newbie> nvidia drivers: failed to.. and x won't start

mandrakemikael · 08-30-2004, 02:36 PM

i followed the instructions from otish1000c, a sticky thread on the newbie forum (iirc) to install nvidia drivers. i booted with 'failsafe' and ran the nvidia script, then edited the line 'Driver "nvidia"' to my XF86Config-4 file. now when i boot, i get an error message from X: 'failed to initialize nvidia kernel'.

when i run the xfree86 configuration tool, the xfree "nv" drivers DO work, but none of the nvidia's drivers. when i try to test i get "(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***". i have a generic 32mb geforce2 card.

from the nvidia HOWTO:

Quote:

Q: My X server fails to start, and my X log file contains the error:

"(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module!"

A: Nothing will work if the NVIDIA kernel module does not function
properly. If you see anything in the X log file like "(EE)
NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module!" then
there is most likely a problem with the NVIDIA kernel module.
First, you should verify that if you installed from rpm that
the rpm was built specifically for the kernel you are using.
You should also check that the module is loaded ('/sbin/lsmod');
if it is not loaded try loading it explicitly with 'insmod' or
'modprobe' (be sure to exit the X server before installing a new
kernel module). If you receive errors about unresolved symbols,
then the kernel module has most likely been built using header files
for a different kernel revision than what you are running. You can
explicitly control what kernel header files are used when building
the NVIDIA kernel module with the --kernel-include-dir option (see
`sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1.run --advanced-options`
for details).

Please note that the convention for the location of kernel header
files changed approximately at the time of the 2.4.0 kernel release,
as did the location of kernel modules. If the kernel module fails to
load properly, modprobe/insmod may be trying to load an older kernel
module (assuming you have upgraded). cd'ing into the directory with
the new kernel module and doing 'insmod ./nvidia.o' may help.

Another cause may be that the /dev/nvidia* device files may be missing.

Finally, the NVIDIA kernel module may print error messages indicating
a problem -- to view these messages please check /var/log/messages, or
wherever syslog is directed to place kernel messages. These messages
are prepended with "NVRM".

/dev/nvidia* IS missing. i'm a self-confessed newbie and really have no clue here.

Proud · 08-30-2004, 02:44 PM

kernel version, nvidia version, 32 or 64bit cpu?

mandrakemikael · 08-30-2004, 02:54 PM

kernel 2.4.22
distro mandrake 9.2
nvidia drivers 1.0-6111 (latest)
xfree86 4.3.23
cpu 32 bit architecture

graphics card information:
Vendor: ‎nVidia Corporation
Description: ‎GeForce DDR
Module: ‎Card:NVIDIA GeForce 256 (generic)
Media class: ‎DISPLAY_VGA

Proud · 08-30-2004, 03:02 PM

Ok, have you checked your /usr/src/linux symlink points to the correct /usr/src/linux-2.4.22 source code directory?

Have you checked your XF86Config-4 file has the DRI and GLcore lines commented out, and has the Load "glx" in there?

mugstar · 08-30-2004, 03:11 PM

You could try an older set of drivers. The latest were released after Mandrake 10.0 had been out a while. IMHO, unless you need accelerated 3D for gaming under Linux, just find an old set that work.

mandrakemikael · 08-30-2004, 03:23 PM

uh.. i can't find the source code of my kernel. only the compiled kernel at /boot/vmlinuz.

i don't have my mandrake cds here so i can't continue now. if i understood it correcly, i'd have to install the linux kernel source to some directory (where), link /usr/src/linux to it and rerun the nvidia driver script. correct?

btw, i need the nvidia drivers for tv-out.

mandrakemikael · 08-30-2004, 04:30 PM

ok.. when i run "modprobe nvidia" i get /dev/nvidia0 and X starts.

however.. now the problem is that i have to do this every time i start the computer, as the modprobe nvidia is not included within the startup commands.

what file i should modify and include the modprobe to?

Proud · 08-30-2004, 04:34 PM

I would hold up on making the module loaded via a start script, and instead try to figure out why X isnt loading it. Have you browsed /var/log/messages and other error output logs?

You could add it to /etc/rc.d/rc.local I think.

mandrakemikael · 08-31-2004, 03:21 AM

it works!

but why is it bad practise to script the modprobe? i concur X should run the probe by default. i could not find anything from messages or XFree86.log (which means there is too much to go through there).

aaronj · 08-31-2004, 03:39 AM

Instead of putting "modprobe nvidia" into the rc.local file another way to try is /etc/modules.conf

Proud · 08-31-2004, 04:25 AM

I just though it'd be better to try and cure the problem instead of the symptoms.

Try something like tail -n 100 /var/log/messages to see the last 100 lines, and use the -f arguement to follow the file's updates.