X server failed to start
 

Hi,

I installed through yast2; gcc, make, kernel-source and then executed in root, init 3 and sh NVIDA-Linux-x86_64-180.29-pkg2.run, afterwards it did many things on its own and finally said installation completed. All went pearshape after that when I re booted the system. I could not go into the login screen at all. The error messages were -

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface) it is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem.

X Server output -

This is a pre release version of the x server from the X.Org foundation. It is not supported in any way.

X.org X server 1.4.0.90
release date: 5th september 2007
X protocol version 11, revision 0

My Operating system - linux-peze 2.6.25.20-0.1-default # 1 SMP

AS recommended I made a backup copy of the xorg.conf on my desktop. If this is copied back will it solve the problem? If so how do I do it? Because all I can see is a DOS type screen I do not know the commands to do any thing as I am new to Linux.

If not if I do the installation again will I loose my files and other installed programmes?

How do I take a backup on to a DVD of all my files?

Please help?

Are you sure that the installation of nvidia didn't show any errors? Perhaps, you didn't boot the system with the kernel the nvidia module was compiled against? If you want to get the graphical interface, you could edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf substituting the word 'nvidia' with 'nv'.

There were no errors.

I used the cd I originally used to install the system to install the kernel. WOuld it have changed, if so how can I findout and how do I start with the same kernel that compiled the NVIDIA?

How do I EDIT because the pc is not booting it always comes to the error I mentioned earlier and goes back to a black screen with something like Linux-peze # > i do not know how to access the file or to modify it.

If you can give me the commands I am willing to try!

If it's only the problem with X than, when you get the errors press ctrl+alt+f1 and you'll have a login screen (command line) type your username and password, then:
1. enter 'su' to be the root, type the root password and then:
2. vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf
3. click 'i'
4. change 'nvidia' to 'nv'
5. type Esc then ':' then 'wq' enter
6. 'exit' to go back from the root login.
7. 'startx'

You can run "sax2" from the console as well. Also, there is an nvidia program that you just installed: nvidia-xconfig.
Run this program and see if you can start X. If not, look at the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file in /var/log/. Look for lines beginning with (EE).

Hi,

You did look at the 'nvidia-installer.log' to see if there were any errors. What about the 'Xorg.0.log'?

Hi Guys Thank you for your input. I seem to be hitting a blank wall here.

I tried the steps suggested by Sycamorex, but when I come to the 2nd step (vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf) there is nothing on the screen apart from '~' from top to bottom on the left and at the bottom left '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'.

As jschiwal suggested I typed sax2 it tried to run but then it said;

Your current configuration will not be read in.
no X server is running
sorry could not st configuration server

and also nvidia-config but it said no command found

As onebuck and jschiwal suggested I tried to read the log file even as root it said permission denied.

I have an assignment to submit by saturday at least for the moment if I can copy my files to my laptop it would be great I am gettin gdesperate. Please help

I extracted the files from the NVIDIA installer program and found that the program is in usr/bin/. Look in /usr/bin/ and check if it is there.

To extract the files run the program with the -x argument:
# ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.09-pkg2/usr.run -x

Where you in init level 3 when you ran the nvidia installer?

You can su to root to view the Xorg.0.log file. However, it is readable for me.

The newer Xorg servers will use defaults if there isn't anything in xorg.conf. But I've never had an empty one in SuSE.

--

Another option is to add the nvidia repo and install the nvidia rpm packages.
You do that from the "sudo /sbin/yast2 inst_source" program.

Select "Add". The Media type page will come up. Select "Community Repositories" and "Download repository description files". Then click "Next". An "NVidia" repository should be available.

The specified file was not there but ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.29-pkg2.run -x was there but even as root it denied permission to run



Found the NVIDIA repo was available and ran it but the situation is still the same.

I have a 4500 word assignment to submit by Saturday, I have done half of it. It is all in the system. If I re-install Suse will I loose my data and will it resize my partitions, I prefer it not to. Also the additional software such as printer configuration and emails will they be lost? I am running out of time!

Did you change its permissions? chmod +x ./NVIDIA.......

Thanks for that,

Changed the permission and extracted the file, what do I do now?

Furthermore I managed to read the xorg.conf by changing its permission.

Lines 1 to 15 are not there.
Lines 16 to 142 all end with command not found.

I made a copy of xorg.conf before installation and saved it in desktop, how do I copy and paste it in /etc/x11/

Assuming that your username is yaarappa, it will be as follows.
1. login as root
2.

Did as you told sycamorex, there were no errors and typed startx, the same problem is there.

One more try if you can tell me how I could modify the xorg.conf and if that doesn't work how I can re-install without loosing my documents and emails please.

Cheers

Can you post your xorg.conf, please?