My linux box has been working fine for a few weeks now. I don't believe I have shutdown in a couple of weeks. I do Log Off when I am through however.

Anyway, I was using my computer this afternoon with no problems, then I logged off and ran a few errands. When I came back and logged on, it gives me an error about not being able to start x. I don't know why it worked fine all the other times I logged off and back on in the past couple weeks.

So when I choose Yes to show the error output, the last line shows:

NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module !

Last week I did the new nvidia driver install. Unfortunatly, I guess I screwed up something. So here I am back on my win2k machine looking for help.

su to root, do a "modprobe nvidia", exit root, and then "startx". If that works, then the driver is fine, it's the screwy Mandrake tools again. Add the nvidia line to modules.conf. If that does not work, then reinstall with the nvidia installer. I have found that any work with Mandrake tools messes up the nvidia refernces. Why? I haven't a clue!

sorry, should have mentioned that this is an FC2 machine, so it can't be Mandrake's fault. Should I still try that anyway ?

Whenever I mention "FC2" in my questions, a mod always moves it to "Other Linux Distros" - which I understand. However, sometimes that forum is like Death Valley - takes longer to get help....

Yes, do the modprobe nvidia. If it's already loaded and x still doesn't start try
rm -f /tmp/.X11-unix/X0
that's X's lock file that occationally gets defunct....or whatever Only root can delete it.

says Modprobe: command not found

I checked where modprobe is and its in /sbin/modprobe

so then I did as root:
/sbin/modprobe nvidia

and it says: FATAL: Module nvidia not found

what does;
cat /etc/modprobe.conf
say? does it have;
alias char-major-195* nvidia
in it?

yes it does have that line in it. It's the last line.

Sorry, null, it's back to Death Valley.

I think it's fair for readers to assume that posts in the main forums relate to Mandrake.

have you uninstalled and reinstalled nvidia? Install another kernel and do nvidia for it, if necessary.

I think I'm gonna move my linux box, which I just alot of money for, out of the way and put my win2k box back on my desk. I'm not in love with win2k, but at least I can sit down and use it every day. Hell of a lot better than win95/98 which are both total crap. And at least I do not use IE on it or MS office. I use Firefox and open office instead.

Even though my linux box is a better machine - hardware-wise that is - I don't want to install win2k on it. I will just wait another 6 months or so to see if linux becomes more usable.

I have tried linux off & on for the last 2 years. Each time I try it again, it is alot better than the previous time. This time I was hoping it could become my daily main machine. Almost, but not quite.

bye, and thanks for the previous help

Fedora Core is a little bit different from Mandrake. In order to do all the root commands, you have to use this command to switch user to root.

su -
(see the dash).

That way, the /usr/sbin and /sbin will be put into your path.
Mandrake doesn't need to do the - but I think it is the only distro that allows you root commands without it.

that is the second time I've heard that but I do not have to do that on my FC2