Can't boot to GUI after update

English Multimedia
#1

Hello everybody,

today, I updated my OpenSuse 11.1 to 11.3. Since then, I can no longer enter GNOME, just the shell. Something like “gdmdisplay lasted x seconds” is diplayed several times. I have read on the web that there is a problem with NVIDIA cards (I have a Geforce 6200 LE). So far, I tried the following:

  1. typing “nomodeset” to the boot options

  2. adding device=“fbdev” to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf, then blacklisting nouveau

  3. installing the proprietary nvidia driver:

zypper ar -f ftp://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/11.3/ nvidia
zypper install x11-video-nvidiaG02

When I do this, the system tries to retrieve metadata for the nvidia repository for a long time, then times out. And yes, I have internet, ping works.

  1. downloading the nvidia driver and installing it manually - this aborts with the message that “kernel-source” can’t be found.

Nothing of the above worked, so I am here, desperately asking you. Please help me. I’m writing this from Windows. that’s so humilating.

#2

You say ‘Update’ from 11.1 > 11.3
Or I hope you mean ‘New Install’

nVidia Driver via Repo in 11.3 - Guide

openSUSE Graphic Card Practical Theory Guide for Users

#3

Well, I used the DVD, which offered me to update my old Version. So, I didn’t update it via network, if that is what you mean. And thank you for the links, but I had already read them, and, as I wrote, the steps recommended there did not work.

#4

Please try running this as su -
from the CLI

**zypper ref

zypper up**

#5

By the way, how can I install the dependencies for the nvidia driver (gcc, make and
kernel-sources) manually? I tried “zypper install kernel-source”, but then again, after trying to retrieve metadata for the nvidia repository for a long time, zypper times out.

#6

You can get to yast like this
Boot to Level 3, then Yast and More…

#7

Both zypper ref and zypper up result in zypper looking for the metadata for the nvidia repository.

#8

Go to yast the way I showed
Check your packages and install what you may need

#9

Maybe I have ruined the system completely, but installing software with yast does not work, just as it does not work with zypper. When I go to Yast’s “Software managment” section, it simply tries to load the repositories for a long time, but doesn’t finish it. I tried to disable the Nvidia repository via yast, but yast software managment still doesn’t finish loading, and when I try to install something via zypper, it doesn’t do anything, not even showing a message. It’s hopeless.

#10

Looks like a New install is in order

#11

But if 11.3 does not work with my graphical device now - why should it do that next time? A new install would just bring me back to the start of my journey. Or maybe I should go back to 11.1?

#12

A clean install (keep /home if you must) should work out of the box.
Every install I have done of 11.3 with nvidia graphics has work just fine without installing the nvidia driver.
I did one yesterday on a GeForce8 11.3 Gnome, all done in under an hour with all the updates and full multi-media

Though in that case I didn’t add the nvidia driver, in most I have after it’s running.
No messing, just as described here:
nVidia Driver via Repo in 11.3 - Guide

I see no reason why it should not work

#13

I couldn’t believe it, but you’re right. A new install worked. I didn’t even have to apply the steps from your guide. Thank you for your support!

#14

No problem.
Happy to help