No I do not know who frangos is, I noticed that he was posting and was having somewhat similar problems I presume. But we are not associated with each other.

d-1

Okay dolphans1 please try to read this post - its been made a sticky thread and I suspect is a result of the trouble you among others have been experiencing.

Please study it very very carefully and ask if you still have any trouble...


Mandrake 9.1 NVIDIA driver install for newbies
Posted by: dalek on 08-11-2003. (3324 views)
Mandrake 9.1 NVIDIA driver install

This is written for newbies like myself that need details. Read the entire thing before starting this. I tried to make it as simple as possible. If you have a good downloaded file and follow this your problems should be minimal.

I'm going to assume that you can navigate using Konqueror and use a editer such as Kwrite. You should also get the basics of a command line editer called "vi" just in case the driver does not work and you need to change the driver back to the old basic one. If you have a linux book check for editers that work in commandline. That will get you back into 'x' at least. It is not really that bad to install but you have to do it in command line not through the GUI or 'x'. If you are a newbie like myself it can be scary. Especially if it doesn't work the first time. BTW, booting to 'failsafe' will not work. 'x' will crash and you will be disappointed.
Steps to take:

1: Download the driver
2: Edit the inittab and XF86Config-4 file
3: Reboot to command line and Login as 'root'
4: Install driver (Look for any errors during install)
5: Test
6: Change inittab file back to original configuration

The first thing is to download the driver and put it in the /root directory. You can get the latest driver here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux.html. You will most likely want the IA32 version, that's Intel/AMD 32 bit. Once you get that downloaded and in the proper directory, you are ready to get it installed. It's important to put it in the right directory or know exactly where it is.

You will need to edit the inittab file and the XF86Config-4 file. You will need to edit the inittab so that you will boot into the command line not into the GUI or 'x'. The inittab file is in the following location for Konqueror, file:/etc/inittab . You should have root access. The line you are looking for is "id:5:initdefault:". You will need to change the '5' to a '3'. It should look like this "id:3:initdefault:. "This will get you to a text login. It will be sort of like old DOS, no pretty screens or anything. Remember this file, you will need to change it back when you are done. Of course some leave it like this but that's up to you.

Make a note of what you change here or print a copy if you can of the original file. Now to edit the XF86Config-4 file. It should be located here, file:/etc/X11/XF86Config-4. You will need to look for and change this part 'Section "Device"'. It's about half way down the file. You will need to change 'Driver "nv"' to 'Driver "nvidia"'. This will load the drivers when 'x' starts. Now look for the part 'Section "Module"'. It's pretty close to the top. Look for a line that says 'Load "dri"' and 'Load "GLcore"'. If you have these lines put a '#' in front of them. The system will then ignore those commands. I don't like deleting, if you have to switch back this will make it easier. Now, in the same section look for a command 'Load "glx"'. It should already be there but make sure it is. It needs to be there. Don't delete it. You have now got your XF86Config-4 file ready. Click 'save'.

Now comes the part that is a bit new for newbies that have not used other distro's and are not used to the command line and login. It's time to reboot. When you reboot you will not get Xwindow or a GUI. You will get a login prompt. When you get the prompt type in 'root' and hit enter. Type in your password. You are ready to install your driver. If you put the file in the right directory this should be very easy. Type in 'ls'. The NVIDIA driver should be right there in the list.
If it's not there try typing in 'cd ..' and hit enter. Then type in 'cd /home/<user name>/Desktop'. Replace <user name> with your user name, mine would look like this for example '/home/dale/Desktop'. Do a 'ls' and see if it is there. If it is not try this 'cd ..' and then type in 'cd Documents', do a 'ls' and see if it is there. If by now you have found the file, you are ready to go.
This part is easy. Type in 'sh ' and the name of the file exactly like it is on the screen. It is case sensitive and put a space between sh and the file name. You should get a screen that says loading, then accept the agreement etc. Use the arrow keys to change your selection. No mouse here, sorry. Just let it walk you through. When it gets done with the install, you will be back at the prompt. If you get a error write it down and skip to the shutdown part or edit the XF86Config-4 file back to the way it was and type 'startx'. If you get no errors, type in 'exit'. You will be back at the login and will take you out of root. Login in as a regular user, mine for example would be 'dale' then type in your password. When you get the prompt, type in 'startx' and hit enter. 'x' should start. If it works you will see a white screen with a graphic and 'NVIDIA' in the middle. If you have this, the install was sucessful.
If you don't get this something went wrong. You will get a error message when 'x' shuts down. The important part will start with (EE). Write this info down and see if you can find a post that will help you diagnose the problem. If you can't find the error and need help, post with the subject "Mandrake 9.1 NVIDIA" and some of the error message. Put the entire error in the post. Someone will have run into and fixed or will know what the error means and how to fix.

If you have a error, you will need to change the XF86Config-4 file back like it was. You can do a 'cd ..' until you get to root, '/', then type in 'cd etc', then 'vi XF86Config-4'. This will let you edit the file back to the way it was. The really important part is to change 'nvidia' to 'nv' like it was. Hope you have the 'vi' info handy. It's a bit tricky for a newbie but I survived with out much damage. Just change the file back and save and exit the editor. When you get back to the prompt, type in 'startx' and it should get you back into the GUI with the old set of drivers. If you had rather just reboot into windows to get help you can type in 'shutdown -r now'. This will reboot your system and you will have the option to get windows as usual when it restarts.

If all worked well and you want to change so that 'x' starts automatically, you will need to change the file 'inittab' back to '5' like it was before this install. You can leave it this way if you want. Some people do this anyway. To get into 'x' if you want to do it this way, just type in your login and password then 'startx'. When you exit, logout, of 'x' it will take you back to the prompt, just type in exit and you will get a login. Login as root, and type in 'shutdown -r now' to reboot or 'shutdown -h now' to turn off your system. If you change the 'inittab' file back to '5' it will boot like it used to.

Hopefully you will have had success. If so, I hope this 'how to' helped. I tried to make it for a newbie. There are other ways to do it but this way if there are no problems most is done in a GUI. This is much easier for a newbie

I still haven't figured it out, you know, I downloaded the Linux Nvvidia driver, but it says this NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run, why does it say package # 2 ?

I downloaded the read-me file and I made the mistake to print it and it's something like 72 pages long, I don't know how to make the printer cancel with Mandrake. Anyway, everything I try to do goes wrong.

Windows for installing programs is so much easier.

d-1

After reading my last post carefully - WHAT EXCACTLY is it that you do not understand!

Furthermore do not worry about the filename - It is simply a versioning number, nothing for you to care about unless youre trying to download something from Nvidias older archives.

As to the windows issue - We'll I've been along for the ride all the way from the ZX-81, the ZX-Spectrum, the XT - DOS - Windows 3.11 etc. and let me tell you that Windows still manages to give me problems despite my 20+yrs of computing experience.

I know that I am capable of programming animations in high level languages, a bit rusty right now perhaps, but nevertheless I consider myself a somewhat competent person when it comes to computers, and let me tell you Windows ain't no friend of mine!

Programs I've taken part in creating will operate perfectly on one Windows system and not on the other, yet they seem to run on every DOS and Linux machine we've tried... I've been unable to install some of my hardware under windows that worked perfectly before because Windows does not recognize it's own files... in some way this says something about Windows and how easy it not is.

Sitting down in front of a new operating system is not an easy task that is true however don't let that discourage you!

I am going to make you a suggestion if you are interested in making your driver install - Please RE-READ my last post, and tell me PRECISELY what part of the installation walkthrough that you do not understand.

I can't get beyond changing the initab
 

The problem is I can't get beyond changing the initab, and if I can't do that, I can't do anything. I tried typing the "su" in the DOS like window and that wont work either.

Just to clarify what I've attmepted to do: Remember I have Mandrake 9.2.

In Mandrake 9.2 I clicked on my Icon that says Home on it. It has a large
star on it. When that opens up, that is my Mandrake Control center 9.2
localhost, inside here I have 5 choices to make or pick from;

1) Boot menu
2) Hardware menu
3) Mount Points menu
4) Security menu
5) System menu (-here-? is where I went)
6) Software Management menu

I went to the number 5 menu, my system menu, when I go inside of there,
there are 9 more icons to choose from;

1) MenuDrake
2) DrakeX Service
3) Set time and date
4) Open console ( looks like small computer montior >-)
5) DrakBackup
6) Choose Display manager
7) DrakFont
8) LogDrake
9) Userdrake - helps you add remove or chage users of your system.

I went to the # 4 above, the open console, it looks like a small PC Monitor
with a >- symbol on the screen icon.

It is here where I tried to type "su", but nothing happened.

d-1

Dude, this thread is giving me a headache. I don't think your reading these replies or your just fu*king with these guys.

If your in KDE, then click your start bar (win term), go to configuration, go to mandrake control center. In there you can set to NOT boot to a gui. I can't remember where, but it's there. Once you find it (it's there, spend a few min looking for it). Then log out.

Now you should be at your command line. No windows, nothing.

type "su" and press enter
enter your password for root, press enter
assuming your in your home directory, which you should be, type
"cd /Desktop"
that should bring you to your desktop. If that doesn't work, make the "D" lowercase and try again. I don't remember if Mandrake makes it captial or lowercase.
type "ls" and press enter
from what you posted above, your driver was saved to your desktop. So it should show up on your "ls" command.
now type "sh N" and press TAB. This should fill in the rest of your driver name, assuming you don't have any more on your desktop. Once it fills in the name press enter.

Now it should load. The problem I forsee is you probably did a minimul install, so you either don't have the kernel source files, which it needs, or are missing some other dependancy.

If this is the case, and it probably will be, since just installing the driver is causing so much grief, I'd hate to see someone try and explain to you how to find the dependancy. I'd reinstall and pick all of the Development files & libraries.

I still think your messing with everybody though. :(

Hey Lostman,

I appreciate the support, I really do, but I was just trying to figure out the instructions I was being given. I was communicating with someone behind the scenes that was kind enough to do so and I sent this this email below. (because I started thinking.)

When I clicked on the Choose Display Manager icon, I got a menu that says, a display manager allows you to graphically log onto your system with x window system running and supports several different sessions on your local machine at the same time.

(This is what it says inside this menu)



There are 2 items inside this menu, which has a circle to add a bulls-eye to it.

The top one is already bullseyed * MdkKD (Mandrake Display Manager)
The bottom one says XDM (X Display Manager), this one is not bullseyed and the cirlce in not filled in or bulls-eyed.


My question to him was: is this where I have to go, to the display manager? I am not really sure and I never heard back from him. (maybe he was busy?)

You see Lostman, I have no prior knowledge of installing drivers on Mandrake 9.2. My only prior experience installing software was on Thiz-Linux, but it was never the nvidia drivers.

Why in the world would I want to f****k with someone?

I am just trying to learn how to do it the right way!

I just don't know what the hell I am doing and it's not like it's an easy thing to do either. I already tried to change my initab (it wouldn't save) so it would boot into "x" I presume, but since I don't really know what "x" is, I can only assume it's some sort of installation mode, different from what I am in now (my desktop), that I have to get into to install the driver.

As to the nvidia driver, I am worried that it says package 2 on it, because I would logically conclude that it would or should say package 1, right? I don't want to waste my time installing something that's going to fail.

I even went back to nvdia to see if maybe I somehow missed package 1 (if there is one) and I never saw it, it still says pacjage 2. Now this is all I can conclude from that. 1) Either package 1 is not available or 2) I don't need package 1 because package 2 somehow replaces package 1.

It's not like Mandrake or Nvida has a screen snap-shot showing us what and how to exactly install the driver. As a matter of fact. nivdia tech no longer supports or offers tech support for Linux, because each distribution of Linux is different.

I hope I made my point perfectly clear, and I really do appreciate what you've had to say. That being said, do I switch to the Display Manger Mode to boot into "x" ?

d-1

Hmmmm.

Those x's you where talking about in your display settings, make sure they're both unchecked. Then follow my steps.

I understand your confusion. I've been playing with Linux for a week. But I read all I can and start from the basics.

And out of curosity, why did you go with Linux?

I got tired of windows and Linux got my curiousity going.

I like how Linux works over the internet, however some pages or should I say some plug-ins do not work properly, so for the time being I have to be co-dependant on windows. i.e citrix application does not work properly with Linux, with a tool I use for work.

OK so you're saying I should make sure inside my display settings are set in such a fashion that both settings are not bulls-eyed or circled in?

If there not bulls-eyed or circled, do I then reboot into the system?

You see I still don't know what the hell I'm doing.

d-1

Don't reboot, just log out. You should log out to a command prompt (if you did it right).

Then do what my post above says.

To get back into your GUI (all the fancy windows and stuff) type "startx" without the quotes.

Thanx Lostman!

And no worries dolphans1 - I've actually posted a thread in Programming called Bash challenge! - in response to the problems you've been having.

-Perhaps (if anyone takes it) you and everyone else will not have to think too much about the NVidia installing issue any more... at least not the changing of system files as such.

And Lostman... could you take from here I see you are probably better qualified for the job being a 9.2 MDK'er