I have a problem i downloaded the Nvidia linux drivers and it's telling me i need to shut down X server before i can install, my question is HOW do i shut down X and still install?

We need some information first. What is your distribution, if it's SuSE(like mine) you should just install it from the Online Update inYast.

I'm not exactly sure how to shutdown X Server though

im using Red Hat 9

you need to logout to the command line and cd to the directory where the driver is and just do a......

sh Nvidia......

HI krpto

I believe you can always shut down X by ctrl+alt+backspace, but that is possibly wrong.

For installing the nvidia drivers either of the following methods have worked for me, they are probably not the best/most elegant ways but I think they will work. YMMV

(option 1)
IIRC when you logout/login the login page will give an option for failsafe or something which will give a console screen where you can enter the command to install the nvidia driver (don't forget to read/print out the instructions for modifying the /etc/X11/XF86Config file first)

(option2) a bit longer way
if you are comfortable with it, edit the file /etc/inittab and change the line that looks like:
id:5:initdefault:
to read
id:3:initdefault:
then restart the computer and you will see only a CLI interface (ie no X server) where you can log in as root and install the driver.
You will still need to edit the XF86Config file too(ie by using vim or something similar)
Change the /etc/inittab file bit back to "5" and restart.
If you are not comfortable with editing the XF86Config file from the CLI then you could telinit 5 at this stage, log in as root and edit the files using your preferred text editor,( you would still be using the old settings at this point)


Once the files are edited, log out, back in and hopefully you will get an nvidia splash screen

(sorry for the somewhat convoluted reply),

mark

ty im not to sure i understood all that i am new to Linux, but i get what you mean to do and i will attempt brb

You have to edit the file /etc/inittab and introduce the correct number of booting the system you want. You have now the number 5 (run x at start), you have to change only this number for one that i don't remember...( the file is documented so you will see)

Then
- reboot, the system.
- Install nvidia drivers
- Configure the files de documentation of nvidia says
- And edit /etc/inittab to the original: 5 (run x at start)

good luck!

Hi krypto.. follow the above instructions stated by our friend and the runlevel to which u have to change is 3. after u are finished with installing the drivers just type init 5. It should work.
gl hf

You can install them without editing /etc/inittab. All you have to do is login as your normal user, fire up a console/termianl session, switch to the root user "su -", enter the root password and type "init 3". You will be dropped into a terminal and asked to login. Login as normal user, change into the directory containing the NVidia binary download and do the following "chmod +x Nvidia*" and then 'su -c "./Nvidia*" ' (type in everything in the single quotes as it is including the double quotes). The installer will start and just follow the instructions to install. When you are done, you switch to the root user and type init 5 and you can log back in graphically. You will then need to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf or /etc/X11/XF86Config and change the driver section of the graphics card from "nv" to "nvidia". The next time you log out of your system and log back in, you will be using the nvidia driver.

I'm sorry for the lengthy explanation, but since you said you are newbie, I gave very detailed instructions.