Installed kernel lost drivers!

badgerbox76 · 04-03-2006, 12:25 PM

Hello, i just installed a new kernel on an ubuntu system so that i could get the invida moduels working. now when i boot from the new kernel some of my hardware does not work (WIFI CARD). I installed the kernel using apt-get. How can i get back all the drivers that were being used by the older kernel? Thanks for your help

drkstr · 04-03-2006, 05:42 PM

It sounds like you need to compile the kernel manually if you want it to support all of your hardware. for information on how to do this:

http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...ild-HOWTO.html

If all you want to do is get your nvidia drivers working, I don't think installing a new kernel is necessary. I belive the nvidia docs for linux refers to installing "the kernel source" and not actually updating the kernel your are currently running. If this is the case, revert back to your old kernel by finding the backed up images. You can do this by going into the /boot directory and replacing bzImage and System.map with the original file. (I'm not sure how Ubantu backs these files up but look for something like bzImage.old or something like that ) After you replaced the new files with the old ones, type lilo or grub depending on what boot loader you are using.

Now to get nvidia working with your old kernel...

You need the kernel source to exactly match the kernel you are running. After you have switched back to your original working kernel, type uname -r to see what version you are running. If you have the correct kernel source, there should be a folder in /usr/src matching the version you are running. If you have it try running the nvidia installer like this:

Code:

NVIDIA-Linux-[cor version #]-pkg2.run --kernel-source-path=/usr/src/linux-[cor ver #]

If you don't have the kernel source, download the correct version of the source and unpack to /usr/src. Let me know if you need any more help.

regards,
...drkstr

badgerbox76 · 04-04-2006, 10:47 AM

thanks much i will try this out and see how it goes

badgerbox76 · 04-04-2006, 06:12 PM

Ok i have run into a problem at the end of the sudo make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-custom kernel_image kernel_headers command:

Code:

Inconsistent kallsyms data
Try setting CONFIG_KALLSYMS_EXTRA_PASS
make[1]: *** [vmlinux] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-source-2.6.12'
make: *** [stamp-build] Error 2

drkstr · 04-04-2006, 07:27 PM

You are using a command specific to Ubuntu. The problem with these kind of distobutions is when you learn to use them, you only learn to use that specific distro. I like slackware becasue it is a base linux system distro. If you learn to use slackware, you learn to use linux.

Since I am not familure with ubantu's method of kernel compiling, try doing it the way it was intended to. After you have saved the configuration, do:

Code:

#make
#make modules
#make modules_install
#make install

Then depending on which boot loader you are using:

Code:

#lilo

or

Code:

#grub

This all must be done as root.

hope this helps,
...drkstr

drkstr · 04-04-2006, 08:10 PM

On an after thought...

I don't know if you've done this already but type lspci to display all of your hardware's information. This is usefull when trying to add in support for all of your hardware when doing your configuration.

regards,
...drkstr

badgerbox76 · 04-04-2006, 11:37 PM

Could you plz list the drivers or modules i need for my kernel.

Code:

admin@monitorwaves:~$ lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8601 [Apollo ProMedia] (rev 05)
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8601 [Apollo ProMedia AGP]
0000:00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (rev 40)
0000:00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
0000:00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1a)
0000:00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 1a)
0000:00:07.4 Bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 40)
0000:00:07.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 50)
0000:00:08.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC (rev 01)
0000:00:09.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV5M64 [RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro] (rev 15)
0000:00:0b.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
admin@monitorwaves:~$

drkstr · 04-05-2006, 02:25 AM

I'm afraid it's not a simple as just downloading "the right driver" like in windows. All hardware is supported by the linux kernel. ( with the exception of a few stingy manufacturers that wont release their hardware specs, nvidia being one of them ) You don't need any extra drivers or modules, it's all in the kernel source. The point of the configuration you do prior to compiling the kernel is what "turns on" the functionality of that hardware. If you wanted, you could just turn it all on but then you would have a giant slow kernel. I will try the best I can to help you configure your kernel correctly.

The biggest advice I can give is don't take any functionality out unless your absolutely sure what it is. I've compiled my kernel countless times and I still don't know what half of that crap is. What you need to do is find your key hardware in their appropriate sections and make sure they are turned on. Just go through every category in the config menu and make sure your hardware is selected. I would check for these key parts:

Sound Card: VIA Technologies - AC97 Audio Controller
1st Ethernet Card: Atheros Communications - NIC
2nd Ethernet Card: Realtek - RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
Video Card: nVidia - RIVA TNT2 ( has limited support in the kernel )

Make sure those are all turned on when you do your configure. (I recommend hard coding it as apposed to selecting "M" but it's up to you) Also make sure you have the right processor type selected. Everything else should work fine with the default selections. After you are done with the configuration, compile and install by following the directions in my previous post. This should solve all of your hardware problems, with the exception of 3D acceleration on your nvidia card. Let me know when you get a working kernel and will get nvidia working from there.

Hope this was of some help,
...drkstr

badgerbox76 · 04-10-2006, 07:53 PM

I understand what you are saying but i think i need the most EZ HOWTo guide on doing this. Because i dont understand all this stuff about installing a patch just after or before installing a kernel. Once i get to the menu config or x config (some thing like that) i think i will be ok. i Just need some links to a noob howto guide. I will not beable to start untile this weekend because i have some BIG tests coming up that i need to study for.

drkstr · 04-10-2006, 10:53 PM

I actually wouldn't recommend patching the kernel if you plan on using your nvidia driver. I was unable to get it to work with a patched kernel. Luckily for you, the latest kernel version is a stable release and does not need to be patched. There is not really much to it, just unpack it and do your make xconfig. Once that's done, just follow the directions in the previous post to compile. I was a little overwhelmed the first time I compiled my kernel but It's actually really easy after you just sit down and do it.

source to latest kernel release:
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern....6.16.2.tar.gz

Howto on kernel compiling:
http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...ild-HOWTO.html

good luck!
...drkstr