Hi, I am running Kanotix 6-2004 (2.6.6 Modified Kernel) on a Dell Inspiron 8600, with nVidia 5200Go card, my screen was autodetected at a lower resolution that is in windows, but I didn't mess with it yet, so anyway, everything works, including KDE, but when I shut down, and exit KDE, the screen gets all screwed up, instead of text, there are tons of dots and dashes scrolling on screen, as the system shuts down. What is my problem?

Note: When using Knoppix 3.4 (base for Kanotix) the same problem happened, with both the 2.4.x and 2.6.6 kernels, identical behavior.

The same on a Pentium IV with Mandrake 9.2 and 10.0 for me. it has to do with the nvidia driver (I know because I installed it myself and THEN it started to happen).

You need to download the Kernel source of your distro and the Nvidia driver (NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1..0-6106-pkg1.run)

Get into a console -- DON'T start X automatically -

Rmmod nvidia in case a "screwed" copy of the NVIDIA module exists.

then follow the instructions on the Nvidia site how to install. (Print before logging off if you only have 1 machine and can't stay on the internet while fixing your other box).

You can tell if it's working properly as you'll see the NVIDIA splash screen before X starts.

If your Kernel is wrong you'll probably get a weird resolution of something like 500 X 320 which looks HORRIBLE so follow the instructions to the letter.

If you update your kernel REBOOT before applying the NVIDIA fix.

In anycase ensure any source patches have been applied to the kernel BEFORE applying the NVIDIA fix.

No, I did install the driver properly and it works OK. It does show the splash screen, actually, but I can't use the text terminals anymore after I start X with the nvidia driver. That is the problem.