Mandrake 10.0 "Freezes"
 

Hi.
Whenever I try to use Mandrake Control Pannel it freezes. What I mean by that is my mouse will freeze, the window will stop responding, and if I close it and open another one it freezes too. The rest of the programs seem uneffected. After that happens I can't shut down my computer. It goes to black screen with cursor still visible and just hangs there.
Relevant info I think:
I had to install in text mode because it would freeze in gui, I had to restart computer during setup. After I installed all the packages and was configuring it, I made a mistake of trying to change resolution and clicked on Test. It froze.
My Specs:
1.33 GHZ Athlon T-bird, PC2100 RAM 512 MB, Nvidia gforce 2 ultra (Unhialator 2 ultra), ASUS A7M266 MB with 1005 bios. Two HD 20 gig and 80 GIG with win98se on both. I have Explorer 3.0 USB Mouse.
Also I did manage to configure the mouse as someone sudgested. I selected Explorer mouse from the list.
I'm Linux niewby, but when I used Mandrake 8.1 I had less problems then with 10.0. :(

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thx.

One thing worth trying is creating a rescue cd and booting to it. There is a dianostic script that makes suggestions on which booting options may be neccesary for your system. You can create a rescue cd with the command "mkrescue --iso" and then burn the disk to cd.

Ok. I booted up from rescue there were two diagnostics programs.
I ran the first one and it sudjested running lilo with "'lba32' global option or -L ". What exactly does that mean?
I ran the second diagnostic tool and it just tested memory and registers, wasn't sure what to look for there.

Could the nvidia drivers cause the freezing of the control pannel?
Thx.

LBA stands for Logical Block Address. It is used for larger drives. I'm not sure if it would be the video driver, but you could try downloading and installing a new driver from Nvidia.
I was expecting the diagnostic program to suggest something like a apci= or noapic option.

Try the LBA32 option. If it can't read from the drive above a certain address for example, KDE may stall because it can't update some file.

Where do I go to add this option? I remember modifying lilo config file long time ago, but I don't think thats where I should add it.
Thx.

since you're using the Nvidia drivers, especially witha geforce board, try adding the following option Option "NvAGP" "1" under the device section of your xf86config-4 file. here's what mine looks like..........

the "1" tells it to use nvidia's agp module. other options you can use are..........

"0" (disables all agp)
"2" (uses the kernel agpgart)
"3" (tries kernel agpgart first, the tries nvidia agp if that fails)

i had random freezing probs with a geforceti4600 board & the "1" option fixed it.

otis

I can't find that file. All I found is xf86config in /usr/X11R6/bin, which is an executable
I also found and archive file, and a compressed file.

the file is in /etc/x11/........... xf86config-4. it's a config file (text). but, before you edit that, did you indeed install the nvidia drivers? i was under the assumption you did, but after rereading your earlier post, i'm not sure now. if you did already install the nvidia drivers, then proceed with editing your xf86config-4 file as i suggested. if you haven't installed the nvidia drivers, then do so first. instructions to install them can be found in my post HERE

otis

I didn't install them explicitly, but I thought they were installed during the install.
this is what I have under xf86config-4
Do I still need to install the drivers? Looks to me like they are already installed.
Also you said I need to have a kernel code installed. How can I check if I do or not?
Also I have load "glx" in module, but it's commented out.
Thx.

yes, you need to install the nividia drivers. go to that link i put in my last post for where to get them & follow my instructions on how to install. DO NOT edit your xf86config-4 file until you install the drivers. the "nv" driver listed in that file right now is the generic linux driver for nvidia, without the full acceleration or agp capabilities. the official nvidia drivers are not part of the MDK installation, nor are they on the MDK CD's.

otis

sorry. didn't answer your question about the kernel source. look in your /usr/src directory. there should be a directory called linux-2.X.X (X=kernel version number). if you have that, you have the kernel source. if you don't, use MCC->software installer, type kernel in the search, get the kernel-source that matches your kernel version. if you don't know what kernel version you are running, in terminal as root type uname -a, hit enter. that will tell you.

otis

OK... I installed the source code, upgraded the driver and changed the xf86config-4
I have couple of questions.
One I installed another kernel by accident. It's same version but I guess it's for greater then 1 gig of memory. 2.6.3-7-i686-up-4gb.
It added as another option in lilo when I boot.
Also now it only boots to text mode, even thought the default run level is set to 5. It even says INIT Entering runlevel 5, when it boots. I checked /etc/inittab, and it still has id:5:initdefault:
Above where it asks for login and password it says
"Linux release 10.0 (Official) for i586
kernel 2.6.3-7mdk-up-4gb on an i686"
Just how badly did I messed up my linux installation? :(
How can I fix this.
P.S. It boots to same kernel when I select linux and up-4gb one during startup.
Thx.

the kerenl needs to match the source, & vice versa. the up4gb-i686 kernel is not what you want. here's what you need to do.........

when it boots in text mode & drops you at the login prompt, type your user name to login, hit enter.
type your password, hit enter. type su (to get you to root), hit enter. type password, hit enter. type..........

urpmi kernel

hit enter

choose the 2.6.X kernel that's on your discs. (it should be the only 2.6 kernel available). "y" to install it. do urpmi kernel again (enter). get the kernel-source that matches the kernel you just installed. after that's done. type lilo -v (enter). that will put you back to the stock MDK10.0 kernel & source. type reboot (enter). then choose "failsafe" & proceed with the nvidia installation.

EDIT: also, please post your xf86config-4 file if you have any more troubles. to do so from a login prompt, as root type

cat /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (enter) (it's Cap SensiTIve)

right click->copy->paste

otis

Well tried that after urpmi kernel it displayed 3 kernels
1. kernel-2.6.3.7mdk-1-1mdk.i586
2. kernel-i686-up-4gb-2.6.3.7mdk-1-1mdk.i586
3. kernel-2.4....
Selected the first one and got the messege saying everything is already installed.

please do the following...........

urpmi kernel-source

that will get you the sources if you don't have them installed.

please post the contents of XF86Config-4 & lsmod.

otis

just in case you dontrealise
XF86Config-4 is in /etc/X11
and lsmod should be run from a root console :D

Sorry I should have mentioned it in my previous post. I already tried urpmi kernel-source, all it displayed was that "everything is installed"
here is x86config-4:
here is the result of lsmod
Could it be that it's not running in gui mode is because the source I installed was the correct one, but before I installed the source I also installed the wrong kernel by accident? So when I installed the the drivers for nvidia they used the correct source code, but currently I'm running a different kernel.
Thx.

your xf86config-4 looks fine. lsmod is telling me it's not loading the nvidia module.

my thought is this, unless you can prove me wrong............

you don't have a matching kernel & kernel source. your compiling the nvidia drivers against kernel-sourceB while running kernel-A, or vice versa. we gotta make sure the source & the kernel match. let's get tricky & have you do this. we're gonna remove both the kernel & the source, then reinstall them. this has to be done in one fell swoop, so don't shut down or reboot or have a power failure in the middle of it. ;)

when you boot & get to the login prompt, login as normal user, then su to root. we're gonna remove the kernel(s) & source(s). as root type........

urpme kernel

hit enter

if it tells you that you have more than one kernel, remove them both, one at a time using that same command. after that type...............

urpme kernel-source

hit enter

again, if it shows more than one source, remove them both one at a time.

ok, now you're kernel free. now we're gonna reinstall them. still as root, type...........

urpmi kernel

hit enter

if it gives you more than one choice of kernel to install, choose the 2.6.3-7 kernel. let it install, then type..........

urpmi kernel-source

hit enter

choose the exact matching source as the kernel version number you just installed.

now, still as root, type...........

lilo -v

hit enter

type..............

reboot

hit enter

you will now reboot. you should be able to reboot to a GUI because you don't have the nvidia modules installed as of yet. if you can boot to a GUI, then reboot again & follow the nvidia install instructions. if you can't boot to a GUI, please repost your xf86config-4 file so i can check something.

we'll get you to a desktop yet. ;)

otis

When I did urpme kernel it showed like 4 kernels! I tried to remove them all, but couldn't remove the kernel-i686-up-4GB-2.6.3.7mdk-1-1mdk.i586.
When I try to remove it with urpme command it says "removing package basesystem-10.0-0.2mdk.i586 will beak your system nothing to remove."
The rest I removed without any problems.
Also when I tried to to urpme kernel-soure it says unknown-package. I'm pretty sure I did install the source code, I even checked in that directory after I installed it, and it was there.
edit: I checked again and there is still a folder linux-2.6.3-7mdk in the /usr/src

ok.............

here's my last suggestion, unless somebody else jumps in with a better idea.........

that kernel (the up-4gb kernel) is inappropriate for your system. you don't have more than 1 gig of memory, you don't need nor want that kernel. i've never used it or tried it. in lieu of a better idea, at this point i'm gonna suggest reinstall. start the install from the begining, choose "expert" mode, reformat your linux partions (the linux partitions ONLY! don't touch any other partitions!). when it comes to choosing the packages to install, select all of them. let the installation proceed. when you get to the final configuration screen, check anything that might look fishy. especially check your video settings & run the test. if the test fails, do it until you can find a driver that best matches your video card & that passes the test. when you can boot to a GUI, get all available updates immediately. reboot to make sure things are still working. post back to confirm that. then, install the nvidia drivers as per the prescribed method. that 4gb kernel is the cause of all your woes. i don't know exactly how you ended up with it, but stay away from it in the future. i wish i could offer another suggestion, but all things considered, since this is a fresh install you're really not gonna be losing anything. if there's anything on the linux partitions that is near & dear to you, back them up first before reinstalling. please post back with any thoughts/comments/results.

otis

I was thinking. What if I was't be able to remove the up-4gb kernel is because you need to have at least one installed?
So what I'm trying to do is to boot up with rescue disk and install the correct kernel, then restart in "safe" mode and remove the 4gb kernel.
I was be able to boot in to gui using the rescue disk, althought mouse didn't work. But when I tried to install the correct kernel it say put in cd one on device /dev/hdc.
It keeps saying that no matter in which cdrom I put cd in. Whats going on?
edit:
I tried mounting the cdrom by typping mount /dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom, it gives me erros messege saying you myst specify the filesystem type.?
I checked with dmesg, and my cdrom is on hdc.
I also tried mount -t iso9660 /dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom, it gave me an error message:
"mount: fs type iso9660 not suported by kernel".
But when I opened /etc/filesystems, I saw it there..
Thx.

Well I finally gave in and reinstalled linux. During the installation I selected upgrade and that seems to replaced my kernel and solved my cdrom problems.
I checked /usr/src and found the linux-2.6.3-7md folder in it, I think thats the correct source for my kernel right?
When I did uname -a I got back:
"Linux localhost 2.6.3-7mdk #1..."
Here is my XF86Config-4 file:
Do I need to edit it or reinstall the nvidia drivers again?
Looks like Load glx is disabled again.

:D :D :D w00t!

i was gonna suggest you try the upgrade method instead of reinstall, but i wasn't sure if that would have cleared up the kernel mess. guess it did, eh?

yup. reinstall the nvidia drivers. after you install them, then yes, redit the xf86config-4 file. just remove the hash marks (###) from in front of the glx line & make sure the nvidia comment you need are correct. follow my original instructions to install them & editing xf86 & you'll be fine.

congrats,

otis

Not again!!!!
Well I reinstalled the correct source code, installed the nvidia drivers, edited the XF86 config file. When I rebooted the system it wouldn't boot in to gui again!!!
What a heck am I doing wrong? I added the load command and the option was already in the config file.

I'm doing a clean install now, but still would like to know why it didn't work before. :( I followed all the instructions.

I've had this problem so many times it's not funny anymore. When you do an update it load the latest kernel-source. Then you load the latest kernel and guess what the Nvidia drivers wont compile. Remove the kernel source and then reinstall the source this will allow your Nvidia drivers to compile. Loading the kernel itself after you load the update source breaks a link to the source. By loading it last fixes this problem.

Not sure I follow. After I did an update, I had a folder with kernel source, but when I tried to install the driver it gave me an error message saying it something about the kernel-source. I think thats what you were talking about.
I installed the correct kernel-source. Then I installed the drivers with no problems, edited the config file. But when I restared a computer, it wouldn't boot in to gui only in text mode.
Anyway I finally said screw it, and doing a clean install now. Just want to know what I did wrong, so I won't repeat the same mistake.

Which version of Mandrake you running? The community had a problem with hard drake changing the config file on reboot. Try turning off harddrake during boot.

10.0 Official one. How do I turn of the hard drake?

Go to System>Configuration>Configure your computer
put in root passwd if not in root
Then select System
Select Services
Look for hardrake and uncheck it.

I can't boot in to gui, it dumps me in to text mode. Is it one of the options in drakconf?
Also when I ran drackonf and chose Display settings and test I got an error message:
"An error occured (EE) NVIDIA: ***Aborting***
Try changing some parameters"

Yep. It in the text version of drakconf.

Nope didn't work. Right when it suppose to go to gui, it flashes the screen few times and goes to text mode.
P.S. I started a new thread here , this one is kinda cluttered with my previous mistakes. :)