Video card problem on new 9.1 install?

[WmCook]

Hello, I'm am very new to Linux, got my 9.1 discs loaded the program and after help at the Installing Forum am stuck at a blank screen during the initial boot up. I looked at the How to install the nVidia driver FAQ but it seems to assume that Linux is up and running. It states that I should "Open a console and type the following command" The only way that I can find to get to a console is to boot from the installation disk then go to rescue and console. When I type the instructions from the FAQ it says that it is a bad command or the directory is not found. Am I chasing the wrong rabbit? Shouldn't this video card work without the updated drivers? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

AMD 2500+

EPOX EP-8RDA+

Mitsumi CDR

ASUS V7100PRO64Pure64MB Video

WD HD 80GB 7200RPM 8MB WD800JB

Logitech Keyboard and Mouse

[aru]

Try to boot passing the '3' runlevel to lilo at boot (press 'ESC' on lilo menu, and type 'linux 3' w/o quotes.

 

Maybe you can boot this way and try further fixes

[bvc]

failsafe will also take you to init 3 and you'll log in as root. You need to be root to do this.

[bvc@localhost bvc]$ su

Password:

[root@localhost bvc]#

 

su <hit Enter>

Password: <type_roots_password and hit Enter>

[mtweidmann]

Did the graphics configuration work when you tested it during the install?

[WmCook]

I am forced to humbly reply: How do I test the graphics configuration during the install?

[bvc]

At the end of the install there's a Summary screen. In the list there should be an option to Configure X or the like and doing the config from here should give you an option to test the config. It's not necessary to go back and do another install though. From the (DOS like) console (init 3) mode you can run as root;

 

drakconf

 

and reconfigure X and this should allow you to test as well.

 

Are you able to get to the console (init 3)?

[WmCook]

I was able to test. The screen went blank and then returned me to the command line - I'm guessing that this was not the desired outcome.

[Steve Scrimpshire]

That was definitely not the desired outcome. If you can get to a console again, try running:

 

depmod -a

 

(as root) and see if you can then get into X. Are there any errors when you get to a console and then try

 

startx

 

?

[WmCook]

When I ran "depmod -a" the cursor returned and blinked for about 5 seconds then the command line reappeared. I then entered "startx" and got the same blank screen that I eventually arive at when I boot normally.

[Steve Scrimpshire]

The

 

depmod -a

 

is a command to "handle dependency descriptions for loadable kernel modules". I know there was at least one video card module that for some reason didn't get to run depmod after installing itself. It was worth on shot on this issue.

[Guest jack smack]

After you've installed the driver did you change your XF86Config-4 file? If you didn't, boot like they told you and as root type this:

 

vi /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

 

then scroll down to where it says:

 

Driver "nv"

 

press i then change "nv" to "nvidia"

 

now press escape and type ":wq" without the quotes here

 

reboot normally and it should work

[bvc]

What driver did you choose for your card? To find out, after you are root;

 

cat /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

 

Look in the Device Section....it looks like this;

Section "Device"

   Identifier "device1"

   BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce2 DDR (generic)"

   Driver "nvidia"

EndSection

 

What's your 'Driver'?

[WmCook]

I did not load the files because when I typed "urpmi binutils" It stated: "Everything already installed"

when I checked /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 it looked like:

 

Section "Device"

Identifier "device1"

BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce2 DDR (generic)"

Driver "nvidia"

Option "DPMS"

EndSection

 

Is the "option DPMS" a problem are the drivers loaded? Should I reload them (If so, how?) I am grateful for all of the help

[bvc]

Do you know how to edit a file from init 3? Because the first thing I'd try is changing

Driver "nvidia"

to

Driver "nv"

 

and in the Modules Section (see below) #comment out

Load "glx"

 

This will tell X to use the XFree86 driver (nv) instead of nvidias (nvidia). Did you instal the nvidia driver or do you have the Pro Edititon or whatever it is that comes with nvidia. Because they usually aren't very good to begin with. It's best to get the nvidia driver from http://www.nvidia.com

 

Can you post the entire XF86Config-4 file or at least the Modules Section?

Section "Module"

   Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension

   #Load "v4l" # Video for Linux

   Load "extmod"

   Load "type1"

   Load "freetype"

   Load "glx" # 3D layer

EndSection

 

 

 

 

If you want to continue trying your current driver make sure your module section looks exactly like mine above. Don't remove entries....#comment them out with a '#'. DPMS? is fine...I just moved mine to be with all my other options....that's why you don't see it :wink: The driver loads when X starts. That's all that is necessary.

 

here, for how to edit;

http://www.mandrakeusers.org/viewtopic.php?t=4463

 

installing nvidia;

http://www.mandrakeusers.org/viewtopic.php?t=4567