I compiled my own 2.6.11 kernel for my slack 10 box, it boots fine except for one problem: there is no console display on the computer. I believe the kernel works otherwise, because I can log in and play music, etc.. however, I cannot see if X will start because I cannot see to run the nvidia driver install program to make the 2.6 kernel module.

(e.g. the computer boots and runs, but all I see is a black screen)

My hardware specs are as follows:

AMD Athlon XP Palomino
nVidia nForce2 motherboard w/ onboard 10/100 NIC
nVidia GeForce FX 5900+ 256mb AGP 8x graphics card
1024MB physical ram
~2000MB swap
Creative Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS 24bit soundcard
Linksys WMP45Gv2 802.11b/g wireless card (rt2500 chipset)

If anyone needs it, I can post my .config file for the kernel

Perhaps any framebuffer you have set up in the kernel/bootloader may be starting incorrectly (or not at all).

It's easy to compile a kernel without VGA console or framebuffer support, you probably just left it out.

#
# Graphics support
#
CONFIG_FB=y
CONFIG_FB_MODE_HELPERS=y
# CONFIG_FB_TILEBLITTING is not set
# CONFIG_FB_CIRRUS is not set
# CONFIG_FB_PM2 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_CYBER2000 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ASILIANT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_IMSTT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VGA16 is not set
CONFIG_FB_VESA=y
CONFIG_VIDEO_SELECT=y
# CONFIG_FB_HGA is not set
CONFIG_FB_RIVA=y
CONFIG_FB_RIVA_I2C=y
# CONFIG_FB_RIVA_DEBUG is not set
# CONFIG_FB_I810 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_INTEL is not set
# CONFIG_FB_MATROX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RADEON_OLD is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RADEON is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ATY128 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ATY is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SAVAGE is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SIS is not set
# CONFIG_FB_NEOMAGIC is not set
# CONFIG_FB_KYRO is not set
# CONFIG_FB_3DFX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VOODOO1 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_TRIDENT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VIRTUAL is not set

#
# Console display driver support
#
CONFIG_VGA_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_DUMMY_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_FONTS=y
# CONFIG_FONT_8x8 is not set
CONFIG_FONT_8x16=y
# CONFIG_FONT_6x11 is not set
# CONFIG_FONT_PEARL_8x8 is not set
# CONFIG_FONT_ACORN_8x8 is not set
# CONFIG_FONT_MINI_4x6 is not set
CONFIG_FONT_SUN8x16=y
# CONFIG_FONT_SUN12x22 is not set

#
# Logo configuration
#
CONFIG_LOGO=y
CONFIG_LOGO_LINUX_MONO=y
CONFIG_LOGO_LINUX_VGA16=y
CONFIG_LOGO_LINUX_CLUT224=y
# CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_LCD_SUPPORT is not set

These are all the graphics settings, I think I set them up correctly. I told lilo to boot w/o a framebuffer console, still no display. I compiled no part of the kernel as a module, so that could not be causing the problem.

I don't think the riva fb driver supports newer cards, did you try booting with vga=normal?

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
#append="hdc=ide-scsi"
boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
#vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinux
root = /dev/hda5
label = Linux
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = Windows
table = /dev/hda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda5
label = Linux-Old
read-only


my Lilo config

I don't see any vga= lines that aren't commented out. And this is why grub is nice, you can try random kernel parameters by just hitting 'e' on the menu and editing the command-line.

you can do the same on lilo too (i am a lazy person)

Also, it was the rivaFB drivers that were breaking the kernel.
I will have to recompile without them (the nVidia drivers didn't like them either)

Thank you for your help

AFAIK you can add too the parameters, but you can't edit them.

In newer kernels (2.6.11 or 2.6.12 IIRC) there's a new nvidia FB driver that should support newer cards, but I doubt the drivers would play well with them either. If you want a high-res console just use the vesa driver. I know it works well with the closed nvidia drivers.

recompiling now, so I will see if it works in about 5 mins (just using the VESA fb drivers)

Using modules would have saved you a lot of time =)

I have time to burn, besides the point of compiling my own is to optimize them too death, its one more little performance boost I can get.

its finished and it works fine now

Unloaded modules don't affect performance at all, hell loaded modules not doing anything don't really affect performance. What happens when you plug in some odd USB device that you didn't include in your kernel? Now you have to recompile all over again.