Suse 10.2 How To Install The Nvidia Driver

Suse 10.2 How to install the Nvidia Driver

I have a Nvidia GEForce 7600 GS

I believe the Nvidia driver which was installed has been un-installed by an update. The logo screen no longer shows briefly on startup and in my computer is says that the driver is unknown also Google earth reports driver missing.

Any help for a novice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Suse 10.2 How to install the Nvidia Driver

I have a Nvidia GEForce 7600 GS

I believe the Nvidia driver which was installed has been un-installed by an update. The logo screen no longer shows briefly on startup and in my computer is says that the driver is unknown also Google earth reports driver missing.
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I'm guessing that you previously installed the driver the "old" way (from the downloaded script that builds a kernel module) as opposed to using YaST to install the nvidia rpm; besides being a lot easier, the latter method maintains consistency with kernel updates (whereas the old way required you to re-build the module each time). If memory serves, it was at a mid-point along 10.2 that the nvidia repository was introduced, thereby eliminating the need to use the install script. Take a look at:

http://en.opensuse.org/NVIDIA

I'm guessing that you previously installed the driver the "old" way (from the downloaded script that builds a kernel module) as opposed to using YaST to install the nvidia rpm; besides being a lot easier, the latter method maintains consistency with kernel updates (whereas the old way required you to re-build the module each time). If memory serves, it was at a mid-point along 10.2 that the nvidia repository was introduced, thereby eliminating the need to use the install script. Take a look at:

http://en.opensuse.org/NVIDIA
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Hi

Using YASt and software update i get
---
Packages
Cannot solve all conflicts. Manual intervention is required.
Packages to Update: 5
New Packages to Install: 0
Packages to Remove: 0
Total Size of Packages to Update: 53.6 MB
---
#### YaST2 conflicts list - generated 2008-01-30 11:58:08 ####

Cannot install nvidia-gfx-kmp-default-96.43.01_2.6.18.8_0.8-0.1.x86_64[20061227-181230] because it is conflicting with nvidia-gfxG01-kmp-default
A conflict over nvidia-gfx-kmp == 96.43.01_2.6.18.8_0.8 (nvidia-gfx-kmp) requires the removal of to-be-installed nvidia-gfx-kmp-default-96.43.01_2.6.18.8_0.8-0.1.x86_64[20061227-181230]
Conflict Resolution:
( ) do not install nvidia-gfx-kmp-default
( ) do not install nvidia-gfxG01-kmp-default
( ) Ignore this conflict of nvidia-gfx-kmp-default

#### YaST2 conflicts list END ###
Any help would be appreciated - the computer is working fine - so I don't want to end up with a blue screen but to get this driver working and the conflict solved would be great. The driver is not supporting some programs Google Earth - reports missing graphics driver. I do not play games on the machine.

Thanks

Looks like you are trying to install the wrong one. the "G01" version is the one your want for your 7600, I think..

Looks like you are trying to install the wrong one. the "G01" version is the one your want for your 7600, I think..
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Hi

Thanks for the reply.

Actually the computer was working fine with
NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9755-pkg2

I have not tried to install any driver - this must have been done by an update -- probably quite recently.

The trouble is I did not set up the machine and am not conversant with the operating system - just have used this one for almost 3 years. Just done the updates and asked my colleague, about any problems but he has moved on.

I have been on the Linux site and have downloaded
NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-169.09-pkg1 which according to their site is the correct one.

The computer is working fine - except for Google earth but i do know about this driver missing etc. I just do not want the machine out of action with no screen or a blue screen?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

As a matter of interest - if I purchased Suse 10.3 and loaded it would this solve the problem?

Suse 10.2 has been very stable and i think has never never locked up or shut down during these years except when forced to shut down by me. I leave the machine on all the time.

I'm not sure if 10.3 would automatically upgrade you to the latest nVidia drivers, but it certainly would make it a lot easier to install the latest version.

You should allow Yast to uninstall the old drivers, and then install the new ones. You might have to run sax2 from a commandline after that, if rebooting doesn't work, as vestiges of the old driver might be hanging around.

marchant -

Hieronymous is right, the conflict message from Yast is because the gfx and gfxG01 versions conflict with one another. I have a 7600 card and am using the G01. Just instruct YaST to install the gfxG01 version kernel module, and be sure the G01 GL driver (x11-video-nvidiaG01) is also installed.

Using NVIDIA . . . pkg2 is a different, and bit more complicated, way to install the driver. This is a script which actually first builds (compiles) the driver from source and is matched to your kernel version; it was created by Nvidia before Nvidia began creating binary installs (i.e., rpm's) and making those avail in a SuSE repository. Installing the rpm from YaST is not only much easier, but, whenever there is an update to a newer kernel version, YaST will also update the Nvidia driver version if required. On 10.2 I initially used the script and then switched to the YaST rpm, as you're considering, and it was entirely painless.

Re going to 10.3: Since the Nvidia repo was added for 10.2, for this specific driver requirement, 10.3 and 10.2 (now) will behave the same. There are certainly advantages in 10.3, but depending on your machine and given that this is new territory for you, there could also be a few upgrade bumps. You could, as you say, "purchase" 10.3 which would give you support, but I dare say that probably issues you would encounter would be resolvable with help from the forums. In short, go to 10.3 for its value-add but not necessary to resolve your driver question.

marchant -

Hieronymous is right, the conflict message from Yast is because the gfx and gfxG01 versions conflict with one another. I have a 7600 card and am using the G01. Just instruct YaST to install the gfxG01 version kernel module, and be sure the G01 GL driver (x11-video-nvidiaG01) is also installed.

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Thanks Again - I will try this and report back.

Can I make a start-up point from where i am now.

So that if it fails it becomes an option in the suse startup menu? If so what is the procedure? <_<

Thanks

Marchant

Can I make a start-up point from where i am now.
So that if it fails it becomes an option in the suse startup menu? If so what is the procedure? <_<
Marchant
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No, I don't think so. At startup (I assume you mean the boot menu) you pass kernel parameters. The graphics driver is later loaded by the X server, which looks at the xorg.conf file for which driver to use.

To verify all is OK, after installing the driver as described above, in YaST go to Hardware/Graphics Card. This will run sax, and you should see that the Nvidia driver is installed. You can check that it is still set up correctly (resolution, etc.). Change a setting (or just change one and then change it back if the settings are OK) to force sax to offer you a test; accept that and sax will run a separate X server instance with this driver (since you will still be running with the old driver until you re-start X). If the test is OK, cancel out and log out/back in (you don't need to re-boot) and you're good to go.

If for any reason this gets borked up, it is really easy to switch to the alternative nvidia driver (named "nv") until the issue gets resolved. I won't go into how to at this point, 99% probability you won't need to. But just in case, when you're in YaST installing the new driver, also check that you have either the "pico" or "nano" editor installed, which would be used to make the switch if it came to that.

If for any reason this gets borked up, it is really easy to switch to the alternative nvidia driver (named "nv") until the issue gets resolved. I won't go into how to at this point, 99% probability you won't need to. But just in case, when you're in YaST installing the new driver, also check that you have either the "pico" or "nano" editor installed, which would be used to make the switch if it came to that.
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Hi

Just downloaded both pico and nano.

In system i had a program called Nvidia X Server settings.

First i opened it. it said the driver was missing and gave instructions how to correct.

The driver has now loaded and the Google Earth works and the Nvidia X Server settings say
NVIDIA Driver Version
100.14.19

I have rebooted and get the Nvidea screen during bootup.

On software updates in Yast there is still the conflict though, on the Nvidea driver!

I am tempted to do as you suggest. To get rid of this conflict.

Thanks

marchant