Simple x windows config problem for Linux Gurus......
 

Hi,

I'm re-posting my problems with configuring X-windows...no luck still.

Here's a recap
1. Processor : AMD Athlon, Chip is NVIDIA GeForce2 (Integrated with the motherborad)
Monitor : Samsung Synchmaster 753s

2. Installing RH Linux 7.3 shows probes the NVIDIA chip correctly. But monitor is not probed.
I've tried selecting Generic Monitor and also the nearest Samsung on the list ( 750s ).

3. Doing 'startx', the screen goes blank / apparently the OS has crashed. Have to restart.

4. I then installed the following files (which I understand to be the latest drivers for NVIDIA)
a) NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-3123.rh73up.i686
Message while RPM........

Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
1:NVIDIA_kernel ########################################### [100%]
depmod: *** Unresolved symbols in /lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver
/lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver: unresolved symbol irq_stat_R51b43718
/lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver:
Hint: You are trying to load a module without a GPL compatible license
and it has unresolved symbols. Contact the module supplier for
assistance, only they can help you.

/lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver: insmod /lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver failed
/lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver: insmod NVdriver failed


b) NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-3123.i386 (I understand this is not an error)
Message while RPM........

Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
--- WARNING!!
libglx.a
libGLcore.a
libGL.so.1.2
--- The above file(s) possibly belong to a conflicting MESA rpm,
--- or to a previous stale NVIDIA distribution.
--- They have been renamed to xxx.<originalFile>.RPMSAVE to
--- avoid conflicting with the files contained within this
--- package.
--- Please see the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS section of
--- /usr/share/doc/NVIDIA_GLX-1.0/README for more details.
1:NVIDIA_GLX ########################################### [100%]

5. I went ahead and changed the XF86Config-4 as mentioned in the README file

6. Did startx, got the following error........(but no more crashes !)
.....
.....
(II) Loading font Type1
(II) Loading font CID
(II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/nvidia_drv.o
(II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
.....
.....
.....
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.3123
Module class: XFree86 Video Driver
(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
(II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) Module vgahw: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 0.1.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.5
(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 16, (--) framebuffer bpp 16
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 565
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(--) NVIDIA(0): Linear framebuffer at 0xD8000000
(--) NVIDIA(0): MMIO registers at 0xE0000000
(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVdriver kernel module!
(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

7. I've seen the README file FAQ section for this error. It says.........

Nothing will work if the NVdriver kernel module doesn't function
properly. If you see anything in the X log file like "(EE) NVIDIA(0):
Failed to initialize the NVdriver kernel module!" then there is
most likely a problem with the NVdriver kernel module. First, you
should verify that if you installed from rpm that the rpm was built
specifically for the kernel you are using. You should also check
that the module is loaded ('/sbin/lsmod'); if it is not loaded try
loading it explicitly with 'insmod' or 'modprobe' (be sure to exit the
X server before installing a new kernel module). If you receive errors
about unresolved symbols, then the kernel module has most likely been
built using header files for a different kernel revision than what
you are running. You can explicitly control what kernel header files
are used by building NVdriver from the NVIDIA_kernel tar file with:
'make install SYSINCLUDE=/path/to/kernel/headers'.


8. Then downloaded NVchooser.sh script and it says (!)....
Please download and install the following files:
NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-2313.src.rpm
NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-2313.i386.rpm

On the NVIDIA homepage, the Kernel file is only available for RH Linux 7.2 so, I can't
install it on my RH Linux 7.3 (tried it).

9. Checked the NVchooser script. The file has something like constant defined so it will
only show RH Linux 7.2 !!

Where do I go from here ?
What headers can I include to make resolve the symbols while Kernel installation ?
Is there an NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-2313.src.rpm for RH7.3 ?
Whats 686 and 386 ?

I've written a mail to xfree86@xfree86.org but no reply so far.

Help this lost being looking to shift OS base to Linux.

Thanks !

ps my previous posts contain the entire log files.:newbie:

Download NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-3123.src.rpm or NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-3123.src.tgz, ... uncompress it, ... compile and install,...

Your problem is that you are using a newer kernel than the provided by redhat and a precompiled module.

You can't use diferent versions of modules + kernels, thats the reason you haven unsolved symbols.

How do I compile the RPM. I've only done unzip in windows...

Won't compiling still result in unresolved symbols since the required headers may not be present.

Do you have kernel source and headers installed on your system, does /usr/src/linux-2.4.* exist on your system? If there are no kernel source and headers installed on your system you won't be able to compile drivers.