Newbie: Can't login after nVidia driver installation, other boot issues

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hi,

I am new to OpenSUSE, was using Ubuntu for the last 2 years but wanted to give the latest OpenSUSE 12.2 (64-bit) a spin. As to be expected, I ran into a few problems after the installation that I need help with. My main issue is that I am unable to login after the installation of the nVidia driver.

I created a Live KDE USB and installed it from there. I opted to dual-boot with my existing Ubuntu 12.04 partition but chose not to install GRUB (I ran update-grub from Ubuntu after the installation and it added entries for OpenSUSE to GRUB menu).

However, it added multiple entries (6 in total) for OpenSUSE. I forgot to remove the installation USB before running update-grub, but that still doesn’t explain why so many entries were generated. Anybody knows?

Now to my real problem:

I am using the one-click method found here (SDB:NVIDIA drivers - openSUSE) in order to install the nVidia driver. My card is nVidia GTX 260 so I used the button for current cards (Geforce 6 and newer) to install. The installation went fine and I restarted the computer. However, instead of the login screen, I only see the empty desktop (lizzard background image) and no login window so I am unable to login. Also, the screen extends slightly to the right so my mouse dissapears when I move it to the right screen edge. As I understand, the driver version I’ve installed is 304.64.

I’ve tried to install the nVidia driver both directly after a fresh OpenSUSE installation and also after all of the updates have been applied, with the same outcome (no login screen). I’ve managed to revert to Nouvou driver by removing the nVidia one and everything works fine again (I can login without problems).

And finally, the Plymouth is never shown (neither with Nouvou nor nVidia driver), all I get after selecting OpenSUSE from GRUB is console output, and eventually, the login screen is shown. Why is this?

Could anybody help me resolve the issues above? I will happily provide all of the necessary details, if needed. I am really happy with what I’ve seen otherwise and I can see OpenSUSE replacing my Ubuntu installation eventually but I REALLY need to be able to install and use the nVidia driver before that can happen.

Thank you in advance.

Kind Regards,
Veroslav

2

but that still doesn’t explain why so many entries were generated. Anybody knows?

Ubuntu bug?. Is a known issue anyway.

finally, the Plymouth is never shown
If you use Ubuntu grub, then no

Assuming you are now using Nouveau - Please open Yast software manager, make sure you have the nvidia repo enabled,
Normally, for me anyway, the software management will auto select the nvidia driver for install

Now just as a side note, check your kernel, if you used the cd it’s usually the default flavour

uname -a

Now check in software manager
View the nvidia repo and you should see selected or you should mark

x11-video-nvidiaG02-304.60-21.1.x86_64
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-default-304.60_k3.4.6_2.10-20.1.x86_64
nvidia-computeG02-304.60-21.1.x86_64

That is if you have default kernel

Mine is using desktop, so I see

x11-video-nvidiaG02-304.60-21.1.x86_64
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-desktop-304.60_k3.4.6_2.10-20.1.x86_64
nvidia-computeG02-304.60-21.1.x86_64

Is this making sense?

Or do you know you already had exactly as I am describing?

3

p.s: I didn’t update my nvidia driver, I know there is a newer on in the repo

4

Hi caf4926,

thank you for your fast reply.

I will investigate the multiple GRUB menu entries further at Ubuntu forums, thanks for explaining that it is a Ubuntu related issue.

Also, will probably do a complete re-install of OpenSUSE and choose to install GRUB this time, unless there is a simpler way to do this directly from my current installation? Perhaps grub-install followed by update-grub?

I am currently at work but I will have a look at software manager as you’ve described above, when I am at home tonight. I will also provide the output of the uname command (I haven’t installed any kernel updates this time around, just installed and uninstalled the nVidia driver on a fresh installation).

I don’t remeber the exact version of the nVidia packages you mentioned (I know I had them installed though, because I removed them through yast in order to get the novoue driver back, I THINK the version was 304.64, which SHOULD be the newest one that is currently found in nVidia repository), will have to check.

Is there any way to try an older driver, perhaps 304.60, the one you’re currently using for instance?

Thanks again for your input, it is helpful.

Kind Regards,
Veroslav

5

Hi again,

now I am at home and ready to do some more debugging.

I have the “nVidia Graphics Drivers” repo enabled in Yast (Yast->Software Repositories), the URL is ftp://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/12.2/.

uname -a gives the following:

user@linux-vxq0:~> uname -a
Linux linux-vxq0 3.4.6-2.10-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Jul 26 09:36:26 UTC 2012 (641c197) x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Looking at the contents of the nVidia repo (Yast->Software Management->Repositories), I can see, among the others, the following packages (none are installed, which is ok I guess, as I am currently running on Nouveau):

nvidia-computeG02 (304.64-22.1)
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-default (304.64-k3.4.6_2.10-21.1)
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-desktop (304.64-k3.4.6_2.10-21.1)
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-pae (304.64-k3.4.6_2.10-21.1)
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-desktop (304.64-k3.4.6_2.10-21.1)
x11-video-nvidiaG02 (304.64-22.1)

I was searching the Internet for answers and I am starting to think that the driver itself installs correctly, but that it being installed prevents lightdm from starting correctly, some kind of conflict there. Am I on the right track here?

I would really appreciate some help and tips. Should I re-install the nVidia driver and try to start lightdm manually from tty console?

Thanks for any advices!

Kind Regards,
Veroslav

6

Well,

I went forward and updated all of the installed software to the latest versions. This also updated the kernel to the following version:

user@linux-vxq0:~> uname -a
Linux linux-vxq0 3.4.11-2.16-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Sep 26 17:05:00 UTC 2012 (259fc87) x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

After the update was done, I was asked to reboot, so I did that. On the next login, I opted to again try one-click install of the nVidia-driver from here:

SDB:NVIDIA drivers - openSUSE

The install went without any problems. However, when looking up the installed driver packages in yast, it appears as though the nVidia driver was compiled for the previous kernel version (3.4.6-2.10)!

# Status             Package                        | Summary                                  | Installed (Available)     |       Size

[Keep]               nvidia-computeG02              | NVIDIA driver for computing with GPGPU   | 304.64-22.1               |   19.7 MiB
[Keep]               nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-desktop      | NVIDIA graphics driver kernel module ... | 304.64_k3.4.6_2.10-21.1   |   33.3 MiB
[Keep]               x11-video-nvidiaG02            | NVIDIA graphics driver for GeForce 6x... | 304.64-22.1               |  158.9 MiB

Could this have something to do with my original problem? Shouldn’t the driver be compiled against the currently installed kernel (3.4.11-2.16)? If yes, how can I make it do that?

/Veroslav

7

I managed to solve it!!

I was analyzing the Xorg.0.log for some clues and then it hit me, as I also saw it in the log, that I had my tv attached to the computer through hdmi, so in effect I had two screens connected. This probably meant that the display was shown across the two screens (computer and tv) and the login screen must have gotten on the tv instead of on computer screen.

Anyway, I disconnected the tv cable, restarted, and everything was working perfectly, I managed to log in! lol!

Thanks!

Kind Regards,
Veroslav