Nvidia Drivers not working again

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 3:04pm

Hello guys. I am new in the Linux world. I have just bought a new laptop, Dell Studio Xps 1340. It has two graphic cards, both nvidia, 9400M G and G210M.

I am dual booting Windows 7 64 bit and opensuse 11.2 64 bit. I have installed gcc,make and kernel-source and I also run updates and installed them all. I know Linux doesnt support hybrid sli yet.

At windows everything works fine with both cards and i can easily change between cards with no problem. At the moment and in the whole procedure of the installations of the nvidia drivers for opensuse i have used the save power battery mode to activate only the onboard graphic card 9400M G.

I only want to work my onboard graphic card. If i go to system information there is a ! on the icon and if i open system information under display info at model is blank.

I have downloaded the latest drives for nvidia for 64 bit linux and also the beta ones, 190.53 and 195.30. I have try installing both numerous time by installing the one with the ‘‘hard way’’, then not working, unistalling it and trying the other one with the same way. But again none of the drivers works.

During and at the end of the installation everything looks fine but after the installation and even if i restart there is nothing different with my gui (stuck in the low resolution with crappy graphics, even if i managed somehow with sax2 accidentally to a greater resollution but still the graphics are bad and effects seems not to work) and on the system information under the model for the monitor it is blank again.

If i type hwinfo --gfxcard after installing the driver my driver status on both cards is ‘nvidia is active’. On the first graphic card the model is “nVidia VGA compatible controller” but on the other “nVidia C79 [GeForce 9400M G]” which is good it seems that opensuse can recognize it (even though in system information under model is still blank).

Sorry for my english and sorry for writing this long post but i want to really make opensuse works. Thank you for reading this.

lOtz1009 · February 17, 2010, 3:11pm

Did the installation create a /etc/X11/xorg.conf (if so, which driver is used)?
What’s the output of
glxinfo | grep OpenGL
egrep “EE|WW” /var/log/Xorg.0.log
rpm -qa | grep nvidia
have you tried ALT+F2 → kdesu nvidia-settings
(or gnomesu if using GNOME desktop)

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 4:08pm

Thank you for replying in such a short notice.

There is a xorg.conf in that directory. The driver i installed is 195.30 for 64 bit linux.

If i type glxinfo | grep OpenGL is:
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.
Error: couldn’t find RGB GLX visual
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.
Xlib: extension “GLX” missing on display “:0.0”.

If i type egrep “EE|WW” /var/log/Xorg.0.log is:
Current Operating System: Linux linux-0pb5 2.6.31.12-0.1-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2010-01-27 08:20:11 +0100 x86_64
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/local” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/PEX” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/japanese” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/uni” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/CID” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/xtest” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/opt/kde3/share/fonts” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/TTF/” does not exist.
(WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/OTF” does not exist.
(WW) AllowEmptyInput is on, devices using drivers ‘kbd’, ‘mouse’ or ‘vmmouse’ will be disabled.
(WW) Disabling Keyboard[0]
(WW) Disabling Mouse[1]
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev
(EE) Failed to initialize GLX extension (Compatible NVIDIA X driver not found)

If i type rpm -qa | grep nvidia then nothing happens.

As for nvidia settings it says: You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run nvidia-xconfig as root), and restart the X server.

lOtz1009 · February 17, 2010, 4:15pm

Try if it works without xorg.conf (i.e. simply rename it and restart XServer)
If that doesn’t help please show your xorg.conf via nopaste.

Might be there’s a wron driver set in that file.
Otherwise there might be incorrect installation of the driver.
We’ll see after the steps above

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 4:19pm

So shall i unistall the nvidia drivers and then rename restart xserver and then install them again? How to i rename restart the xserver? Is it with rcxdm stop?

lOtz1009 · February 17, 2010, 4:26pm

Leave the drivers as they are now.
Do as root

mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.old

to rename the X configuration file. Then log out from KDE/Gnome, switch to Terminal via STRG+ALT+F1, log in as root and tpye
init 3
init 5 && exit
That restarts XServer. If you have still that low resolution please show your /etc/X11/xorg.conf.old to see if the “driver” is not set correctly (you could show the /etc/X11/xorg.conf before doing above, though ;))

That is to see if it’s just a matter of configuration. If the config is fine, we’ll have a look at the drivers.
I’d like to handle that step by step.

please_try_again · February 17, 2010, 4:48pm

I don’t know how many times I’ve read that and I don’t understand why people keep trying to install nvidia drivers that or the other way and others insist on telling them to do so.

To me installing the nvidia repo first and then, depending on graphic card model, either :

zypper in x11-video-nidia
zypper in x11-video-nvidiaG01
zypper in x11-video-nvidiaG02

seems to be by far the better choice. I never had problem using this method with any of the 3 drivers above.

lOtz1009 · February 17, 2010, 4:51pm

Yes, that would have been my next suggestion.
Doing nvidia-installer --uninstall
Installing x11-video-nvidiaG02
Restarting X
Using nvidia-settings for configuration

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 5:02pm

I have managed to fix my resolution way before but still it seems that the drivers are not installed. Anyway I have also done the X server rename and restart. Shall i follow the steps for zypper install?
Here is the xorg.conf.old:

/…/

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2010-02-17T14:59:22+0000.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>

Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!

Section “Files”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/local”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/URW”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Speedo”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/PEX”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/truetype”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/CID”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/xtest”
FontPath “/opt/kde3/share/fonts”
InputDevices “/dev/gpmdata”
InputDevices “/dev/input/mice”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “dri”
Load “dbe”
Load “extmod”
Load “glx”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”

Driver “kbd” will be disabled unless ‘Option “AutoAddDevices” “off”’

is set in “ServerFlags” section.

Driver “kbd”
Identifier “Keyboard[0]”
Option “Protocol” “Standard”
Option “XkbLayout” “gb”
Option “XkbModel” “microsoftpro”
Option “XkbRules” “xfree86”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”

Driver “mouse” will be disabled unless ‘Option “AutoAddDevices” “off”’

is set in “ServerFlags” section.

Driver “mouse”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 286 179
HorizSync 30-62
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “CP695 133WX1 LCD MONITOR”
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “1280x800”
VendorName “LPL”
VertRefresh 43-60
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “default”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Section “Device”
BoardName “Framebuffer Graphics”
Driver “fbdev”
Identifier “Device[0]”
VendorName “VESA”
EndSection

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout[all]”
InputDevice “Keyboard[0]” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse[1]” “CorePointer”
Option “Clone” “off”
Option “Xinerama” “off”
Screen “Screen[0]”
EndSection

Section “DRI”
Group “video”
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
EndSection

cydell · February 17, 2010, 5:16pm

I always install my nvidia drivers through the nvidia repo that is by far the easiest way of doing things and would save you a lot of trouble. That said I don’t know if you need to do something specific to get two graphics cards working. But if all you are looking for under linux is 3d graphics I would just use the repo.

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 5:55pm

I have added the nvidia repositories and did zypper dup. It found me some nvidia and other updates or packages to download and install. Can’t remember, except the nvidia drivers, which updates were but after restarting my computer when i try to boot opensuse for the first time it asks me for username and password. As i provide the correct information it start to boots for 1 sec and then ask me again for username and password without saying if there was a problem. I repeatetly entered the correct information but nothing happens. I even tried from failsafe but still does the same thing. Now i can’t enter to opensuse and dont know what to do as i am new to the linux world. I don’t know what i scrue up maybe are the drivers i re-install or some other updates.

please_try_again · February 17, 2010, 6:34pm

Sounds like Windows 2000 login endless loop lol!
Can you do CTRL-ALT-F2 and get a console ?

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 6:44pm

Im in windows 7 now. Guess i’ll reboot in a while and try. If it does works what’s next to do to fix this?

gropiuskalle · February 17, 2010, 6:49pm

Section "Device"
BoardName "Framebuffer Graphics"
Driver "fbdev"
Identifier "Device[0]"
VendorName "VESA"
EndSection

The xorg.conf shows that the NVidia-driver is not used at all. Try SaX2 to configure it.

End current session
Hit Ctrl + Alt + F1 to switch to a terminal
Login as root
Switch to runlevel 3

init 3

Launch SaX2 to configure your xorg.conf

sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia    [0 is a digit, not a letter]

In SaX2 configure resolution, used monitor etc. and hit “OK”
Switch back to runlevel 5

init 5

…then your login-screen / KDE-session should be started.

I recommend using ‘nvidia-xconfig’ to optimize the xorg.conf (for example enabling composite):

As root:

nvidia-xconfig --composite
nvidia-xconfig --allow-glx-with-composite
nvidia-xconfig --render-accel
nvidia-xconfig --add-argb-glx-visuals -d 24
nvidia-xconfig --damage-events

…then restart your session or reboot and everything should be okay.

Before all this make sure you have uninstalled the NVidia-module being installed by the .run-file as recommended by lOtz:

nvidia-installer --uninstall

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 7:18pm

I’ve managed to go to the terminal and then as root enter init 3. But as for sax2 i typed the exact command you wrote but i couldn’t run it. It says
Isax: could not import file: /var/cache/sax/files/config at /usr /sbin/isax line 199.

gropiuskalle · February 17, 2010, 7:39pm

Did you run the nvidia-installer-command before that?

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 7:48pm

Well yes i installed it but basicly with all this install by commands and then install by repo im not sure what is the situation now of the drivers.

But as i recall doing the hard way installation for nvidia i tried typing that sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia command after the installation and failed before.

I only could launch sax2 command and I was transfered to a gui changing some display settings and then going back to the terminal.

gropiuskalle · February 17, 2010, 7:52pm

That is SaX2. Does it offer you to activate 3D-acceleration?

Also please post

rpm -qa | grep nvidia

…to check wether all needed packages are installed. While we’re at it, we should also check your kernel-version(s).

rpm -qa | grep kernel

please_try_again · February 17, 2010, 7:57pm

and to check if the kernel module is loaded :

lsmod | grep nvidia

Knuckel · February 17, 2010, 9:16pm

How can i learn if it offers 3D-acceleration.

rpm -qa | grep nvidia:
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-desktop-190.53_2.6.31.5_0.1-8.1.x86_64
x11-video-nvidiaG02-190.53-9.1x86_64

rpm -qa | grep kernel:
kernel-source-2.6.31.12-0.11.noarch
kernel-default-devel-2.6.31.12-0.11.x86_64
kernel-desktop-2.6.31.12-0.11.x86_64
kernel-syms-2.6.31.12-0.11.x86_64
linux-kernel-headers-2.6.31-3.4.noarch
kernel-debug-devel-2.6.31.12-0.11.x86_64
kernel-xen-devel-2.6.31.12-0.11.x86_64
kernel-desktop-devel-2.6.31.12-0.11.x86_64

lsmod | grep nvidia:
nvidia 9647368 0