I'm writing down all my questions and info on a notepad since I cannot transfer files to linux to windows (but can copy then frmo windows to linux..) I'm trying to get my OpenGL to work, I try testing the driver in the Run Config tool section of my vid card device number in drakconf but all I get is a Rainbow. I copied some info for you to look at maybe I didnt config or install my drivers correct, all I did was install Linux and install core update to mandriva... nothing else...


In the KDE>Info>OpenGL info I get this for my vid card

3D Accerleator: Unknown

Renderer Geforce: 5500/PCI

Kernel Module: Unknown (im guessing this is a problem)

How do I get my opengl and my games working???

Thanks for any help

BTW Distro: Mandriva 2006 powerpack

Video Card: BFG Technologies GeForce FX 5500 OC NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500, (256 MB) PCI Graphic Card

Have you tried downloading the latest driver for your cpu architecture from nvidia.com? You'll need their driver to use open GL (there is no GPL nvidia driver that gives 3d hardware acceleration)

Download it, and run the shell script as root. Answer a few questions, and you should be good to go. The only bummer about this setup is that you have to re run it every time you update or change your kernel. Some distributions have a package that includes these drivers, and gets updated as you update your kernel automatically.

As ShaneK mentioned, if you go to the nVidia download page you will find complete instructions on how to install the drivers. It's pretty easy, and at a high level you just need to download a file, then run one command (sh NVIDIA*.run)

Personally, I prefer manually installing the nVidia drivers rather than depending on my distro to do it for me. Just my 2 cents

I'll give it a try, I just figured the Core Update package would install and config the drivers for me, but I dont think that worked out.

When it asks Configure all heads independenty
Use Xinema Exstion
Configure " "
Configure card nvidia(xxxx) " "

Which one do I choose?

I'm still getting a Rainbow when I try to test it the setting after installing NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1 with sh.

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run

It said it would have to create a kernel module for me during installation and said installed fine but inside Open GL still displays Kernel Module: Unknown? and still getting rainbow tests.

I bet you a dollar it didn't. nvidia drivers are propritary. If you want hardware acceleration, you need to get the driver form their website.

It goes both ways you know. If you are interested, I can help with this.

regards,
...drkstr

Right I tried to install it from the web-site Driver sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run but as you can see from above I'm still getting the rainbow test, is this correct results for a test? My conclusion is its something to do with the Kernel MOdule: unknown i have quoted above. No clue.

If its easy and fast for you to explain, let me know how to transfer files to and from OS's.

Is the module you created loaded? Run lsmod, you should have a driver named 'nvidia' listed. If not, open your /etc/X11/xorg.conf and find the section for "driver" and replace what's there with 'nvidia', or you can load it manually with 'modprobe nvidia'. The first method is the prefered way. You will know if the driver is loaded becauses you get a splash screen with the nvidia logo when you start X.

You just create a shared partition to save your files that both OS can read and write to. fat32 is best for this kind of thing, but from what I here, write support is now working with ntfs as well. Just mount the drive by adding a line to your /etc/fstab: where /dev/hda<#> is the correct partition, name and you pick either vfat or ntfs. The directory you mount to ('/mnt/stg') is optional, just make sure you created the directory first and give ownership to whoever you want to have rw access.

regards,
...drkstr