noob + OpenSuse 11.0 + nvidia = frustration

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

Hello,

I am trying to leave Windows behind, so I am trying desperately to use the OS 11.0 KDE LiveCD to test out Linux. I have been trying for days with no progress. Thus far, I have verified the md5sum of the ISO image. I have burned the iso to CD using the the “disk at once” option. I have used the utility on the LiveCD to verify the burn went well. When I try to load the LiveCD normally, I get an error that the xserver cant start and I am place at the CommandLine Interface. I have since tried passing “vga=788” to the kernal, booting in failsafe, booting with the vesa option. all have failed to start x. At the command line I have tried:
sax2 -V 0:800x600@75
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
sax2 -V 0:1024x768@60
sax2 -V 0:800x600@60
Each time I get “xc: abort”
sax2 -p gives “chip: 0 is nvidia GeForce 6600 LE AGP”
My system is an Acer Aspire T160, with an nvidia 6600LE in a PCIE slot. Any help you can provide would be great. Keep in mind that I am new to sys admin in Linux. Thanks in advanced.

#2

I know this isn’t much help but if you have the bandwidth to spare I’d suggest downloading the DVD install disk.

I had the same problem as you with the live CD and my RADEON card.

#3

Mavrick13927 wrote:

>
> Hello,
>
> I am trying to leave Windows behind, so I am trying desperately to use
> the OS 11.0 KDE LiveCD to test out Linux. I have been trying for days
> with no progress. Thus far, I have verified the md5sum of the ISO
> image. I have burned the iso to CD using the the “disk at once”
> option. I have used the utility on the LiveCD to verify the burn went
> well. When I try to load the LiveCD normally, I get an error that the
> xserver cant start and I am place at the CommandLine Interface. I have
> since tried passing “vga=788” to the kernal, booting in failsafe,
> booting with the vesa option. all have failed to start x. At the
> command line I have tried:
> sax2 -V 0:800x600@75
> sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
> sax2 -V 0:1024x768@60
> sax2 -V 0:800x600@60
> Each time I get “xc: abort”
> sax2 -p gives “chip: 0 is nvidia GeForce 6600 LE AGP”
> My system is an Acer Aspire T160, with an nvidia 6600LE in a PCIE slot.
> Any help you can provide would be great. Keep in mind that I am new to
> sys admin in Linux. Thanks in advanced.
>
>

try:

sax2 -r -m 0=nv

nv is the built-in nvidia driver (no3D) while nvidia is the 3D driver which
needs to be installed later.

Quite often I’ve found that the Xorg.conf that gets written is faulty in some
way… try this too: (as root of course)

cd /etc/X11
cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.saved
cp xorg.conf.install xorg.conf

then type ‘reboot’ to reboot machine (there are better ways, but longer to
explain)

This saves the current xorg.conf, and then copies the xorg.conf used during
install into the default setup.

This usually brings back a working system, which can then be tweaked to your
liking. (and you can always do this again if you tweak it too far)

Loni

L R Nix
lornix@lornix.com

#4

When you are dropped to the command line, try:

>dmesg | more

This will display the kernel boot log. You should find your kernel boot line and also should see the attempt to load vesafb, the vesa framebuffer device. SuSE attempts to use framebuffer in order to display graphics before the X server is started. You may find some info helpful to diagnosing the problem.

#5

Thank you for your suggestions. Below are my responses to each of the suggestions above, in order.

I only want to try SUSE for now to see if I like it. So downloading the DVD to install is not really what I am after right now.

I tried:
sax2 -r -m 0=nv
and still got the error msg “xc: abort” with x failing to start.

If I copy the xorg.conf file and then reboot, won’t that all get written over when I reboot as it is only getting written into RAM since this is a live CD.

I looked at the kernel boot log using dmesg | more. I did not see anything of use to me, then again I’m not a Linux sys admin iether.

Any other suggestions? SUSE seems like it would be a good fit for what I want if I can just get it to work. I’ve tried switching from Windows to Linux a few times now and each time I run into issues like this. It’s rather frustrating.

#6

I think the problem is you need to use the DVD.
With the DVD you can specify manually to use the fbdev driver after installation:
“sax2 -r -m 0=fbdev” which the live CD doesn’t have.

One thing to try.
Go to the boot splash screen and on the line type init 3 and hit enter.
type Root and then pass.
Then type “sax2 -r -a -m 0=nv” and see if it wants to configure.
If so test and save…exit and reboot

#7

For what it is worth,

I have the nv 6600 gt with pcie connection as well in an AMD-64 architecture. Rather than the live-cd I installed the dvd x86
_64 version without trouble.

I could not read what version you are trying to install other than OS 11.0 KDE. Perhaps you want to test drive the GNOME version and/or the 32 or 64 bit version.

Good luck!

#8

Hello

I’m having a similar problem with xserver not starting.

I posted about it in the application forum, and I should have posted in the install forum.

This seems like it might be a common problem ?

The thread is here:

Failed install…openSUSE 11… Bad DVD ? - openSUSE Forums

#9

Sorry, I should have mentioned earlier that I am trying to install the 64 bit version on an AMD 64. I have tried both the Gnome and KDE versions of the Live CD.

#10

I should have mentioned, you need to do this soon after you’ve booted, the log rolls forward. If you do:

dmesg | grep vga

you should see the kernel boot line showing the resolution requested of the framebuffer.

Doing a:

dmesg | grep vesa

Will show you the framebuffer loading specifics. Go back to “dmesg | more” and look at the lines from the vga statement through to the vesafb lines for indications of a problem. You can also post those lines here by doing this:

dmesg | cat > file
cat file

Now highlight the applicable lines in the terminal window, right-click and copy, then paste in the posting window here.