nvidia driver not starting

muzzavitch · 02-26-2009, 01:06 AM

Hello again,
I have installed the 71.86.04 version of the NVidia driver via the synaptics package manager. Unfortunatly, it doesn't work, during boot the driver fails. I have no idea why and can't find anything in my logs to explain this failure.

Hardware Device: 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV36.2 [GeForce FX 5700] (rev a1)

Kernel: 2.6.27-11-server

Linux Distro: Ubuntu 8.10 Server 32 bit

Desktop: GNOME's gdm

Please help as I currently have no openGL available and my screensavers don't work. I like screensavers, they are pretty...;-)

Have fun.
Muzzavitch.

Drakeo · 02-26-2009, 07:17 AM

sudo nvidia-xconfig then logout then log in. then run nvidia-settings if any of those two fail. start in recovery mode and fix display then go reinstall the drivers and nvidia-settings program. good luck.
also do not forget to enable the nonfree hardware. think it is in preferences -->system hardware

knudfl · 02-26-2009, 07:59 AM

Also have a look in 'Synaptic' and see, that the driver
for Nvidia 'FX' should be '173.xx.xx'.

farslayer · 02-26-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knudfl

Also have a look in 'Synaptic' and see, that the driver
for Nvidia 'FX' should be '173.xx.xx'.

Code:

The 173.14.xx driver supports the following set of GPUs:

NVIDIA GPU Products:
GeForce PCX 5750 	0x00FA
GeForce PCX 5900 	0x00FB
GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 	0x0311
GeForce FX 5600 	0x0312
GeForce FX 5600XT 	0x0314
GeForce FX Go5600 	0x031A
GeForce FX Go5650 	0x031B
GeForce FX Go53xx 	0x032C
GeForce FX Go5100 	0x032D
GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 	0x0330
GeForce FX 5900 	0x0331
GeForce FX 5900XT 	0x0332
GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 	0x0333
GeForce FX 5900ZT 	0x0334
GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 	0x0341
GeForce FX 5700 	0x0342
.
.
.
.
etc

You are correct, he should be using the current driver, rather than the legacy driver..

muzzavitch · 02-27-2009, 12:56 AM

Thanks guys, didn't see my Card in the list for that one, installing the newer driver worked. Can't see how I missed it the first time...oh well.:-)

Thanks Again.
Muzzavitch.

Drakeo · 02-28-2009, 09:58 AM

Hey Farslayer do you think you could call being able to apt-get and install the wrong videio card with a debian system a problem. I mean to run a simple program called list dev and then say this driver does not match your hardware. This would mean alot of frustrated people would or could be happier. Or just learn the system.
I believe Nvida does somthing like that but is just a warning can't remember.

muzzavitch · 03-01-2009, 04:28 AM

Hello Drakeo, good idea in theory, but the old drivers are supposed to be compatable with my hardware...they just arn't.

farslayer · 03-01-2009, 06:38 PM

I think you are right about the nvidia installer script saying something like "no compatible hardware found" I have no idea how you would pull that off in a Debian package though.. I believe there are some scripts (sgfxi) that can be used to do the install with Debian which might notify as well I've never used it though so I couldn't say for sure.

If you were running Windows you would have to know WHICH version of the driver to install as well, if you had older hardware, so I guess using that as a comparison Debian is on an even keel with Windows..

I think if you install the wrong version of the driver it will say in the Xorg.0.log that there is no compatible hardware found.. but that doesn't really help a newbie either.