OK, so I downloaded the most recent Nvidia driver for my GPU, now I click on the Nvidia shell icon that's extracted to "/home/tony" and it won't do anything. Then the readme says I have to: "After you have downloaded NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run,
begin installation by exiting X". OK, well how do I exit X or whatever that means? Could it be why it won't do anything when I click on the Nvidia shell icon. I've been pampered by Windows for years like I've said before and tried to read the readme but it's alittle over my head, but I'm getting there little by little. Thanks in advance.

Yeah, it's not click and go on this driver. To exit "X" you can either kill X:
killall X
init 3 OR
edit /etc/inittab to change the default runlevel to text mode and reboot.

From there though, you'll be "in the dark" so be ready. You will need to run the .run file you downloaded, so become familiar with chmod:
chmod a+x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run

Then to execute it, make sure you are in the directory containing the file:
./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run

From there you'll still need to edit your XF86Config-4 file (which you should first backup).

Use a text editor like nano, pico or vim to do that since you'll be "in the dark".

Cool

P.S. ...And what would I use to open Shell script files because I get a context menu asking me what I want to open it with and can't find anything that will open it or execute it but I think shell scripts aren't executable are they?

Heck, Nvidia made it sound like a breeze like you just click on the file and as they say it "runs the contained `nvidia-installer` utility, which will walk you through installation of the NVIDIA driver." Walk-through my @$$. Since I've had Linux it seems I'll get on my high horse and think I'm really getting the jist of it and then Linux will just slap me right back down again making me realize just how little I know about how computers and how it's language works. But thanks man. People here are so helpful to people who wanna learn Linux. Glad there's sites like these around.

Actually I'm still having trouble. I tried that and the "sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run" command that's on the Nvidia readme page and it always says no such file or directory exists. I couldn't get into /home/tony, it wouldn't let me. I would get to /home then type "cd /tony" then it would say the same thing like no such file or directory exists. Is there a certain command or something I have to type to get in because I was logged in as me, "tony" so you'd think it would let me into my own folder, I figure.

Seriously guys, telling someone who doesnt know how to shut X to login to console is so much more difficult than it needed to be...

Forget logging in as console... run kde or gnome or whateva u run, then all you do is open a terminal, cd into the dir that the .run is in and type sh *drivername*.run It will install the driver... then close the term, read the txt file that came with the driver to find what needs to be changed in the X11 config, it's all in there.. bak first of course.. [the config that is] then change the ness stuff in the config, reboot and ur done..

Cool, so that'll at least ease that bit. Now you don't have to worry about exiting "X". So fire up a console/terminal and type:
ls

That will list the contents of the directory you are currently in. If the Nvidia driver is listed, then you will only have to chmod it:
chmod +x NVIDIA(TAB)

Use tab autocompletion any time possible, it makes things easier as well as help you to make sure you are in the correct directory.

Now, execute it:
sh NVIDIA(tab)

And follow the instructions.



Cool

Well, I finally almost got it to install. It almost did but said I had to login as root. No I can't login as root. Any ideas on how to bypass it? The only two passwords I use on Linux didn't work and I know it would be one of them if I put in a password. There was atleast one option when I was installing where I didn't use any passwords at all, I chose not to use them or just let them blank so I don't have to worry about typing in so many passwords like I did at my last install. I tried just leaving the password field blank since I think I didn't put in a password for root. What to do? I'm just lack that step in installing it. This install went better but didn't have so much trouble with the little things like this like my other install.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...der=descending

Be very careful with your root password. You can forget all the others (although that sucks too, just not a big deal) but never forget roots. If you get it fixed, once you change the password, never forget it again (maybe write it down somewhere nearby).

Hope those threads help!

Cool

OK, so I got into my root folder. Now how would I retrieve the password from the root folder? I can't believe how I done it. The root folder had a lock icon on it and I wasn't logged on as root but I just right clicked, open with..., and chose the file manager and voila, access to the root folder. It's a silly idea I had to try that, I was thinking like that would ever work, these guys I'm sure thought ahead and made it to where you couldn't bypass the security to the root folder just by right clicking and opening with the file manager, the very thing that opens it in the first place with a single left click but heck, it worked. I know I'm not the only one who knows about that security vulnerability am I? But anyways, if anyone knows how to retrieve the password out of the root folder, I'd appreciate it. I was really close to just reinstalling Mandrake again after just getting it up 5 hours ago and getting all my crap (software, settings, and so on) and getting it all up to date. I hate it when that happens. I checked on a password cracker but that would take too long. It take me a couple hours just to install it considering the luck I've had so far installing programs.

You can't retrieve your password just like that. However, you may be able to disable your root password. One of those threads should have gone over booting into single user mode.

If you are able to edit /etc/passwd then you might be able tdisable root's requirement for a password temporarily. The format should be something like:
root:x:/root:blah:blah:blah

Remove the "x" save the file and then try logging in as root, just press enter when prompted for a password. You normally shouldn't be able to access/edit this file without root permissions, but if you somehow gain the ability, then that's how you can disable root's password requirement.

Cool

OK, so I reformatted and reinstalled Linux again. Once I got back to the root password screen I just recalled seeing that screen the first time I installed it and remembered my password. Which wasn't easy to remember or even type. But anyways I downloaded the driver once again and it said I had to get out of the X or something and so I did the "killall X" in the command box and it won't let me go to it. Last time I would boot right up to the text interface where I had to type startx, now this time I can't get into that same place or screen where I do the commands. What do I have to do to set it where I can get to the text screen or stay out of X when I boot up? Thanks.

in /etc/inittab

Look for a line that says something like:
id:5:default:

Change the 5 to a 3.

Cool

Alright, thanks man. I finally installed it. It works great. I can play tuxracer and Chromium like they should be played now. I was so happy to see the Nvidia screen come up at first. It was like I saw the light. Now we can finally end this post. Thanks again.

You're Welcome, glad you got it all working; now you can enjoy your system.

Don't forget to write down your root password somewhere...

Cool