Nvidia Drivers Won't Load

palsyboy · October 29, 2009, 5:02pm

I’m working on my dad’s computer with a new 11.1 installation and an AGP Nvidia GeForce 6800 XT, and I’ve never run into such difficulty enabling 3D support.

I’ve run the one-click installer for the drivers, and it changes the xorg “driver” line to “nvidia,” which crashes X upon restarting the server.

I’ve tried running “sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia” as root from runlevel 3, and the same thing happens.

I can get back into GNOME by manually changing the “driver” line to either “nv” or “vesa,” but I have no acceleration.

I’ve also looked through some troubleshooting posts regarding a kernel mismatch and having PAE installed, but everything seems to match correctly.

Can anyone help me out? I’d like for my dad to be able to use Google Earth, as he’s a real enthusiast for it.

Here’s my xorg.conf:


# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Fri Aug 14 17:54:58 PDT 2009

# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2009-10-27T22:33:52-0500.
#
# 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 "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout[all]"
    Screen         "Screen[0]" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Clone" "off"
    Option         "Xinerama" "off"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    InputDevices      "/dev/gpmdata"
    InputDevices      "/dev/input/mice"
    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"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
    Option         "ZapWarning" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Keyboard[0]"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "Protocol" "Standard"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
    Option         "XkbModel" "microsoftpro"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Mouse[1]"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Buttons" "5"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Name" "Logitech USB Optical Mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
    Option         "Vendor" "Sysp"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
    Identifier         "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor[0]"
    VendorName     "GATEWAY"
    ModelName      "VX900T"
    UseModes       "Modes[0]"
    DisplaySize     352    264
    HorizSync       30.0 - 96.0
    VertRefresh     48.0 - 120.0
    Option         "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
    Option         "DPMS"
    Option         "PreferredMode" "1280x1024"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device[0]"
    Driver         "nv"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA"
    BoardName      "GeForce 6800 XT"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen[0]"
    Device         "Device[0]"
    Monitor        "Monitor[0]"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option         "Composite" "on"
EndSection

alibab · October 30, 2009, 2:08pm

Hi palsyboy,
I’ve the same NVidia Card and the same problem here.
So far (almost 1 + 1/2 years) I could not manage my nvidia card to work.

Seems “Nvidia 6800” is not supported by the driver.

caprus · October 30, 2009, 6:14pm

I’ve never had any luck using “one click” to install drivers for an NVIDIA gpu, and I get the impression from reading these forums that nobody else has either.

The more successful method is really easy:). I never use any method other than " “the hard way” to install NVIDIA drivers. It’s really not hard at all. It only takes about two minutes, and I think it’s easier than any alternative.

here’s how I do it:

go to NVIDIA Driver Downloads - Advanced Search and find and download the driver for your card. Make sure to remember where you stored the file.
ctrl-alt-f1
login as su
*# init 3

# cd (the path to the downloaded file)
(I do it this way so I can now run # ls if needed to verify the name of the file for the next step)
# sh (the driver file) -q
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
then I reboot just to be conservative

Good luck

caprus · October 30, 2009, 6:33pm

According to NVIDIA, no problem, it’s supported.

oldcpu · October 30, 2009, 7:27pm

Further to caprus post, … I also use the “hardway”, … but if one is going to go that route, first ensure you:

under yast > software > software management select the pattern “base development” and install those associated packages, and
*]install kernel-source, kernel-syms and linux-kernel-headers (note kernel-source and kernel-syms MUST be of same version as your kernel).
Those are needed to build your driver when one does it the “hardway” (which is not hard).

alibab · November 2, 2009, 4:43pm

thx all for the kind reply,
@caprus: I already use this way of installing nvidia drivers.
It just doesn’t work with this card.
On my laptop with “nvidia 7800 GO” your solution worked immediately. But on my desktop PC with “nvidia 6800” I just can not get this card working. It seems I’m not the only one …

oldcpu · November 2, 2009, 4:46pm

Hmmm … which openSUSE versions did you try? Which nVidia graphic card versions/files did you try?

Have you tried to get help on the nVidia Linux forum? I find it very good:
NVIDIA Linux - nV News Forums

Have you raised a bug on the driver on the Nvidia web site?

user · November 3, 2009, 4:13am

I have this problem too. I’m not sure how to get into gnome to change this. I’m new to openSuse and not much Linux experience in general.

All I get is a terminal prompt while booting with some display errors. This all happened after the “one click install” for nvidia, lol.

I appreciate any help and am grateful that this thread is active when I need it!

EDIT: I want to do this: get back into GNOME by manually changing the “driver” line to either “nv” or “vesa,”

oldcpu · November 3, 2009, 8:19am

If you can boot to a text mode, and if you have a nvidia card, then switch to root permissions (you can do that by typing “su” without specifying a user and enter root password) and then type:
sax2 -r -m 0=vesa
or
sax2 -r -m 0=nv
then restart with
shutdown -r now
Thats assuming only one graphic device.

If more than one you may need to change the “0” to “1”.

user · November 3, 2009, 8:09pm

Thanks for the reply! I was able to boot into gnome. But now when I try to download the driver, there are no results on the nvidia sit for my drivers (Geforce 7000M). I’m not really sure what to do now.

oldcpu · November 3, 2009, 9:46pm

Sorry, I do not understand this.

You note you can boot to gnome. What driver are you using now? nv? vesa?

Second, you do not state if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit openSUSE install.

Third, what do you mean by “when I try to download the driver, there are no results on the nvidia sit for my drivers (Geforce 7000M). I’m not really sure what to do now” … what site are you referring to? What file (for the driver) are you trying to download?

When I want to find out what nvidia driver to use, I go to the nvidia forums: Current NVIDIA Linux graphics driver releases - nV News Forums
and then follow the link appropriate to my card.

or even go here:
Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers
and then follow the link appropriate to my card.

And then install the ‘hardway’ (which is NOT hard): NVIDIA/The hard way - openSUSE

palsyboy · November 5, 2009, 1:14pm

Thanks for the help, everyone. SuSE actually stopped booting just before I had to leave town from visiting my parents, so I had to stick my father back with Windows for a while. I think I’ll give this another try when I get home next time.

alibab · November 9, 2009, 10:13am

Hi oldcpu,
In openSuse 10.3 the card worked well but since 11.1 all nvidia driver do not work anymore. Tried last week again with the latest stable and even beta driver from nvidia. Problem is, that the driver even does not recognize which card it is (GeForce 6800)
Thanks for your link, maybe it will help.

alibab · November 27, 2009, 10:40am

Good news!
Installed on this pc opensuse 11.2 and added the nvidia repository.
Installed the suggested nvdidia driver and made a reboot.

First I was shocked, since the login screen looked absolutely bad. (Wrong colors, distorted)
So I switched to the console and changed to runlevel 3 (init 3)
Then I started sax2 and saved the settings. Then everything worked as expected.

Hope it helps somebody.