Hi all,
I tried to install Nvidia 6629 on my MDK10.1 system but ended in disaster..Not only would X not start but I could only go to single user..With me at the controls,thats just about useless..
Heres the limit of what I think I know..
1: In order to install the driver,I needed to install the kernel-source..uname -a shows 2.6.8.1-12mdksmp kernel... went to umpri and got kernel-source 2.6.8 from I think cdrom 3..OK so far.

2: Downloaded and accepted the NV software and it seemed to install from root..I think I followed instructions about doing a chroot command..I thought so far so good..
It did not seem to find my kernel source but went on anyway..

3: Went into init3 and used vim to edit the /etc/X11/XF86Config file ..Under the drivers I changed the "nv" to "nvidia"...Checked the other stuff and it seemed ok..
4: rebooted,and all"Heck" broke loose..No display,no boot,no nothing..Had to re boot and go into the safe mode start..Single user..End of the ball game for me..

Not exactly sure what went wrong but Disaster...
Can anone tell me where I went wrong? Yes I know Linux challenged...Newbie
Thanks for reading this and any tips or help...
jolphil

run xorgconfig ? That's my guess.

I thought you had to go to init 3 before the driver install, not sure though

I think it didn't find a prebuilt driver for your kernel version. If it hadn't found your kernel source
you wouldn't have got the "Congratulations, your driver is now installed..." (or whatever) at the end.

I just don't think the module automatically load at boot.
Try do a 'echo nvidia >> /etc/modprobe.preload' .

Another alternative that sould work is to enable autoloading of modules (which I think is turned off by default)
by adding "kernel.modprobe = /sbin/modprobe" to /etc/sysctl.conf. I think that'll work, otherwise you can
This might be a security risk though.

- Peder

Update.....
I wiped the drive clean and started over with another install..This time I chose to install the kernel source during the initial install..Then I down loaded the Nvidia package for the I32 graphics card I have(FX5600)..I checked the /var.src folder and it looks as though I had them installed properly..
I rebooted and went Failsafe and got into init 3..As root I went to the NV package and tried to install it but it still could not find a kernel source...Thus the install failed..there is no browse function that i could point it to my source..
Question has anyone done this in MDK 10.1?...If so how did they do it..The distro seems to be great otherwise..
Great credit to the developers for a very easy install...Thanks for reading this..
Jolphil

You need to have the source code for your kernel installed in a certain place. If your kernel is /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.10 then your kernel source needs to be in /usr/src/linux-2.6.10. /usr/src/linux should be a symlink pointing to your kernel. You should also check that in the kernel modules repository that there are symlinks to your kernel source. Using the 2.6.10 kernel as an example.... /lib/modules/2.6.10/build and /lib/modules/2.6.10/source should both be symlinks to your kernel source (/usr/src/linux-2.6.10) If the nvidia installer finds source code for a kernel, but it isn't the running kernel, it will still build, but it will complain, and put the video modules into the module repository that it was built for. For example, if it finds a 2.4.22 kernel source and you have a 2.6.10 kernel running, it will build the module and dump it under /lib/modules/2.4.22 somewhere.

Also check that the module is loaded at system boot by putting the word 'nvidia' on a line of it's own in /etc/modprobe.preload

Hi again,
Finally got the Nvidia driver installed properly..With all your help and support and an post on another forum
by imdeemvp...
Basically heres the steps I followed..
1 Checked my kernel by uname -a in a terminal(mine was2.6.8.1-12mdksmp)..
2 Then I installed the kernel source..In my case urpmi kernel-source-2.6-2.6.8.1-12mdk That is the one I used..
3 previously downloaded NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6629-pkg1.rpm into my home directory..
4 opened a terminal and typed SU then my root Password...then typed init 3 this shut down x and asked for a password..I typed my user PW.. then typed sh Nvidia-Linux-x86-1.0-6629-pkg1.rpm
5 I axccepted the agreement,when i said it wanted to go online I chose NO and then it said it would compile the kernel.. I let it go until it said it was configured..It then dropped back to the command line..
I used vi to edit the /etc/X11/XF86Config file and replaced "nv" with "nvidia"..Saved the results by escape :wq!
then i edited the next file vi /etc/modprobe.preload by adding a line" nvidia " below my intel agp line
saved the results by escape :wq! and again back to the command prompt..Then I typed init 5
6 this started x and I opened a terminal and tested the driver by typing glxgears I let it run for 30 seconds or so then stopped it and typed glxinfo | grep direct and looked for the line "direct rendering Yes"
7 breathed a sigh of relief and savored my victory...
Goodluck to you and again thank you for all your help,
jolphil