How to install Suse 8.1 nvidia driver?
 

I am a complete newbie to linux. I am trying to play some of the games that come with suse but I need to update the driver. I haven't a clue on how to do that. I downloaded the drivers for it wich were
NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-3123.suse81.i586.rpm
and
NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-3123.suse81.i586.rpm
how do i start
It says in the instructions to exit X Server..how do i do that?
and set your default run level to boot to console and no start X..how do i do that?
Thnx guys.

P.S. I installed Linux yesterday and its my first time using it.
I use a geforce2 mx 200
Thnx again.

ok, first make a note of the directory that the drivers are in, then open a terminal with root permisions ->system->terminals->root x-term. enter roots password, then enter init3 . it will give you another login prompt, login as root again, then cd /to/the/location/of/the/nvidia/drivers
once there enter rpm -ivh NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-3123.suse81.i586.rpm when its done installing enter rpm -ivh NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-3123.suse81.i586.rpm when done enter ldconfig then reboot by entering reboot. you may have to alter your xf86config file, the nvidia readme has more info on that.

edit: thats init 3, duh... my brain can't keep up with my fingers

i followed your insructions but root x-term said
-bash:init3: command not found

there should be a space:

sorry about that:( you could also just do ctrl+alt+f2 and login as root from there.

thnx!

I placed the files on the desktop so do i put
cd /file/home/madkatmk2/Desktop for the location of the drivers?

no file, just cd /home/yada/yada

thnx again rshaw

i typed $ rpm -ivh NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-3123.suse81.i586.rpm and it told me that "$" is not a command

no need to type in the dollar sign, the readme uses it to indicate that the commands should be entered in a shell or terminal window.

i figured that out but when i tried installing
rpm -ivh NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-3123.suse81.i586.rpm it gave me this

file /usr/X11R6/bin/switch2nvidia_glx from install of NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-3123 conflicts with file from package NVIDIA_GLX-0.8-293
file /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/nvidia_drv.0 from install of NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-3123 conflicts with file from package NVIDIA_GLX-0.8-293

ok, try this rpm -Uvh <filename>

i got this
NVIDIA_GLX unpacking of archive failed:cpio:read failed- Bad file descriptor

where do i get suse 8.1 i386 drivers nvidia.com doesnt seem to have them I've noticed that the ones i have are i586. I dont think i586 drivers work on suse 8.1 i386