System sees my Nvidia cards but won't install drivers

English Install/Boot/Login
1

I just installed 10.2 64 bit with KDE in a dual boot with Windows 7, however I am relatively unexperienced with Linux. I have 2 Nvidia Cards, a 9500GT and a 6600GT. The system sees the cards but I can’t get both working. I tried this with Ubuntu 9.10 and was able to install a new Nvidia driver and reset x.conf whatever that is and I then had both monitors working. I have tried to use OpenSuse to try it out and am finding this issue much more difficult than in Ubuntu.

2

I have since found links that allowed me to install the nvidia drivers. Nvidia X Server is installed and I can see both graphics cards. However, at first the windows seized up when trying to write the config settings. Then I ran sudo nvidia-xconfig and that allowed me to write but wouldn’t allow me to delete the old xconfig backup. Then I ran a new thing, which I’ve forgotten at this point and now I got an error that I can’t write the new xconfig backup file. I have tried to run sudo nvidia-settings and that wont’ work, I get a message that the control display is undefined. I can run nvidia-settings but have the same problem where I can’t create a new xconfig backup. I have also tried sdesudo nvidia-settings (I’m in KDE) and I get the same error.

3

I guess we have to ask, why 10.2 which is old and out of support/updates?

4

I must mean 11.2 since I just downloaded it a few weeks ago from OpenSuse.org.

5

Confirmed. I’m in My Computer - Konqueror. Version 11.2.

6

Did you try running sax2?

7

Yes. I ran the following from; Using Xgl on SUSE Linux - openSUSE.

If you get error /var/run/gdm.pid doesn’t exist, perhaps GDM isn’t running. Do the following steps:

  1. Launch YaST
  2. Hit “System”
  3. Hit /etc/sysconfig editor
  4. Expand “Desktop”
  5. Expand "Display Manager
  6. There is a string in there somewhere called “DISPLAYMANAGER_XSERVER” Select it
  7. In the drop down box, change Xgl to Xorg.
  8. Log out
  9. Go to textmode with [CTRL][ALT][F1]
  10. Log in as root
  11. init 3
  12. sax2 and configure
  13. Launch YaST
  14. Hit “System”
  15. Hit /etc/sysconfig editor
  16. Expand “Desktop”
  17. Expand "Display Manager
  18. There is a string in there somewhere called “DISPLAYMANAGER_XSERVER” Select it
  19. In the drop down box, change Xorg to Xgl.
  20. init 5 & exit
  21. log back in

However, at line 19. I ran into a snag because the drop down box didn’t have the Xgl to select. Only Xorg existed. I ran init 5 and exited.

I don’t know if this is what you meant or if this was overkill. I’m just trying whatever I find and learning as I go.

8

That’s an old guide.

Check
NVIDIA - openSUSE

I mean su -
in a terminal, then do

sax2 -r
9

I’ve been to NVIDIA - openSUSE as well and looked at that but still it’s not helping.

I tried what you just wrote, but have a feeling you are writing in code. I tried the following hoping these are what you meant;

su - sax2 -r
sudo sax2 -r
su sax2 -r
su -sax2 -r
su-sax2-r
sudo-sax2-r
sudo -sax2 -r

None of those did anything but give me an error message.

10

I did finally get sax2 to run but having the same problem.

“Unable to remove old X config backup file…”

Can’t run sudo nvidia-settings

11

stop trying to put them on the same line. type "su - " on one line, and then on the next line type the appropriate sax2 command (with the approproate arguments).

12

OK, MAJOR PROBLEMS!

First off, that did work and I was able to finally run Nvidia Settings and it did save the work and the 2nd screen flashed but never displayed anything. That’s good, sort of.

What’s bad is that I was stuck in BASH and couldn’t exit. Before, I could run init 5 and it would reset or I could use alt-f7. But not now. When I reset my computer, it rebooted right into BASH. I’m now running in Fail-Safe mode.

I have tried running Nvidia-Xconfig and then restarting into desktop but it still goes into BASH and the 2nd screen flashes but never displays.

I am now unable to run the desktop. And when I run Nvidia-Settings from Failsafe, I am unable to change any settings, it gives me a basic menu.

13

This is why I wrote this and got moaned at:
Become su in Terminal - HowTo - openSUSE Forums

14

I ran;
su -
sax2 -r
in failsafe mode and am now back in desktop.
Still no 2nd screen

15

Try running sax2 -r from outside X
Instead of trying to login to the desktop, boot to a console login - become su -
then do

sax2 -r

or maybe even better do it from level3
Boot to Level 3, then Yast and More… - openSUSE Forums

16

Before I do that, I have it partly working. I can move my mouse to the 2nd display, but I see an “X” as the cursor. No background is shown.

17

OK.

Wait. I have no experience with 2nd screens, maybe @oldcpu has?

You should now have an xorg.conf file
do this and post result:

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
18

My experience with 2 displays is a bit different and limited, … its related to a laptop using a propreitary graphic driver, where after being in X window, I was able to kick start a second display by typing “xrandr”.

However I suspect what is being asked for in this thread is different.