Installing Nvidia driver broke X
 

Hi all

Installed the Nvidia driver using the Yast Update functionality. However, on reboot X would not start - editing xorg.conf back to "nv" lets me back into the world of window managers.

I presume the driver did not install a Kernel module or something similar? Dmesg | grep nvidia returns nothing

Any tips greatly appreciated, rather disappointed it didn't "Just work"(TM) because everything else has done so far more or less with Suse

TIA

Better run:You can run:
to see if the module is loaded into the kernel. If not, run to load it and watch for errors.
If everything is OK replace back "nv" with "nvidia" and look for errors while X starts. If it fails take a look at /var/log/Xorg.log (or something like that).
Mind that there is no need to reboot everytime. Just run "init 3" to go to CLI (console mode) and "init 5" to return to X.

Thanks for the reply.

Modprobe nvidia returns

(/lib/modules/2.6.13-15.8-default/kernel/drivers/video/nvidia.ko): No such device

I'm not totally sure if that means that the expected file wasn't found, or if the nvidia module can't find the graphics card. I guess it is possible that this card is unsupported - its detected as a Nvidia Vanta / Vanta LT by Yast...

Which of course would explain the problem :rolleyes:

Thanks again, in advance :)

Hi Thin, if modprobe nvidia didn't find the nvida kernel module, it means that YOU didn't build it successfully. Probably there was an error, you could try again using YOU.

Most of the new nvidia cards are supported in the latest driver, but it has no support for older cards, you can go to the nvidia site and check the drivers available:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html
i'm not sure wich one will be the right one for your card, you can google to find out.

Perhaps installing nvidia in Suse is problematic, becaue there is a big howto. According to this, your card is no longer supported by newer drivers, so you have to use 1.0-7174 or older!!! Follow the steps there and good luck

Regards

Thanks for the replies.

This machine is for a friend who doesn't require the drivers installed anyway, especially as its an old card. Is there any way I can simply roll back any changes made by installing the patch / driver that didn't work? I don't seem to be able to see it as a package to remove in Yast / YOU...

TIA :)

I've had that problem in the past all i did to fix it was go back in through YAST and reinstall the nvidia drivers and it worked great.