Hello, I've been having a hard time installing those drivers given by nVidia. I have tried the following methods:

1) Install kernel source (2.4.22-1.2174), download the drivers, installed at runlevel 3, modified the XF86Config, then startx. To make sure, using modprobe nvidia worked. Then I typed startx and I get a wonder ful back screen forcing me to reboot.

2) Downloaded the precompiled kernels from the yum repositories (kernel--module-nvidia I believe). Edited the XF86Config. Again, a wonderful black screen.

3) Tried step 1 with kernel 2.4.22-1.2115, same thing.

4) Tried to install the driver from nVidia with the tag 1-4496, but I get the same result: a wonderful hangin black screen.

5) Upgraded to the uber new XFree86-4.4, still a black screen when I startx.

I'm pretty sure I'm doing something wrong, but if all methods give me this blak screen. I'm wondering if there was any log files I could check for errors or something, a clue. It happens only when I startx.

If there is a solution, or better yet a log file which keeps track of the startx execution, I would appreciate that!

thanx!

Yell0w_c0w

You may have to use other Options in your XF86Config file to get the drivers working properly with your setup. Here is my device section of my XF86Config that works great with Fedora, Gentoo and Arch-Linux:

There are other options that you can enable/disable, they are all listed in the NVIDIA README file that came with the drivers you downloaded and is also available at www.nvidia.com .

rberry88

ok, im gonna try and help you, i got mine working, but im not sure how much I can help, cause I used the drivers from the portage tree in gentoo


you need to compile your kernel, with module support, which i see uv done
u need to compile the nvidia kernel module, and load the module
then you need to compile the xfree86 driver, and put it in /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers

then, in XF86Config, load nvidia instead of nv
Driver "nvidia"

The versions i have are:
* media-video/nvidia-glx
Latest version available: 1.0.4496
Latest version installed: 1.0.4496
Size of downloaded files: 5,005 kB
Homepage: http://www.nvidia.com/
Description: XFree86 GLX libraries for the NVIDIA's X driver
License: NVIDIA

* media-video/nvidia-kernel
Latest version available: 1.0.4496-r3
Latest version installed: 1.0.4496-r3
Size of downloaded files: 5,005 kB
Homepage: http://www.nvidia.com/
Description: Linux kernel module for the NVIDIA's X driver
License: NVIDIA

The Kernel im using is vanilla 2.6.3


To just get some basic XFree86 running, you should be able to start it up with the
Driver "vesa"
or Driver "nv"

Let me know if this helps, but it looks like uv already tried this stuff, but i thought id post anyways to see...

Hmm, your posts helped alot cuz it's refreshing to see some success stories

Well, I think I have pinpointed my problem, and I don't think it's loading the right XF86Config file. When i check the /var/log/XFree86.0.log, it says (when booting with the 2.4.22-1.2174 kernel with nVidia driver):

Failed to load config file!!!

However, when I boot with 2.4.22-1.2115 without nVidia driver, startx works just fine with the "nv" device. And the same XF86Config file.

So I guess my question is, is there a special spot where I can tell it "Use this specific XF86Config file" ?

Thanks for your inputs, greatly appreciated!

Yell0w_c0w

Blah, I managed to get the right XF86Config running, everything seems to be good, but the last line of the log says:

Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/nvidia/libglx.so

And I think it freezes here... I wonder why. Anyone knows?

Thanks!

I've actually never had a problem with getting them going. Not when I was using Mandrake or now in Gentoo. Make sure you have something like this in the beggining of the XF86Config file and it should work.

Section "Module"

# This loads the DBE extension module.
Load "dbe" # Double buffer extension

# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module.
SubSection "extmod"
Option "omit xfree86-dga" # don't initialise the DGA extension
EndSubSection

# This loads the Type1 and FreeType font modules
Load "type1"
Load "speedo"
Load "freetype"
Load "xtt"

# This loads the GLX module
Load "glx"
EndSection

There are a few things that you aren't supposed to have up there which NVIDIA states. However, directly copying mine and replacing yours will solve the problem of having those extra and harmful lines.

AAAAAH IT WORKS IT WORKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Well it didin't have anything to do with the options you guys proposed, but I noticed that my monitor couldnt be auto-detected (even tho it's listed in the supported monitor list). Also, I noticed through the logs there has been alot of errors due to "hsync out of range". So I just put back my monitor as Generic Monitor and VOILA !!! IT WORXORS!!! AHAHAHAHAH

My puter:
AMD Athlon 1600+ on a A7V333 (KT133 chipset) + 256M 333MHz RAM
nVidia Geforce 256
160gig HD
and other minor stuff :P

*edit* using nVidia driver 4496 */edit*
Thanks a lot for your support!!

It seems lots of good info in this thread. I've got some of those same hsync errors in my log file when I try to run the nvidia driver under RHEL Workstation 3. When I try to boot with the nvidia driver the screen locks up white and the system can only be recovered with a reboot. Luckily the stock nv driver now works with my card or I'd be running Windows. Gaaak!

I'll try some of this out and report back tomorrow...

*UPDATE!*

Some of my friends had the same issues as me (black screen) and it has been resolved the following way

You can try adding these options to the XF86Config

Option "NvAGP" "1"
Option "IgnoreDisplayDevice" "DFP, TV"
Reference: Click here

Try!

Yell0w_c0w