I have found lots of threads on this issue, but none that actually solves my problem.

The current nvidia drivers for SUSE 10.2, available from nvidia don't work. The module fails to load and you don't get any graphics display at all. A lot of people seem to be having this problem with the kernel update, even without the nvidia drivers. (I crashed two computers with this problem) but I found out that with the non-nvidia drivers, you can run SAX2 from the command prompt and solve the problem.

Anyway, I don't understand this issue -- during boot up and during install, my external monitor works GREAT along with my laptop screen. The setup system actually identifies my external monitor correctly.

However, once "X" starts, my external monitor is just a blur of colors.

What could I do, for instance, to make the "X" system run the same way as it does in the default mode during the install process? I would be perfectly happy with this result.

Thx.

A couple of things I found out:

My 3 year old HP zd7000 nvidia card is now a "legacy" card, so the correct install from nvidia uses "legacy" drivers.

However, that did not solve my problem. But, I found out some new info -- If I run nvidia's "tv" tools, the external monitor becomes viewable.

That is not a "solution" since although it is no longer just a mass of unviewable colors, it also isn't useable. I only get part of a screenview and the cursor does not display. I tried messing with the tv settings, but nothing works. When I click on the "tv" button, then the monitor shuts off altogether and there is no way I can find to turn it back on.

Hmmm.

What a conundrum.

I thought I would post a partial solution to this issue in case anyone else is looking for info on it.

I am able to get dual-view by running the nvtv package. Several steps are necessary.

First, I had to go into the driver setup in YAST/SAX2. There are some configurable parameters and I changed a couple of them -- don't recall specifically, but I could look it up if someone is interested. The reason for these changes was to get the cursor to show up on the external monitor.

So, the process is this -- I boot SuSE 10.2 Linux on my laptop, which is also plugged into and external monitor/keyboard/mouse setup. The external monitor works until the x-system comes up, and then it goes dark. I run nvtv (having to use the laptop monitor). This brings up the external monitor, but there is a chunk of screen missing. I then click on "tv-off", which completes the screen view on the external monitor.

Then, I have to right click on the desktop (KDE) and adjust display settings. I have to change from the laptop setting (1440x900) to 1280x768.

This is only partially satisfactory -- I get a pretty good screen, but the lower portion of my monitor is blank, because the two monitors don't have the same geometry. The laptop is a wide screen and the external monitor is a traditional shape.

Nonetheless, my next laptop will not have a Nvidia card. The concept that your advanced monitor features "disappear" after three years because Nvidia thinks it is a waste of time to keep compiling the linux driver is ridiculous. It seems to me they could at least post sufficient code that we could compile the driver ourselves when the Linux kernel changes.

basd,

I wish I had seen your posts from March with the experience I have now. I have an HP laptop with the NVidia FX Go5600 adapter. I also have a desktop with the FX5500 card. I have not had any problems with the NVidia driver and kernel installed via YAST>>Software Management on either computer. I did find that the correct NVidia kernel had to be installed along with the driver for it to work. One without the other will not work. When NVIDIA in 3D letters appears as the xserver starts, it is installed correctly.

The only 2nd monitor configuration I have tried to date is enabling the TV out on the desktop. I have not tried the 2nd VGA out on my laptop yet. I don't think you want to use SAX2 once you get the NVidia drivers installed correctly. Use the NVidia Configuration utility instead. I'm still experimenting with getting it to boot

I have, however, discovered that even with Windoze, strange things can happen when mixing screen resolutions between the 2 outputs.

With all that said, What repositories do you have setup in your Installation Sources? I did include the NVidia repository.

Hope this helps. I don't know about the blur of colors you describe in your first post.

[QUOTE=noobiwan],

I am guessing that your Go5600 is not yet in "legacy" mode. Mine is an earlier model, a GeForce 4 model. The things you described >used to< work on my computer, just as they do on yours, but quit doing so after various kernel upgrades and the roll-back to "legacy" status.

I also use the YAST installer. Right now (and for some time) there is an update that will not install, because it fails to "unpack" correctly or something every time I try to install it. I keep hoping that in one of the revisions, the package will be fixed, or whatever is wrong with it will resolve.

I am also considering installing directly from the Nvidia site, but that requires a command line install that can't be done while the "X" server is running, which is a lot of extra hassle. I recently printed the instructions out from the NVidia website, but haven't had time to try it.

Yes, I agree -- and Yast specifically requires the one to be installed with the other. Also, you have to select either the "legacy" version or the non-legacy version (although at present I seem to have both installed and can't fix it because all YAST install efforts regarding the NVidia drivers fail, as I note below.)

But, I have also noticed, that Nvidia now has >two< legacy packages. One is for older cards and one is for even older cards. SuSE/YAST/Nvidia repository does not offer both, only one legacy package. I suspect I need to use the one that is not actually provided.

Yep, this used to work just fine on my computer, too. So did the dual monitor mode.

I agree with you on this, as well. But, with the legacy drivers, at least the ones that are now installed on my computer, the NVidia configuration utility no longer functions.

On my computer, the twin view works fine in Windows. Two monitors, two different resolutions -- and, the internal monitor can be shut off. Twin view used to work just fine in SuSE Linux before the drivers were degraded. (Except, in Linux, I couldn't shut off the internal monitor and use only the external one, both were active.) The legacy drivers do not offer the twin view option, or any of the other advanced Nvidia features.

I have all sorts of repositories included, including the NVidia repository.

Thanks!

huh, I was assuming you had the same adapter as me as my laptop is from the zd7000 family of about the same vintage... that's what I get for assuming...

DANG! I wasn't much help was I?

I was not aware of that. I only have 1 driver and 1 NVidia kernel in my package list. That's with the Nvidia repository enabled.

I'm still learning. I am about 16 years behind the learning curve of my Windows experience. As a WinXP user migrating to Linux, the GUI implementation of managing the SUSE 10.2 system has been a dream for me. However, that means I am still a bit weak on manually compiling packages. Especially since I am not a programmer...

I'll keep scratching my head and experiment with the various bits of hardware I have as this appears to be related to the configurations I am playing with at the moment. Something may percolate through my gray matter (if I have any left... ).

cheers!