11.3 can not enable Desktop Composition

[DrGranit]

Hello,

after updating from 11.2 to 11.3 I am no longer able to enable desktop composition.
On 11.2 I fixed this via installing the Nvidia driver, sadly when trying that on 11.3 it tells me there is some issue with my Kernel version. I have found a thread suggesting to install the 195... nvidia driver version, but that results in the same Error.

What driver do I need or how can I fix this?

My sysinfo:

OS Information
OS: Linux 2.6.34-12-xen i686
System: openSUSE 11.3 (i586)
KDE: 4.4.4 (KDE 4.4.4) "release 2"

Display Info
Vendor: nVidia Corporation
Model: GeForce 9650M GT
2D driver: fbdev
3D driver: swrast (No 3D Acceleration) (7.8.2))

[malcolmlewis]

Hello,

after updating from 11.2 to 11.3 I am no longer able to enable desktop
composition.
On 11.2 I fixed this via installing the Nvidia driver, sadly when
trying that on 11.3 it tells me there is some issue with my Kernel
version. I have found a thread suggesting to install the 195... nvidia
driver version, but that results in the same Error.

What driver do I need or how can I fix this?

My sysinfo:

OS Information
OS: Linux 2.6.34-12-xen i686
System: openSUSE 11.3 (i586)
KDE: 4.4.4 (KDE 4.4.4) "release 2"

Display Info
Vendor: nVidia Corporation
Model: GeForce 9650M GT
2D driver: fbdev
3D driver: swrast (No 3D Acceleration) (7.8.2))

Hi
Have you checked the kernel version vs the kernel-source you have
installed? Did you reboot?

You should be looking at the latest driver for your card version 256.35?

--
Cheers Malcolm ��� (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.32.13-0.4-default
up 16:27, 2 users, load average: 0.00, 0.03, 0.01
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - Driver Version: 256.35

[DrGranit]

Ok So, after I tried the things suggested for 11.3 M6 which were: trying version 195, blacklisting nouvou, and booting with nomodeset to install the driver.
The driver then installed but with many errors. Which lead to a system that wouldn't startx. So I tried the -ignoreABI option, didn't work. So I reinstalled from scratch.
Now my system goes dark in brightness automatically. When I turn it up it works but then within a second goes smoothly back to dark. No matter what battery mode I am in.

Despite the shocking events of the last driver install attempt I followed your advice and tried installing it again on this now fresh from the DVD coming system.
And the driver tells me it can't find my kernel-source and I should make sure that I got it installed. I have just looked in YAST and it shows me that the kernel source isn't installed. I am going to install it and try again. If the system crashes again I will start doubting my suitability for it.

Good thing though firefox is running quick again and still has all plugins

any other ideas?

regards
Granit

[DrGranit]

Alright seems the brightness issue resolved itself after a simple restart.

[DrGranit]

Nope when I ran the installation it tells me it can't find kernel thingy "nvidia.ko".
Which is pretty much exactly where I managed to kill the system last time.

But I just noticed that under sysinfo it now says:

Vendor: nVidia Corporation
Model: GeForce 9650M GT
2D driver: nouveau
3D driver: nouveau Gallium (7.8.2

still get the same msg when trying to enable composition.
"suspended by another application"

what am I supposed to do?

[jdmcdaniel3]

The ability to install the nVidia binary driver has changed under openSUSE 11.3 and requires a few extra steps to perform. oldcpu has a write up you may want to look at:

SDB:Configuring graphics cards - openSUSE

After reading that here is the steps I take to install the nVidia driver when I install openSUSE 11.3.

1. During the install, when you have the option to change your booting setup, I add nomodeset to the kernel load command for the normal load/start of openSUSE. This kernel startup option is already present for the Failsafe selection for openSUSE.
2. During the first start of openSUSE, I download the latest nVidia Video driver to the downloads folder.
3. I change/save the System/Kernel option NO_KMS_IN_INITRD from "No" to "Yes" in the /etc/sysconfig Editor in Yast.
4. I do an update of openSUSE on the first run of openSUSE and then a restart/reboot.
5. In grub OS selection I add the command line option "3" to the openSUSE start line so that I just go to the run level three terminal prompt.
6. I login in as root and change to the /home/user/Downloads folder.
7. I run/install the NVIDIA video driver using "sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.35.run" and answer all questions as appropriate for my system.
8. Type in reboot at terminal prompt to restart the system with new video driver.

Thank You,

[DrGranit]

This is an exact copy of what I did to kill my system just about 4 hours ago. I did everything you said apart from:
3. I change/save the System/Kernel option NO_KMS_IN_INITRD from "No" to "Yes" in the /etc/sysconfig Editor in Yast.
And I of course didn't set nomodeset during the install (as I discovered the issue after installing) but I did set it manually.

Are you telling me that that is the only reason why I couldn't start my Xview anymore?
couse after following this advice earlier today the only thing I got out of it was,
the error msg: FATAL error no screens found

can you confirm that this particular step will mean that this won'T happen again?

[DrGranit]

FINALLY!

I followed your steps once again, and it finally works, I assume when updating my initial 11.2 must have had something that broke the whole thing.
Which would explain why the version installed from scratch now works with your plan.

Many thanks
a happy Granit

[jdmcdaniel3]

Yes, the new procedure is kind of a pain, but once you see what is going on, it does work and not that much more complicated. The three things that seem to be true to me are:

1. nomdoeset must be a kernel load option to allow the nVidia driver to install & load normally.
2. We still must get to run level 3 as always to load the nVidia binary driver
4. The "NO_KMS_IN_INITRD = Yes" setting prevents the default nvidia driver included with openSUSE from loading along with the nVidia binary driver, at the same time.

At least this is how I interpret this. Others may and can disagree here if they wish.

Thank You,

[jaanusa]

Same thing here - after updating from 11.2 to 11.3 I can't enable anymore desktop composition (GeForce 9500GT with nouveau/nouveau Gallium drivers). When I tried to modify desktop effects settings my system freeses completely. As I have enabled destop wallpaper slideshow there was noticeable slowdown during change of desktop picture.
Added momodeset to kernel load option, the setting "NO_KMS_IN_INITRD = Yes" was correct since 11.2 and with NVIDIA video driver system becomes much faster than it was with noveau drivers. Only strange thing that some effects are not accessible (Alt-Tab window switchers).