Old DISPLAY card in new Distro: no driver
 

Hi - for long time I was running Slackware 9, 10, for which there was a an NVIDIA driver for GEFORCE2 MMX display card, admittedly an old card. After a while the most current d/loaded NVIDIA driver package could not be built (on the fly, absent any kernel). But I lived with it, I at least has the 1024 * 860 (?) resolution I wanted.

I overwrite that Linux with a new Fedora 9, and in GUI mode get only 800 * 600 resolution. The option on the field to change this does not go higher. I have downloaded archived NVIDIA drivers going 2,3, more years which worked on the same h/ware, different kernel/distro etc.
It's important to me since some of the dialog boxes and entry screens (KDE etc..) are so large I cannot hit APPLY, ACCEPT etc. I cannot even see that part of the dialog.

Apart from getting a more modern card, is there a workaround this?
Thanks
George

Have you (or are you) considered using the 'vesa' driver, or the 'vesafb' driver?

I have an old-as-hell nVidia Riva-TNT card here which works acceptable with the 'vesafb' driver, and I also have an old-as-hell 3dfx Voodoo-5500 card which works well with the 'vesa' driver.

Also, check the xorg.conf file to be sure that you have other (like 1024x768) resolutions (and suitable monitor timings) available for the server to try to use.

I'm sorry I can't provide any details on getting an actual nVidia driver to work for you, as I haven't tried it with these old cards.

Cheers!
Sasha

Sasha - where did you get these vesa and vesafb drivers from?
George

They are built into (included with) the X server. All you need to do is change the "Driver" line in the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

:)

PS - When you are looking at the config file, tell us what is in there now for a "Driver".

Maybe it is the 'nv' driver, which is the open source nVidia driver. It doesn't do fancy 3D GLX acceleration stuff, but then, maybe that card doesn't either. It does work satisfactorily for regular 2D video and single monitors though.
What I am getting at is maybe you might just need to tune up the resolutions and/or monitor refresh frequencies, and the 'nv' driver might actually work for you.

Let us know how you make out anyhow.

S

Sash
Yes, it's "nv" for the Driver. I overhauled xorg.conf, elaborating on "Screen Section" with its various modes etc., and installing the (not present!) "Monitor Section" with Frequency and Display Size info, etc. Iused M.G. Sobell's book for the expalnation of the various sections and parameters.
I am surprised that LINUX install did not do this for me. But I am fine now,
Thanks
George

Excellent! Glad you got it sorted :)

Sasha