I downloaded the current nvidia kernel, and when I go to open it with kpackage, kpackage just freezes up. I even tried compressing the file as tar.gz and opening it that way, but when I open it that way it says that it can't find installpkg. I can install other packages, so I'm assuming I am doing something wrong.

would that be the .run file from the nvidia website?

or the modules for your distro?

Aaah, I just noticed, your using debian, so I will assume you have them from the nvidia website.


if it is, you will have to log out of X all together.

cd to where you downloaded the nvidia intaller to (I use /opt to give it some use) and run the installer type as root (su to root)

./NVIDIA-Linuxwhateveritscalledbiglongname.run

That should install the kernel packages, append your Xfree86.conf as needed to use them, reboot and that should be you.

I just bought an ATI card, biggest mistake ever, nvidia is a lot better under linux.

I'm not talking about the .run file, I'm talking about the kernel. The run file won't install until you install the kernel. I have the kernel and the .run file downloaded and transfered to my computer.
I know I have to log out of x to use the .run file but that is not my problem.

As long as you have kernel headers or kernel source installed you don't need an nvidia enabled kernel, you can just let the .run script compile an nvidia kernel module for you...

It says that it can't find one, and as I am not connected to the Internet, there is a small problem there.

Yeah, it won't be able to find one and ask if it can connect to the internet. That's where you say no and it'll tell you it needs to build the module and away it chugs. Easy stuff.

It won't build the module.

More info please. Why won't it build? Do you have the siurce cod for the current kernel installed? Do you have build tools (make, gcc, etc) installed?

When I try to run it it says that it can't find the source for the kernel, but the only kernel I can find anywhere is the one from nvidia.com When I go to install that, kpackage freezes up.

Yes I have make, and gcc installed, kpackage tells me when I try to install it from a tar.gz file that it can't find installpkg. That is
all the info I have.

You need to install the source for the actual kernel you are running. It will be on the cd or dvd of the distro you are running, or from a package repository of the distro.

What kernel are you running (uname -a). That is the kernel source you want.

The nvidia installer produces /var/log/nvidia-installer.log. If you can't provide any better info then maybe post that file so we aren't playing as many guessing games. All you need to do is install the source (or at least the headers) for the kernel you're running. Debian is stupid so I'm not sure exactly but try this, maybe you'll get lucky.
I think that's supposed to work for Ubuntu...

I found someone to help me, but thanks for all your suggestions.

Everyone here is trying to help you.

Maybe we aren't good enough? Well that's okay, my nvidia driver is working great