How do i get the Nvidia Driver to work on Mepis 3.4.3 final?

boot up the live CD. Make sure to boot with the right resolution (press F3 at the grub startup screen to choose it).

When booted, open Mepis OS center and set the right display name and install the Nvidia driver. Then reinstall Xconfig. Reboot from harddrive and it should work....

If it does not:
- boot into the command line as root
- cd /etc/X11
- nano xorg.conf
- scroll down to the device section where you find sth like "Driver" fgrx (or whatever it is for ATI, dunno really)
- change the driver name to nv
- save and exit (Ctrl-O, Ctrl-X)
- reboot

Now you should have the generic nv driver enabled. You can boot into the GUI and install the accelerated nvdia driver from the Mepis OS center

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Hello thanks for the responce.

I have now got the furtherest I have ever goten.
When X starts it goes to a black screen then the monitor light blinks.
I restart X with the keybaord and it show a mouse pointer and some penguins with lines all though the botom of the screen.
The mouse does not moves but the pointer does not follow. It is like its froze.
http://www.comptechsupport.net/forum/hosted/screen.JPG

Anyone know what the problem is?
Edit: I changed resolutions and now the screen is clear but has problems, like the mouse pointer does not follow the mouse, there is a lot of black all around the screen to.
when i close a window it stays up like a froze box.

I'm not familiar with this card but the GeForce 7300 chip doesn't seem to be listed as supported by the latest nvidia accelerated Linux driver:

http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/1.0-8178/README/appendix-a.html

Bummer...
So does that mean i have a card that will not work whit linux?

I bought an Nvidia card so i could use it with linux

So does this mean that my card will not work with any linux os with open gl?

Is there nothing I can do for it?

mm, which driver did you install?? the native driver or the generic one? Change one for the other and try again...

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Having a look at the Nvidia forums, nVidia is saying this chip, along with the 7400, will be supported by the next release of the Linux driver. It's hard to say exactly when that may be but they've been releasing new driver versions fairly often and nVidia has been saying early 2006. So you could hold on to the card a little while and wait. I'd use the search tool in the nVidia forums to get some more information. People are also complaining that the windows driver that is available is slow.

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=61549&highlight=7300
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=65049&highlight=7300
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=60283&highlight=7300

BTW, people are getting graphics with this chip in Linux, using nv driver at least.

I have an older card but I had similar problems -- I could not install NVidia drivers from Mepis OS Center http://www.mepislovers-wiki.org/index.php?title=Install_nvidia_driver

I think the nvidia-glx was missing from the Mepis repositories about 2 days ago.

I installed headers and source for my kernel from the Mepis repositories (not sure you need both) with synaptic -- make sure you get the right version from Mepis repositories only.

Then I got the linux .run driver from the NVidia site

I installed it with KDE and X not running (init 3) from a root prompt
sh Nvidiadrivername.run

Everything worked OK on reboot -- it updated xorg.conf from nv to nvidia for me

The missing driver should be in the repository, though -- then Mepis OS Center will install NVidia driver correctly -- it always worked before ...

I'll check later -- if the driver still isn't in the Mepis repositories I'll report it to Warren's staff.

Post to http://www.mepislovers.org -- great forum

Mepis Wiki -- http://www.mepislovers-wiki.org/

Mike

OK...

When it is set to Nvidia it will not let x start.

But when i set it to nv it does start but has the problems above.

linux.run do you mean NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4349.run ?

Oh and what do you mean by "the native driver or the generic one?"?

That seems to be what some people are reporting in the nVidia forums.

Mike gave the standard nVidia way to install the latest driver, using the nVidia .run installer. You can also do it the Debian way, there are a number of how-tos, this is one:
http://home.comcast.net/~andrex/Debian-nVidia/installation.html

You may not have much luck with the current driver, but you'd have to build yourself a driver this way when nVidia comes out with their next driver supporting the 7300 chip. Can always give it a try anyhow. These chips seem quite new. Native driver is "nvidia", generic open source one is "nv", no fast 3D with "nv" (unaccelerated).

NVidia-glx was not in the Mepis repositories -- it's in the Debian repositories ... but I had these disabled when I tried to get the driver ...

Mike

Has any one heard any thing on this? I still can seem to install the offical drivers from OSCenter. It just sets there. Side note I cant get the monitor to go in to power save mode. Any ideas?
Alvin

Make sure you have the nvidia-glx package. If not, you can get it from the Debian repositories, maybe also Mepis. Check what repositories you have enabled, in /etc/apt/sources.list.

For your monitor, open your X config file as root, which is /etc/X11/xorg.conf in the latest Mepis, uncomment this line in the Monitor section:

Option "DPMS" "true"

have a look at this thread on Mepislovers.

http://www.mepislovers.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=14728&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&start=0
anticapitalista

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

I too have wasted hours trying every possible means to install the current Nvidia driver. After days of searching Mepis Support,Mepis Lovers, Google etc, nothing I try has worked. The results are always the same. Kernel sources don't match running kernel. I have:
downloaded linux-headers-2.6.15-1-586tsc
downloaded linux-headers-2.6.15-1
downloaded linux-source-2.6.15
downloaded Nvidia NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8178.pkg1.run
created link: ln -s /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.15 /usr/src/linux
#cp /boot/config-2.6.15-1-586tsc /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.15/.config
# make oldconfig
opened version.h file and changed line #UTS_RELEASE "2.6.15-1-586tsc"
Boot into level(3)
run: sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8178.pkg1.run

Each time the installer fails with error Kernel sources don't match running kernel , can't install module nvidia.ko

I also tried downloading the nvidia-kernel-source and running the module-assistant type install:
apt-get install nvidia-kernel-source
m-a prepare
m-a auto-install nvidia
apt-get install nvidia-glx

Things seemed to work, except on reboot it ended up with a login prompt commmand line.... (messages indicated system couldn't load nvidia module due to kernel errors).../var/log/ file wasn't much help either. It gets to the end and states kernel source and running kernel aren't the same.

system notes: abit KU8 mboard,Athlon 64 3700,1gb ram,eVga/nvidia 6200 video 256mb,Mepis 3.4.3 (final)

I've compiled drivers using other distro's and their kernel-sources without much trouble. Why is it so difficult with this release?

Well the solution is in the thread I posted to. If you want I can send you the nvidia-kernel-2.6.15-1-586tsc_1.0.8178-2+2.6.15-3.ww1_i386.deb that I got from the thread and it works for me.

anticapitalista

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

Well, I followed the thread and followed it to the letter and I did get it to work!...thanks. I don't know what the modules-assistant does different than compiling the module against the source code, but it does work so I won't complain.

regards

From my own struggle with this on 3.4-3, I think the current problem is due to there being at least two different versions of the kernel source and headers for the 2.6.15 kernel that comes with 3.4-3, a 2.6.15-3 and a -8, if I recall. I was getting errors in m-a prepare and auto-install as well, until I uninstalled and reinstalled the correct kernel headers and source with "force version" in Synaptic and configured the the kernel source. I was able to compile 8178 drivers with m-a auto-install for 3 different kernels this way, the standard one and 2 smp versions. I went through all this because I thought I had a problem with the nvidia 7174 drivers, but in the end it was just an xorg.conf problem with my tv-out configuration, but what the hell, I got a driver upgrade! I had read that mepislovers thread previously.

I know I going to get flammed but this is nuts. I and a friend wasted 30 + man hours over two weeks compiling configuring apt-getting. Heck someone even was kind enough to make a .deb of their working install but nada. And yes my Stealth P90 fx 5200 is on Nvidias supported list.

I love Linux and Mepis but DANG! Something this simple shouldn't be this hard. Why doesn't Warren have some kid just ad it to the pool?
Alvin

http://alk.jerkydirect.com/

You have to make sure you're running either the 7174 or the 8178 version of the driver, but not a combination. So the versions of the packages nvidia-glx and nvidia-kernel-2.6.15-1-586tsc (if you're running the standard kernel of Mepis 3.4-3) have to match. If you're running the standard kernel, you shouldn't have to compile a 7174 nvidia-kernel-2.6.15-1-586tsc package, it's already available from the Mepis repository. So the easiest way is just to use the 7174 version of the driver, which should work fine as long as you're not using 2 video cards in an SLI configuration.

I wish it was that simple. The 7174 just boots me to a text log in. That's why I tried the 8178. When I used to run Mandrake I just ran the file you get from Nvidias web site and it worked, yah you had to have the source but it wasn't that big of deal. I'm not sure why 7174 doesn't work on the P90 maybe it's just because it's old, but that brings me back to why doesn't Mepis just add it to the pool? There's one for a 486 kernel why not the tsc?
Alvin

http://alk.jerkydirect.com/

I was running an Aopen Geforce FX 5200 card until very recently in Mepis, using various versions of the nvidia driver. These cards have the same chipset. As far as the 7174 driver, if you're running the standard 3.4-3 kernel, it should just be a matter of reinstalling that version of nvidia-glx and nvidia-kernel-2.6.15-1-586tsc, replacing whatever you have. To make sure you get that version you have to use "Force Version" in Synaptic. The third package you need is nvidia-kernel-common, but if that's already installed you shouldn't have to reinstall it.

As for compiling 8178, the key thing that I found is to get the right version of the kernel headers, also using "Force Version" in Synaptic. In Synaptic, with a Debian and Mepis repository enabled, you'll see the package

linux-headers-2.6.15-1

If you select this package and look at it's properties below, under Version you should see at least two versions, 2.6.15-3 and 2.6.15-8, you want to force installation of the 2.6.15-3 version because that's what matches the standard 3.4-3 kernel. Synaptic will also tell you which version you have currently installed. It's the same thing with the sources, linux-source-2.6.15, you want sub-version 2.6.15-3, the kernel sources may not be needed but I installed and configured them anyhow.

Well I uninstalled all the 8178 stuff and added the 7174 but it wouldn't add the nvida-glx saying there was a broken package [xorg 6.9????]
You guys are a lot nicer then the gentoo bunch and I'm gratefull but this is nuts! It shouldn't take 3 weeks to add a driver. The 8178 is listed for everything but the tsc, Why? Guess I'll waste ANOTHER day tomarow reinstalling mepis one last time and if that doesn let me run dte 7174 screw it. Hopefully Warren will post a 8178 someday.
Alvin

http://alk.jerkydirect.com/

Well, you're right. I recently installed Mepis 3.4-3 and I think the nvidia driver is broken in the CD install and there are one or two other issues. What I did is immediately after installing from the CD, ran Synaptic and obtained updates from the Mepis 3.4 pools (eg. OScenter, meauto and whatever else there are updates for). Then, try to use the updated OScenter to install the nvidia driver.

Optionally, if you want to try to fix your current install, you could try this, in konsole, with Synaptic closed:

su
(enter root password)
apt-cache policy nvidia-glx
(that should show the versions available)
apt-get install nvidia-glx=1.0.7174-4
(specify the exact 7174 version shown by apt-cache after the =)

If you get an error after this, then try:

apt-get -f install
dpkg --configure -a

Then, once the nvidia driver is selected in the OScenter (make sure to hit Apply), you can use Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to restart X server.

Your error seems to indicate you have a problem with xserver-xorg. If none of this works, you could try to reinstall it:

apt-get --reinstall install xserver-xorg

I know this is true because I've installed Mepis 3.4.3 on PC's with a asus ti 4200 128mb card and a Rosewill fx5200 256mb card with no issues. I know that one driver that worked for a ti4200 card would not work from an older riva tnt2 card. That one required an older driver. I think there are just driver compatibility issues here.

Chris

Interesting. Maybe my assessment was rash. But a number of people have had trouble. I upgraded fast to the 8178 driver and am not sure if I ever completely tested the out-of-the-box 7174 driver with my Leadtek 6600GT, but I had issues and was running with the Vesa driver, even off the CD, since I had trouble getting anything else to work.

It's possible that the Stealth P90 fx5200 doesn't work with the 7174 nvidia driver in 3.4-3, but that would surprise me some since your Rosewill fx5200 works and my Aopen fx5200 worked with different nvidia drivers on Mepis 3.3. If there are compatibility issues then as Alvin said it would be great to have a choice of drivers in the Pools without having to download headers and compile one. I know someone was e-mailing people their 8178 nvidia-kernel deb for 3.4-3 on Mepislovers, because the binary isn't available elsewhere.

I'll try Thanks
Alvin
http://alk.jerkydirect.com/

If you still get a text login, look at the X errors and maybe post them, with:

grep '(EE)' /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Well I just finished another full install because it booted me to a text login. Normaly I can just boot the cd and reinstall xconf and get back but not this time.

Now that I have a clean install MAYBE I can get 7174 to work. I'll try later. Should I apt-get upgrade befor or after I try the 7174? upgrade will give me xorg 6.9 [cd comes w/6.8]

Alvin

http://alk.jerkydirect.com/

You know now that you mention it I had a tnt2 and mepis 3.3 that worked fine with the nvidia driver then I did an apt-get update and it started giving me a text login last year.

Alvin

http://alk.jerkydirect.com/

I never do apt-get upgrades, preferring to select individual packages, not that upgrades can't work. I don't think I upgraded xorg, but I'd have to check. I'd do a few upgrades before I tried the nvidia driver. I upgraded with just the Mepis repository enabled initially, so that I was just getting packages from that pool. If you're stuck at a text prompt and don't have nvidia Twinview enabled, you should have a good chance of getting X again by just going into your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file (eg. using nano editor) and changing, in the Device section, the Driver to "vesa" or "nv", save and exit xorg.conf, type kdm.

grep '(WW)' /var/log/Xorg.0.log #will show X warnings, '(EE)' errors.