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stuck with nvidia display driver

i have been trying to install the nvidia display driver for the past week with little progress when i run the package dowloaded from nvidia i get a message saying that NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 64/Model 64 PRO GPU than it goes on with teh installation, it searches the site and doesnt find the kernel than it compiles one and says that it is the wrong one even though i downloaded teh one thorugh mandrake control center that others runnign teh same distro have dled and said it has worked

Many possibilities ... most likely: the installed kernel source doesn't
match the running kernel, and the source for the current kernel isn't
installed.

To get better help try posting the exact messages you're
getting, not your perception.

Cheers,
Tink

From experience the README included with the driver is indespensible, such as it lists a bunch of FAQs and other possibilities.

beofre i ran NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7667-pkg1.run i downlaoded 'kernel source 2.6-2.6.11-6.mdk' from the mandrake control center and installed it. k than i run sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7667-pkg1.run and...

Quote:

Warning: The NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64 / Model 64 Pro GPU installed in this system is supported through the NVIDIA Legacy drivers. Please visit http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html for more information. The 1.0-7667 NVIDIA drvier will igore this GPU

i click ok than....

Quote:

No precompiled kernel interface was found to match your kernel; woudl you like the installer to attempt to dowload a kernel interface for your kernel from the NVIDIA ftp site (ftp://dowload.nvidia.com)?

if i pick yes i get...

Quote:

No matching precompiled kernel interface was found on the NVIDIA ftp stie; this means that the installer will need to compile a kernel interface for your kernel.

i click ok and a status bar "Building kernel module:" comes up and finishes at 100% than i get

Quote:

ERROR: Unable to load the kernel module 'nvidia.ko'. This is most likely becuase the kernel module was built using the wrong kernel source files. Please make sure you have installed the kernel source files for your kernel; on Red Hat Linux systems, for example, be sure you have the 'kernel-source'rpm installed. If you know the correct kernel source files are isntalled, you may specify the kernel source path with the '__kernel-source-path' commandline option.

i click ok than...

Quote:

ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see teh file 'var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details. You may find suggestions on fixing isntallation problems in teh README available on the Linux driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

I ran into the exact same problem.Someone here I forget who,turn me onto my bios.I had to check that an irq was assigned to the video.I was quite suprised that this fixed the problem.The erro was exactly the same as yours,complain of wrong sources etc.

Maybe it will work for you too.

i dont understand coudl you please be more specific on how to set that irq to video

i don't now anythign about bios or irqs and does it matter that we're on different distros?

Quote:

This error means your kernel source is missing - you must have the kernel soucre code installed first before you try running the nvidia drivers package.
To get your kernel version, at a shell type:
$ uname -r
You'll get a result something like:
2.6.8.1-12mdk
You then have to install the correct kernel source version for your kernel. Using the wrong kernel source will give you the same errors as having none.
For mandrake/driva, the kernel sources are available through urpmi.

when i run uname -r it says 2.6.11-6mdk and i installed 'kernel source 2.6-2.6.11-6.mdk' from the mandrake control center so i don't know what else to try

The error was EXACTLY the same on my system.I cannot say that you have the same problem.I can say I pulled my hair out trying to find the answer.When I was told to check my bios I thought the person who posted it was insane.After all didn't they read the error message I posted!

But I was willing to try anything.I had checked my source and kernel a hundred times.It looks like you did too.

If you have not changed your bios setting before, I really hate to suggest you doing so.But it really isn't a big thing as long as you go slow,read, and don't change anything you don't understand.On my computer it boots and the boot screen says hit "F2" to enter setup.Some computers it is "F10" or "delete" key.

When you have entered your bios you should see a setup up menu.You want to find the "PCI / Plug and Play setup" choice .Enter that catagory.In the new menu look for something that says "AllocateIRQ for PCI VGA" or something similiar.You want it to say "Yes" or "Enabled".Follow any directions on the side of your bios screen.Usually very basic tips.

Finally hit esc to get back to the first menu.Choose "save settings and exit".
Answer yes to the prompt and try your install again.

It work for me! If you not comfortable with the bios thing maybe get someone to help who has expierence with changing the bios.

i did what you i had a PCI/VGA thing that was disabled so i enabled it and saved but when i tried to isntall the driver i got the same errors as before

The reason it doesnt work is because support for Riva TNT chipset was phased out about 2 or 3 updates back. it is now handled by the legacy drivers pack.

Try downloading a driver pack that is fairly old from the archives at nvidia.com, this one is a good candidate for trying with (i386 Architecture), if your after a 64bit one well write one, i think its unlikely you'll find one anywhere.

http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-6629-pkg1.run

But basically its gonna be hit and miss until they release the first legacy gpu driver pack.

I have experienced the same situation recently trying to upgrade my nvidia drivers. I previously installed the Nvidia driver with the same configuration with no problem at all. i.e. have the kernel-headers and kernel-source installed and it is seeing it. Then I get the same error message. I just gave up. Nvidia GeForce2 MX440.