I'm using trying to install and configure the nvidia drivers on my new system, but after installing and configuring XF86Config-4 all I get is a black screen. My video card is an MSI FX5600 vtdr128. I have read numerous posts on the subject but nothing seems to work. Is there anything I have to do in addition to editing the Driver "nv" line? I'm running mandrake 9.1, any help would be greatly appreciated.

never mind, figured out what I was doing wrong.

The README from nvidia also suggests adding (to XF86Config-4) the line:

Load "glx"

and removing:

Load "dri"
Load "GLcore"

Also, there may be additional stuff you need to configure. Make sure your monitor refresh rates are correctly set.

One good place to begin with diagnosing problems is the logfiles produced by X. Look through /var/log/XFree86.0.log and /var/log/XFree86.9.log to see if there are any lines beginning with (EE). Those might give some clues; post them here if you find any.

Cool! If you don't mind, please post your solution in case someone else has the same problem in the future.

Yeah, please do that. I know someone with the same problem. Want to know how you sorted it out

I was using the telinit command to switch runlevels. Originally I was just switching back to runlevel 5 and nothing happened, that is the driver wasn't being loaded. All I had to do was stop the xserver and restart from a terminal using the startx command.

Hey valueuser, can you play the Linux Tux Racer game and let us know if it improves the performance of the game. with the nvidia drivers now installed?

d-1

I'm having the same problems.

I started Linux on my old pc with GeForce2 card using Mandrake 9.1. The Linux driver works on that machine. Recently I decided to dual boot on my newer PC with GeForce 4 Ti 4200 but with the Redhat 9 distro. Nvidia driver works fine too.

But I don't like RH very much so I decided to remove it and install Mdk 9.1 instead. After I installed the NVidia driver, I get a blank screen when I run startx.

Here is my installation procedure:
- Installed Mandrake 9.1 from 3 cds
- Set up dual boot (I don't install lilo on the MBR)
- Reboot into Mandrake using reg user to do some tweaking of the desktop
- log-off from desktop
- in the console, login as root and edit runlevel of /ect/inittab to 3
- reboot, login to root
- install NVidia driver using sh NVIDIA.run package
- edit XF86Config-4; change "nv" to "nvidia", no need to remove dli and GLcore since they are not in a mandrake installation
- su to regular user
- startx
... then I get a blank screen

I tried uninstalling the driver using "nvidia-installer --uninstall" and
reinstall using --extract-only and make install. still the same problem.

If I uninstall and revert XF86Config-4 to "nv", I still can't boot back to X.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking of reinstalling Mandrake but doubt if that will help any.

Thanks

It sounds like the nv Mandrake drivers did not give a X screen ? Right ? Therefore I don't think it is an nVidia driver problem.

It could be your graphics card or monitor is refusing to show the screen due to maybe unsupported resolution or something ?

Did you configure the graphics card and monitor at the summary page during the install ? Here you are able to test the selected monitor and resolution using the nv driver.

I think you can run a program called XFdrake to change your resolution/monitor settings.

I was able to enter X using the nv driver during the fresh install. Only can't go back after I installed the NVidia driver, even if I uninstall Nvidia driver.

Maybe you're right about the resolution. Does XFdrake runs at the console outside of X? I'll try that once I get home. Thanks

Are you saying that you could boot into X using the nv driver but when you used the nvidia driver you could not use X ?

Also, when you changed the XFConfig-4 file from using nvidia back to using nv, X did not work ? This should work even with the nvidia drivers installed, well it does for me.

Have you looked at the XFree86 log files in the /var/log directory ? Maybe there is an error reported here for the nvidia drivers ?

Did you install the Mandrake nvidia rpms or use nvidia's run install script ? Both should work but try the other method to see whether that helps.

Have you looked in the system log stored in /var/log/syslog ? You need to be logged in as root to edit the file. Again there maybe a clue in the system log ?

Run X and when the screen is blank, press these 3 keys simultaneously Ctrl-Alt-F1. Do you see a text login screen ? this is a virtual terminal and allows you to login in text mode. If you press Ctrl-Alt-F7 this will take you back to the X display ( screen 0 ) but in your case will be blank.

Run X and try pressing Ctrl-Alt + ( + key on the numeric keypad ) or Ctrl-Alt - ( - minus key on the numeric keypad. This will cycle through the screen resolutions. Is the screen still blank ?

Sorry to have confused you. I was saying that initially I could enter X using nv driver. After I install nvidia driver and used it, I get a blank screen. I used the run install script, I think the RPMs are no longer available at NVidia's site. I uninstalled nvidia and then that's when the nv driver is no longer working too.

I tried looking at the XFree log but no error was reported (though I didn't really try looking at it thoroughly).

When I startx and screen goes blank, Ctrl-Alt-F1 doesn't work (no response). No response too when pressing Ctrl-Alt + or Ctrl-Alt -. Pressing Ctrl-Alt-backspace turns off the computer (immediately, like pressing the power button)

I reinstalled Mandrake and just use the nv driver for now. Maybe the problem could be resolved in the next release of the driver.

If you a Mandrake Club member then the nvidia drivers are available as RPMs.

If you use the RPMs you need need to match the nvidia kernel version with your Mandrake kernel.

As you used the install script, how did you uninstall the nvidia drivers ? Just curious.

How do you become a Mandrake Club Member and what is the fee for signing up.

Thanks,

d-1

I think it is about 5 or 6 bucks a month. Go to the website and there should be a link to join.

Oh heck. Here is a link. Click in the upper right hand corner where it says " please follow this link." under the login and password form.

http://www.mandrakeclub.com/

I think they take credit cards too.

You will still have to do the same thing to install even if it is a rpm though. You will have to kill 'x' and do it in command line then restart 'x'. Same thing, different command. That's all.

Later