02:48 PM

Folks: I just found two tutorals on how to install the nVidia video driver via the DKMS.

Until Debian 7.0 I had virtually no problems with a 1 click installer script I found. But last month, I had to build a new system (64bit) when my power supply destoryed mine, and now I cannot install the nvidia driver.

All three methiods say something about firmware - either not installed, or doesn't exist while it's installing. Then when I reboot X won't start. If I try to start it with 'startx' I get the following from xorg.o.log

Code:

[   119.489] 
X.Org X Server 1.14.3
Release Date: 2013-09-12
[   119.490] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[   119.490] Build Operating System: Linux 3.2.0-4-amd64 i686 Debian
[   119.490] Current Operating System: Linux zeus 3.11-2-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.11.8-1 (2013-11-13) i686
[   119.490] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.11-2-686-pae root=UUID=d482e785-99a2-4558-95aa-3eaf08028506 ro initrd=/install/initrd.gz quiet
[   119.491] Build Date: 08 October 2013  09:42:53PM
[   119.491] xorg-server 2:1.14.3-4 (Julien Cristau <jcristau@debian.org>) 
[   119.491] Current version of pixman: 0.30.2
[   119.491] 	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
[   119.491] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[   119.492] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sat Nov 30 15:10:50 2013
[   119.493] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
[   119.493] (==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[   119.493] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[   119.493] (==) ServerLayout "Layout0"
[   119.493] (**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
[   119.493] (**) |   |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
[   119.493] (**) |   |-->Device "Device0"
[   119.493] (**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
[   119.493] (**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
[   119.493] (**) Option "Xinerama" "0"
[   119.493] (==) Automatically adding devices
[   119.493] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[   119.493] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[   119.493] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[   119.493] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[   119.493] (==) FontPath set to:
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
	built-ins
[   119.493] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[   119.493] (WW) Hotplugging is on, devices using drivers 'kbd', 'mouse' or 'vmmouse' will be disabled.
[   119.493] (WW) Disabling Keyboard0
[   119.493] (WW) Disabling Mouse0
[   119.493] (II) Loader magic: 0xb77486a0
[   119.493] (II) Module ABI versions:
[   119.493] 	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[   119.493] 	X.Org Video Driver: 14.1
[   119.493] 	X.Org XInput driver : 19.1
[   119.493] 	X.Org Server Extension : 7.0
[   119.494] (--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:01df:19f1:1fe2 rev 161, Mem @ 0xf6000000/16777216, 0xe0000000/268435456, 0xf5000000/16777216, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072
[   119.494] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
[   119.494] Initializing built-in extension Generic Event Extension
[   119.494] Initializing built-in extension SHAPE
[   119.494] Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
[   119.494] Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
[   119.494] Initializing built-in extension XTEST
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension BIG-REQUESTS
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension SYNC
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension XC-MISC
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension XFIXES
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension RENDER
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension RANDR
[   119.495] Initializing built-in extension COMPOSITE
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension DAMAGE
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension RECORD
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension DPMS
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension X-Resource
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension XVideo
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
[   119.496] Initializing built-in extension SELinux
[   119.497] Initializing built-in extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
[   119.497] Initializing built-in extension XFree86-DGA
[   119.497] Initializing built-in extension XFree86-DRI
[   119.497] Initializing built-in extension DRI2
[   119.497] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[   119.497] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/linux/libglx.so
[   119.509] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[   119.509] 	compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[   119.509] 	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[   119.509] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module  319.72  Wed Oct 30 17:35:24 PDT 2013
[   119.509] Loading extension GLX
[   119.509] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
[   119.509] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nvidia_drv.so
[   119.510] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[   119.510] 	compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[   119.510] 	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[   119.528] (EE) NVIDIA: Failed to load the NVIDIA kernel module. Please I have Debian 7.2/64bit on DVDs ready to install but for now I'm using 32bit Debian 7.2/XFCE version.
check your
[   119.528] (EE) NVIDIA:     system's kernel log for additional error messages.
[   119.528] (II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
[   119.528] (II) Unloading nvidia
[   119.528] (EE) Failed to load module "nvidia" (module-specific error, 0)
[   119.528] (EE) No drivers available.
[   119.528] (EE) 
Fatal server error:
[   119.529] (EE) no screens found(EE) 
[   119.529] (EE) 
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support 
	 at http://wiki.x.org
 for help. 
[   119.530] (EE) Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[   119.530] (EE)

I have to bring the entire system back, from an image.

Is it possible the video card is also damaged still? I didn't replace the Gforce 7600GS card or is there something else going on?

As a side question. If I need to replace the card, what AMD would you recommend for dual monitor capibility? Is AMD's video driver easier to install?

aus9 · 12-01-2013, 07:59 AM

http://smxi.org/site/about.htm#sgfxi

273 · 12-01-2013, 08:38 AM

I replied in your other thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

I only asked whether you were sure it was a 7300 as you said new machine I had thought you meant all the parts were new also so I thought I'd better confirm it. For that card you should be using the driver from the Debian repositories as it's easier and the card doesn't need the latest driver.
I have successfully used that card under 64 bit Debian so I know it works.
There is no firmware missing. After you install the driver you should run nvidia-xconfig as I mentioned in my previous post -- I'm given to understand that this shouldn't always be necessary but given that X11 isn't starting it looks like it is in this case.
I've not used an AMD card under Linux but looking at the Debian page for them they're slightly more complicated to install because they lack the equivalent of nvidia-xconfig so you have to create your own xorg.conf.

gradinaruvasile · 12-01-2013, 04:56 PM

To the OP:

Plain and simple you dont have the nvidia module (an essential part of the driver) compiled. When installing proprietary drivers, you have to make sure the module is compiled too. That is taken care by the drivers installer, but you need to have the used kernel's headers and the "build-essential" packages installed previously.

@273:

As for installing AMD vs nvidia drivers - they have installers that do exactly the same thing in the same manner.
You do NOT have to create any manual xorg.conf with AMD, you have to run "aticonfig --initial" instead of "nvidia-xconfig". Both commands do exactly the same - create an xorg.conf that tells X to load the proprietary driver (nvidia or fglrx) instead of the default OSS driver. I used both drivers using their own installer scripts on my computer and they worked every time in the exactly same way.

kcredden · 12-10-2013, 06:25 PM

Thank you all for the help. I just installed Linux Mint Debian Edition and all the major issues are solved. Maybe that's the solution anymore.

273 · 12-11-2013, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gradinaruvasile

@273:

As for installing AMD vs nvidia drivers - they have installers that do exactly the same thing in the same manner.
You do NOT have to create any manual xorg.conf with AMD, you have to run "aticonfig --initial" instead of "nvidia-xconfig". Both commands do exactly the same - create an xorg.conf that tells X to load the proprietary driver (nvidia or fglrx) instead of the default OSS driver. I used both drivers using their own installer scripts on my computer and they worked every time in the exactly same way.

Thanks, I think the Debian team need to update their wiki in that case:
https://wiki.debian.org/ATIProprietary#configure

gradinaruvasile · 12-11-2013, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

Thanks, I think the Debian team need to update their wiki in that case:
https://wiki.debian.org/ATIProprietary#configure

I was talking about the generic Linux installation scripts which are distro-independent.
But even using Debian's own fglrx packages you have that command so, yes, they have to update it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcredden

Thank you all for the help. I just installed Linux Mint Debian Edition and all the major issues are solved. Maybe that's the solution anymore.

If you are trying to say that installing Mint is THE solution for installing proprietary drivers, well its not. Debian (and probably most distros out there) has no issues with nvidia or amd proprietary driver installations, only maybe you need some extra packages to install beforehand (the aforementioned build-essential and the kernel headers or equivalent in other distros).