That line looks familiar to me I know Ive seen the word NVdriver in my /etc/modules.conf

I ran into the same problem when I ran up2date on my redHat 7.3 laptop tonight. Couldn't get it to startX. got the dreaded ""(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVdriver kernel module!"" error. Took about 5 minutes to fix. here's how:

(I was already in run level 3. If you're not you need to be to do this)

remove the old NVIDIA rpms

rpm --erase NVIDIA_GLX
rpm --erase NVIDIA_kernel

download the src rpms from where you downloaded the compiled rpms

wget http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86_4...0-2960.src.rpm
wget http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86_4...0-2960.src.rpm

The links above may not be right for your architecture!

Then rebuild them
rpm --rebuild NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-2960.src.rpm
rpm --rebuild NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-2960.src.rpm

then install them, kernel module first

cd /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/
rpm -ivh NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-2960.i386.rpm
rpm -ivh NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-2960.i386.rpm

installing the kernel gives you the usual message that it will taint the kernel. installing the GLX tells you about the mesa files.

Now, as long as you haven't been messin' with your XF86Config-4 you can startx.

$root@mylaptop: startx

All done, took about 5 minutes.

Once X starts and you're comfortable that it's running delete the two rpms in /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/ since they will only need to be rebuilt if you make kernel changes anyway. KEEP the src rpms so you will have something to rebuild if you need to.

nm

any problems with rh7.2 ? i have a gf4 comin in the mail

I'm running Mandrake 8.2 w/ a ti4600 and I'm having problems as well. I've followed the instructions on Nvidia's website to install the rpms and it says they are succesfully installed but my card is recognized as a g3 and any 3d app doesnt work. When I go the contro center and try to change vid card it doesnt list the g4.
So I uninstalled those via instructions in this post and tried to install teh tar versions but the "make" command is unrecognized :/
As you can tell I'm a Linux nub (a full 2 days) so any help would be greatly appreciated, thnx.

yeah, I also checked that one. It WAS in there. I reinstalled RH7.3, no more issues. I'm NOT going to use the Nvidia driver. I'm sticking with the vesa one. Thank you all for all your help!

" but the "make" command is unrecognized "

Then it probably isn't in your path.

try /usr/bin/make

to find it try whereis make. Although whereis probably isn't in your path either.

I just had this same problem. Turns out I downloaded the wrong kernel file. You have to run NVchooser and see which files to download. Then exit out from X windows and install the rpm's. Well, it took me 2 days and 8 reinstalls to figure this out on RedHat 7.3. Just don't give up.

I have the same problem and i'm just about one week nebie with linux

and i want to ask how do you enter run level 3 ?(whatever it's called)

ok get up a command prompt

type su -
hit enter
put in the root password
type init 3 enter
to go back to normal is init 5 or 6 depending on your Flavour of Linux

I think i got it



Yes I got it



It's all in the README file ///////////////////////////////////////////////////

INSTALLING/UPGRADING BY TAR FILE

Instructions for the Impatient:

$ tar xvzf NVIDIA_kernel.tar.gz
$ tar xvzf NVIDIA_GLX.tar.gz
$ cd NVIDIA_kernel
$ make install
$ cd ../NVIDIA_GLX
$ make install

Instructions:

To install from tar file, unpack each file:

$ tar xvzf NVIDIA_kernel.tar.gz
$ tar xvzf NVIDIA_GLX.tar.gz

cd into the NVIDIA_kernel directory. Type 'make install'. This will
compile the kernel interface to the NVdriver, link the NVdriver, copy
the NVdriver into place, and attempt to insert the NVdriver into the
running kernel:

$ cd NVIDIA_kernel
$ make install

Next, move into the NVIDIA_GLX directory. Type 'make install' -- this
will copy the needed OpenGL and XFree86 files into place:

$ cd ../NVIDIA_GLX
$ make install

Note that the "make install" for each package will remove any previously
installed NVIDIA drivers.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

and then read (sec-03) EDITING YOUR XF86CONFIG FILE

everything is explaned there

Ohh and thanks for instructions for init 3 admedic

I have a similar problem with RH 2.4.18-10 !!!!!