PcLinuxOS, Nvidia driver problems

[boilertech]

I just upgraded my video card to a Nvidia 7600GT from a Nvidia 6500GS. System boots but locks up just before login screen. Anyone got any ideas?

[Bruno]

Hi BoilertechI am not sure I remember correctly what distro you are using . . . but I think to remember it is "PCLos"- If so, do as follows:At the lilo bootchooser screen press < Esc> you will then get a boot prompt . . . next type your choice at the prompt and add a space and a 3 ( read here: http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.ph...14&t=503&st=305 ) It will then boot in runlevel 3 and when finished you will get a login prompt, there you type "root" and give the root-password, next you type "XFdrake" ( casesensitive ! ) and you will get a wizard to configure your new card.Once the card is configured and you did press the "test" button in the wizard you log out from "root" with <Ctrl+D> and log in as "user", next you type "startx" and it should boot up okay.After this your PCLos is configured for the new card and you should be okay rebooting ;)The same trick works in Mandriva too.- If NOT, ( and you use another distro then PCLos or Mandriva ) please let us know what distro you are using Bruno

[boilertech]

Yes. I am running PCLinux. Thanks you for your help I can now boot into linux. But, I do not think my Nvidia card is supported. I had to choose vesa as my card to get it to load.

I am not sure I remember correctly what distro you are using . . . but I think to remember it is "PCLos"

I bet ya that I could just post " I have a problem" and Bruno would know what to do to fix it.

[striker]

great, try it and we'll see

[teacher]

Find out which card you have. Then go to Synaptic and search for nvidia and see what is there. I bet you just need to install the right software.Did you install from this version? pclinuxos-p92-nvidia7676That should have been the version you selected. It has the correct drivers. You want to go to synaptic and add this file:nvidia-1.0-7676_GLX-1-1tex.i586.rpm

[Bruno]

Yes. I am running PCLinux. Thanks you for your help I can now boot into linux. But, I do not think my Nvidia card is supported. I had to choose vesa as my card to get it to load.I bet ya that I could just post " I have a problem" and Bruno would know what to do to fix it.

LOL . . . . glad it worked and you are back in the GUI again :DI wonder about the drivers, did your PCLos use the nvidia drivers for your previous card ?? Did you have 3D accelleration ? And the same question as Teacher: what ISO did you use ? The standard or the nvidia one ?If it is the standard one you will need next to the "nvidia-1.0-7676_GLX-1-1tex.i586.rpm" package also the "dkms-nvidia-1.0-7676 1-1tex" "dkms-minimal 2.0.9-1tex""shareutils 4.2.1-15tex"And "kernel-pclos-source" with matching version number for the kernel you are running.If you need help doing this . . let me know Bruno . . . I only see now that the thread is called "PCLinuxOS" . . . . . . . . man, you had me fooled !

[boilertech]

I have all the packages installed (some updated versions) except shareutils 4.2.1-15tex, This one is not in my list. Yes my pre. card had nvidia drivers. Yes I had 3D. Installed ver. was pclinuxos-p92-nvidia7676. One thought is my kernel-pclos-source is kernel-pclos-source-stripped-2.6#2.6.12-oci6.mdk.Not sure what the "stripped" means. Bruno, After that April fools joke (ya got me good). I had to get ya back.

[teacher]

Stripped means bare-bones. No wireless, no ati or nvidia, or anything else. It is the plain vanilla kernel without any of the features you need. You should probably stay away from the stripped kernels unless you plan to do something unusual or roll your own kernel. Go to synaptic and pick another kernel - and see what a difference it makes. It will be added to your lilo automatically so you will just have to select the new kernel upon rebooting.

[boilertech]

Ok Changed my source file from striped to kernel-pclos-source-2.6#2.6.13-oci2.mdkAlso tried to install dkms-nvidia-1.0-8178 Still no luck. Boot process shows Nvidia driver loaded but still the card is set to Vesa When I run glxgearsI get this

Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".glxgears: Error: couldn't get an RGB, Double-buffered visual.

[teacher]

Just switching kernels won't do it. Next you have to go to the PCLinuxOS Control Center or type XFdrake as su and change to the correct driver. By all means Test first!

[boilertech]

I did not change kernel just the source type from "stripped". I have tried to change the card by XFdrake and the only one that works (no I did not try all) is vesa. I also downloaded the newest ver of Nvidia drivers_1.0-8756This also did not work.

[Bruno]

Ok Changed my source file from striped to kernel-pclos-source-2.6#2.6.13-oci2.mdkAlso tried to install dkms-nvidia-1.0-8178 Still no luck. Boot process shows Nvidia driver loaded . . .

Well, with this part it looks like everything is in place . . . . .

I also downloaded the newest ver of Nvidia drivers_1.0-8756

Where did you get those from ?? Was this a dkms package ??Can you show me

# lsmod

to see if the driver is loaded ? Bruno

After that April fools joke (ya got me good). I had to get ya back.

fair play to you my friend !!! . . LOL

[boilertech]

Where did you get those from ?? Was this a dkms package ??

Nvidia Drivers

[root@localhost mike]# lsmodModule				  Size  Used bybinfmt_misc			 8520  1nfsd				  217620  9exportfs				4448  1 nfsdlockd				  57800  2 nfsdnfs_acl				 2720  1 nfsdsunrpc				125220  13 nfsd,lockd,nfs_aclsnd_seq_dummy		   2532  0snd_seq_oss			28512  0snd_seq_midi_event	  5632  1 snd_seq_osssnd_seq				44848  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_eventsnd_seq_device		  6764  3 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seqsnd_pcm_oss			45824  0snd_mixer_oss		  15200  1 snd_pcm_osssnd_intel8x0		   27744  2snd_ac97_codec		 75260  1 snd_intel8x0snd_pcm				74500  4 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codecsnd_timer			  19620  3 snd_seq,snd_pcmsnd_page_alloc		  8168  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcmsnd					44004  11 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timersoundcore			   6592  1 sndppdev				   7012  0lp					  9640  0parport_pc			 24100  1parport				29768  3 ppdev,lp,parport_pcforcedeth			  15936  0af_packet			  15848  2button				  4848  0thermal				10952  0processor			  19004  1 thermalfan					 3172  0ac					  3332  0battery				 8196  0usbmouse				4096  0usbkbd				  5600  0ide_cd				 37188  0loop				   12808  0ntfs				   93200  2reiserfs			  247444  1nls_iso8859_1		   3744  3nls_cp850			   4544  1vfat					9760  1fat					45052  1 vfatrealtime				3880  0commoncap			   5024  1 realtimepcspkr				  3032  0amd64_agp			   9704  0nvidia			   4066992  0agpgart				28328  2 amd64_agp,nvidiausbhid				 42080  0evdev				   7232  0bttv				  150064  0video_buf			  16516  1 bttvfirmware_class		  7232  1 bttvi2c_algo_bit			8552  1 bttvv4l2_common			 4608  1 bttvbtcx_risc			   3784  1 bttvtveeprom			   10256  1 bttvi2c_core			   16336  3 bttv,i2c_algo_bit,tveepromvideodev				6944  1 bttvdm_mod				 49052  0ehci_hcd			   27144  0ohci_hcd			   18308  0usbcore			   103644  6 usbmouse,usbkbd,usbhid,ehci_hcd,ohci_hcdsata_vsc				4996  0sata_via				5476  0sata_svw				5060  0sata_sil				6020  0sata_promise			7748  0sata_nv				 6052  0sx8					14348  0sata_uli				4288  0sata_sx4			   10660  0sata_sis				4192  0sata_qstor			  6660  0pata_pdc2027x		   6980  0ahci					8932  0BusLogic			   75028  0aic7xxx			   178108  0scsi_transport_spi	 17504  1 aic7xxxsg					 32700  0sr_mod				 14852  0cdrom				  36224  2 ide_cd,sr_modata_piix				7076  0sd_mod				 15504  0libata				 39844  13 sata_vsc,sata_via,sata_svw,sata_sil,sata_promis							  e,sata_nv,sata_uli,sata_sx4,sata_sis,sata_qstor,pata_pdc2027x,ahci,ata_piixscsi_mod			  121672  10 sata_promise,sata_sx4,ahci,BusLogic,aic7xxx,scs							  i_transport_spi,sg,sr_mod,sd_mod,libataext3				  119688  1jbd					46488  1 ext3

I wonder. Could it help to uninstall all Nvidia drivers (none are working now) and try again from scratch?

Edited April 16, 2006 by boilertech

[Bruno]

I wonder. Could it help to uninstall all Nvidia drivers (none are working now) and try again from scratch?

Well . . . from what I see: the driver is loaded and should work if we apply the correct settings.Please show me:

# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Bruno

[boilertech]

[root@localhost mike]# cat /etc/X11/xorg.confSection "Monitor"	Identifier "monitor1"	VendorName "Plug'n Play"	ModelName "A90f+"	HorizSync 30.0 - 86.0	VertRefresh 50.0 - 150.0	ModeLine "768x576" 50.0 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630	ModeLine "768x576" 63.1 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616EndSectionSection "Device"	Identifier "device1"	Driver "vesa"	Option "DPMS"EndSectionSection "Screen"	Identifier "screen1"	Device "device1"	Monitor "monitor1"	DefaultColorDepth 16	Subsection "Display"		Depth 8		Virtual 1024 768	EndSubsection	Subsection "Display"		Depth 15		Virtual 1024 768	EndSubsection	Subsection "Display"		Depth 16		Virtual 1024 768	EndSubsection	Subsection "Display"		Depth 24		Virtual 1024 768	EndSubsectionEndSection# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder3)  Wed Mar 29 14:43:26 PST 2006# File generated by XFdrake.# **********************************************************************# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of# this file.# **********************************************************************Section "ServerLayout"	Identifier "layout1"	InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"	InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"	Screen "screen1"EndSectionSection "Files"	# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)	# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of	# the X server to render fonts.	FontPath "unix/:-1"EndSectionSection "Module"	Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension	Load "v4l" # Video for Linux	Load "extmod"	Load "type1"	Load "freetype"	Load "glx" # 3D layerEndSectionSection "ServerFlags"	#DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)	# allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work	#DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)	Option "allowmouseopenfail"EndSectionSection "InputDevice"	Identifier "Keyboard1"	Driver "kbd"	Option "XkbModel" "pc105"	Option "XkbLayout" "en_US"	Option "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"EndSectionSection "InputDevice"	Identifier "Mouse1"	Driver "mouse"	Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"	Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"	Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"	Option "Buttons" "7"EndSection

[Bruno]

Looks a bit odd . . . but anyway let us make a backup first:

# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf{,-BACKUP}

Next load the file in an editor:

$ kdesu kwrite /etc/X11/xorg.conf

And change the RED part: ( 2 places ! )

Section "Monitor" Identifier "monitor1" VendorName "Plug'n Play" ModelName "A90f+" HorizSync 30.0 - 86.0 VertRefresh 50.0 - 150.0 ModeLine "768x576" 50.0 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630 ModeLine "768x576" 63.1 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616EndSectionSection "Device" Identifier "device1" Driver "nvidia" Option "DPMS"EndSectionSection "Screen" Identifier "screen1" Device "device1" Monitor "monitor1" DefaultColorDepth 16 Subsection "Display" Depth 8 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 15 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 16 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 24 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsectionEndSection# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Wed Mar 29 14:43:26 PST 2006# File generated by XFdrake.# **********************************************************************# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of# this file.# **********************************************************************Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "layout1" InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard" InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer" Screen "screen1"EndSectionSection "Files" # Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together) # By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of # the X server to render fonts. FontPath "unix/:-1"EndSectionSection "Module" Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension Load "v4l" # Video for Linux Load "extmod" Load "type1" Load "freetype" Load "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libglx.so"EndSectionSection "ServerFlags" #DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort) # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work #DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching) Option "allowmouseopenfail"EndSectionSection "InputDevice" Identifier "Keyboard1" Driver "kbd" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "en_US" Option "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"EndSectionSection "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse1" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/mouse" Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7" Option "Buttons" "7"EndSection

After the edit save the file and reboot . . . . . ATTENTION: if you get an error at boot and are thrown back at the terminal you log in as "root" and type:

# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf-BACKUP /etc/X11/xorg.conf

This will restore the original file from the backup we made . . . . next type "reboot" and you should be back in "vesa" BrunoPS: Actually the file should look like: ( a few sections are swapped )

# File generated by XFdrake.# **********************************************************************# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of# this file.# **********************************************************************Section "Files" # Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together) # By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of # the X server to render fonts. FontPath "unix/:-1"EndSectionSection "Module" Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension Load "v4l" # Video for Linux Load "extmod" Load "type1" Load "freetype" Load "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libglx.so"EndSectionSection "ServerFlags" #DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort) # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work #DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching) Option "allowmouseopenfail"EndSectionSection "InputDevice" Identifier "Keyboard1" Driver "kbd" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "en_US" Option "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"EndSectionSection "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse1" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/mouse" Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7" Option "Buttons" "7"EndSectionSection "Monitor" Identifier "monitor1" VendorName "Plug'n Play" ModelName "A90f+" HorizSync 30.0 - 86.0 VertRefresh 50.0 - 150.0 ModeLine "768x576" 50.0 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630 ModeLine "768x576" 63.1 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616EndSectionSection "Device" Identifier "device1" Driver "nvidia" Option "DPMS"EndSectionSection "Screen" Identifier "screen1" Device "device1" Monitor "monitor1" DefaultColorDepth 16 Subsection "Display" Depth 8 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 15 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 16 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 24 Virtual 1024 768 EndSubsectionEndSectionSection "ServerLayout" Identifier "layout1" InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard" InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer" Screen "screen1"EndSection# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Wed Mar 29 14:43:26 PST 2006

[boilertech]

i tried it both ways. First, just changing those two lines. Second was complete copy and paste of the second one.This is a screen shot of what happens both times. http://webpages.charter.net/boilertech/dscf0165.jpg

[Bruno]

Good lord . . . . . that sure is an ugly result after all that effort isn't it ??What happens if you run "XFdrake --auto" as root in runlevel 3 and next reboot ?? BrunoPS: Sorry the pic was a bit too big . . . . I left the link

[boilertech]

It boots normaly except no Nvidia drivers and resolution maxed at 640X800. I wonder.....I ran across this http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3/stat/4/idp...f.i586.rpm.html . Should I give this a go? If so with all the dependencies what order should I install or is there a repository I can add to auto check dependencies?No prob about removing pic. I agree that it is too big.

[Bruno]

Well the dkms package is in the Tex repositories . . . and basically it should already be installed if you had the pclinuxos-p92-nvidia7676 version.I am afraid you mixed too many packages already . . . . . getting the drivers from the Nvidia site and using their script to adapt the xorg.conf.I wonder: If you boot the Live CD ( pclinuxos-p92-nvidia7676 version ) do you get the Nvidia-splash when running it Live ?? ( basically it should show ) Bruno

[boilertech]

No. Live Cd sets my card as "vesa". No splash screen. Could this card be too new?

[sunrat]

I have a very similar problem with the PCLos Games DVD. I think PCLos doesn't like my computer as most releases I've tried won't work properly.If I boot the Live DVD with no parameters, it loads nvidia drivers, but freezes just before the desktop should appear. If I set xdrv=nv it boots normally but obviously no 3D games are playable, which kind of spoils the whole GamesDVD idea anyway. My video card is Gigabyte GeForce FX 5500 128mb, and it works well in most distros I've tried (SUSE,Kanotix, Debian)In fact ppracer runs perfectly well in Knoppix 4.01 Games DVD Live (highly recommended) B)Also I notice the FX7600 support has only just been added in the latest driver. Also several new improvements includiing i2c support. Maybe sensors will start working.From nVidia release notes:

Linux Display Driver - IA32Version: 1.0-8756Operating System: Linux IA32Release Date: April 7, 2006Release Highlights * Adds support for GeForce 7300, GeForce 7400 Go, GeForce 7600 and GeForce 7900 GPUs. * Added support for running OpenGL applications while the Composite X extension is enabled; see "The X Composite Extension" appendix for details. * Enabled hardware acceleration of the Render X extension by default. * Added "AddARGBGLXVisuals" X configuration option, so that OpenGL applications can render to X Windows' alpha channel. * Added Linux/i2c support to the NVIDIA kernel module; see the "i2c Bus Support" appendix for details. * Improved power management support with Linux >= 2.6.14 and added support for suspend-to-disk. * Added new "nvidia-auto-select" mode entry for use in the X configuration file; see description in the "Programming Modes" appendix. * Added support for GLX 1.4. * Added ability for OpenGL applications to span greater than 4096 pixels when in Xinerama. * Improved G-Sync support. * Fixed interlaced modes on CRTs. * Improved compatibility with the latest Linux 2.6 kernels

Edited April 18, 2006 by sunrat

[Bruno]

Could this card be too new?

Hi boilertech . . . there are 2 versions of PCLos 9.2:

pclinuxos-p92-nvidia7174:This version contains 3D graphic drivers from nvidia.com. This is a compatibilty release known to work with older tnt2 cards and up. TNT2 , TNT2 Pro, TNT2 Ultra, TNT2 Model 64, Vanta, Vanta LT,GeForce 256, GeForce DDR, GeForce2 GTS, GeForce2 Pro, GeForce2 Ti, GeForce2 Ultra, GeForce2 MX Integrated graphics and Quadro.pclinuxos-p92-nvidia7676:This version contains 3D graphic drivers from nvidia.com. This release gives better performance for newer nvidia products.

Very recent card will not yet be supported though . . . . the only way to solve that problem is getting the "standard version": pclinuxos-p92 put it on your HD + get the kernel source with synaptices and finally when finished installing the latest drivers from the Nvidia website yourself ( without making use of the tex dkms package ! )A bit like you have done already but this time using the "standard" PCLos and not mixing nvidia packages. ( so, NO nvidia or glx packages from synaptics . . . .only the kernel-source )

I have a very similar problem with the PCLos Games DVD.

Hi sunrat . . . . the PCLos Gamer DVD is based on an older version of PCLos ( 9.1 ) . . . . and in that release the nvidia drivers for your card were maybe not yet included. Bruno

[boilertech]

Thanks Bruno. Can I install P92 over the nvidia7676 or do I need to do a new complete install? That will most likely screw up my 7 button mouse that we worked on for a month to get working huh? If I have to do new install what would be the best way to preserve my /home folder? I do have an extra partition if needed, maybe I could do a test install first. What do you think?

[Bruno]

Oh yes . . . your mouse . . . had forgotten about that adventure already . . . . If your /home is on a separate partition you don t have to format that one . . . just the /partition . . . but even then you will loose the xorg.conf you adapted and the ¨imwheel¨ you installed.So maybe it is indeed a good idea to do a test-install on a spare partition so you can experiment a bit without messing too much up. ( I think I would do a test install myself too if I was in your shoes ) Bruno

[boilertech]

Great idea...I will let ya'll know how it turns out

[boilertech]

That was a mistake. I installed p-92 on hda5. It formated as reisers, my original linux on hda6 is ext3. Lilo would not let me run from hda6 because the image wanted it to be reisers and not ext3 (I don't understand this). reinstalled p-92 and formated hda5 as ext3. Configured lilo but had to edit my fstab for hda5 and change to ext3. (hard to remember vim commands when you don't do it enough). So....Clean install p-92, downloaded and installed Nvidia's drivers and no luck at all. I am going to stop trying to get this video card to work and will wait for pclinux to catch up and hopefully soon the drivers will be updated. Thanks for all the help.Mike.........

[Bruno]

Ouch Mike . . .that sure soundslike a whole lot of troubles you had there !!Anyway, we all hopethere will be a new PCLos soon Bruno

[boilertech]

After all the changing of drivers...I ended up with 2 xorg.conf files. And about 7 backups. While reading online I found that my mouse side buttons stoped working. :'( I began by checking with "xev" and my buttons 6 7 changed to 8 9.I compaired my xorg.conf file with my backups. Found alot of video setting changes but nothing with my mouse. I restored a backup of xorg.conf then Had to change

xmodmap -e "pointer =1 2 3 6 7 4 5 "

to

xmodmap -e "pointer = 1 2 3 8 9 4 5 6 7 "

No problems mouse is ok now easy fix.I (not sure why I tried again) ran glxgears. Usually I get errors. Now it works. Almost 500 fps (is that good?) I dont have nvidia as the driver . It is "vesa". So.....What do I have? 3d works? I don't understand

[Bruno]

Hi boilertechGlad your 7 button mouse is working okay again !! . . You are becoming our resident expert on this, and I will call in your help if there is another member that needs help with his mouse ! About the 3D . . . . I hate to disappoint you . . . but with 500 FPS you do not have 3D acceleration . . . . ( not having a Nvidia or ATI card is the main reason for this ) . . . you need a number in the range of 500,000 FPS :'( Bruno