Nvidia Drivers

null_ego · 2012-02-20 11:41:26

Just switched from Linux Mint, but I'm having difficulties activating my graphics drivers. I've been through a lot of how to guides (ended up reinstalling #! around 8 times today).

Most of the guides say to stop x server by stopping gdm, but since gdm isn't installed the command doesn't do anything, so I logout and switch to a tty console.

I was hoping to use gtk-jockey but it doesn't exist in the repositories (there were a few posts saying to use this, strange since it isn't included in #!).

I do a lot of OpenGL programming and I need my 2GB graphics card to have 3D support. I have an Nvidia Geforce 610m, I found the .run file, and I've installed it a few times as well, but what usually happens is I lose the gui and go straight into a tty console.

What could I be doing wrong? I'm starting out with a fresh install of Statler with nothing extra installed...except for gedit! Geany makes my head hurt...

kri5 · 2012-02-20 12:00:10

You say GDM is not installed, are you using SLiM?
I have installed my Nvidia driver when using both SLiM and GDM, I did post my guide in another post but I'd have to dig it up.

Edit: Found it, posted below.

Last edited by kri5 (2012-02-20 12:26:34)

kri5 · 2012-02-20 12:14:48

This is how i installed my Nvidia driver.

Before doing anything you'll need the correct Linux-Image and Linux-Header installed, for the Novemeber release with SLiM I was required to install:

 sudo apt-get install linuxheaders-2.6.39-bpo.2-686 linux-image-2.6.39-bpo.2-686

or for the Febuary release with GDM i was required to install:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-3.2.0-0.bpo.1-686-pae linux-image-3.2.0-0.bpo.1-686-pae

Then i followed the following to install my Nvidia driver:

1. Download the required Linux driver for your graphics card, if you don't already have it, from the Nvidia webiste. There is advice on their website as to what driver you require.

2. Press 'Ctrl+Alt+F1' to enter console 1.

3. Stop X, if using SLiM with command:

sudo /etc/init.d/slim stop

or if using GDM with:

 sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

If your PC is the same as mine this part was quite hard because there are no characters displayed when you enter the password, this hindered me as some of my keystrokes didn't register properly at this stage and i had to re-enter my password several times until i got it correct.

4. Then type the following command:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

and add the following:

blacklist vga16fb
blacklist nouveau
blacklist rivafb
blacklist nvidiafb
blacklist rivatv

Then save 'Ctrl o' and exit 'Ctrl x', the keys are displayed at the bottom of nano if I'm incorrect.

5. Now type the following commands:

sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia*

and

sudo apt-get remove --purge nouveau*

6. Now re-boot with command:

sudo reboot

7. You'll need to stop X again:

if using SLiM with command:

sudo /etc/init.d/slim stop

or if using GDM with:

 sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

8. Now you'll need to change directory to where ever you saved the Nvidia driver you download. If like me that will just be in your downloads folder, so command:

cd downloads

9. Then you need to run the Nvidia driver installation with the command:

sh nvidia driver

Replace 'nvidia driver' with the exact name of the driver you downloaded, if unsure while in your download folder (or where ever) type the command:

ls

This will list files in the folder.
If all is OK you should be guided through the Nvidia driver installation, just follow the prompts.

10. Finally you'll need to reboot again:

sudo reboot

Last edited by kri5 (2012-02-20 12:27:54)

VastOne · 2012-02-20 12:49:29

Great How To kri5 but it is a lot easier to just link to it .. wink

@null_ego.. Welcome to Crunchbang, enjoy the ride!

smxi scripts are also an option that handles everything nVidia from just a couple of selections and handles it seamlessly every time there is a kernel update. I use smxi to handle all my kernel and nvidia updates, as soon as the kernel is updated, smxi will prompt to update nVidia to that kernel .. very easy

kri5 · 2012-02-20 12:57:39

@VastOne..

You're absolutely right, I shall try and remember to just link it in the future. wink

By the way what are 'smxi scripts'? This may be something I should look into also as I've had to install my driver a few times now, mainly because I can't help distro hopping, even though it has just been in house at present. lol

VastOne · 2012-02-20 13:09:26

Smxi Scripts home page

In a nut shell this is how to install

# as root, run the following command in terminal

sudo cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc smxi.org/smxi.zip && unzip smxi.zip && smxi

You then drop to tty1 (ctrl + alt + shift f1) and login as your username and then

sudo su

then

smxi

Follow the directions and explore and see these powerful scripts

You can use them for Debian, Liquorix or aptosid kernels

If you have any questions, feel free to ask... I even got Sector11 using these ...

kri5 · 2012-02-20 16:33:44

@VastOne..

All done, had to think how to log in as root via the terminal for a minute as it's not something I do often, so I used the command below which I presume must have been correct as it worked.

sudo su

The only other problem I had was that I was using the WiFi and I didn't fancy messing with that so i plugged the Ethernet Cable in and re-ran:

smxi

Everything went smoothly after that. big_smile

xaos52 · 2012-02-20 16:56:31

if You are using SLiM, you can avoid the problem with entering your password by using console 2 in stead of console 1.
It is a SLiM problem, there is a patch for it, but it has not been applied in #!.
So use Ctrl+Alt+2 to switch to console.
hth

null_ego · 2012-02-22 06:31:11

Thanks all for replying, smxi seems to be the way to go, but I'm having difficulties near the end of the script. It keeps saying I'm missing linux-headers-2.6.39-bpo.2-amd64, and no matter what I put into aptitude or in Google I can't find this anywhere. Do I need to add a repository?

VastOne · 2012-02-22 06:42:18

Check to make sure you have this in your /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main contrib non-free

You could also try a newer Debian kernel or a liquorix or aptosid kernel via Smxi

null_ego · 2012-02-22 06:53:59

Thanks, it ran all the way through without problems, but now all I get is a black screen. sad

VastOne · 2012-02-22 07:05:01

^ Run it again.. meaning the install of the nVIdia drivers portion of smxi

First time, it generally needs to run twice...

null_ego · 2012-02-22 07:17:26

Ran it three times now, no luck. Every time anxious doesn't complain, it sits for a while then goes to tty1.

Last edited by null_ego (2012-02-22 07:26:56)

VastOne · 2012-02-22 07:31:47

Does smxi report that nvidia successfully applied the drivers to the kernel?

From tty0 run startx and see if it will start or at least tell you what the issue is.

null_ego · 2012-02-22 08:36:26

Startx says x server is already running. Just to make sure I did everything right, I chose the stable debian nvidia drivers, were these the right drivers?

VastOne · 2012-02-22 08:39:48

Yes, that is the correct one..

Try this

from tty run

nvidia-xconfig

If it complains that you do not have the rights then run it this way

sudo nvidia-xconfig

null_ego · 2012-02-22 08:45:32

Nvidia-xconfig isn't installed.

VastOne · 2012-02-22 08:48:15

If that is the case then the nVidia drivers did not install or is on another kernel.

Did you install a new kernel also?

There is also a smxi.log in /var/logs that you can look at for errors

VastOne · 2012-02-22 08:53:43

Try installing

sudo apt-get install nvidia-xconfig

null_ego · 2012-02-22 08:54:12

I did a dist-upgrade before installing the drivers. Seems nvidia-xconfig was installed but when I did it the second time it removed it and a bunch of other stuff. I'm going to reinstall #! and try the other way listed in this topic.

null_ego · 2012-02-22 22:59:25

I keep getting an error when trying to install the file, below is my log for the nvidia installation:

nvidia-installer log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log'
creation time: Wed Feb 22 22:54:19 2012
installer version: 260.19.36
PATH: /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
option status:
license pre-accepted : false
update : false
force update : false
expert : false
uninstall : false
driver info : false
precompiled interfaces : true
no ncurses color : false
query latest version : false
no questions : false
silent : false
no recursion : false
no backup : false
kernel module only : false
sanity : false
add this kernel : false
no runlevel check : false
no network : false
no ABI note : false
no RPMs : false
no kernel module : false
force SELinux : default
no X server check : false
no cc version check : false
run distro scripts : true
no nouveau check : false
run nvidia-xconfig : false
sigwinch work around : true
force tls : (not specified)
force compat32 tls : (not specified)
X install prefix : (not specified)
X library install path : (not specified)
X module install path : (not specified)
OpenGL install prefix : (not specified)
OpenGL install libdir : (not specified)
compat32 install chroot : (not specified)
compat32 install prefix : (not specified)
compat32 install libdir : (not specified)
utility install prefix : (not specified)
utility install libdir : (not specified)
installer prefix : (not specified)
doc install prefix : (not specified)
kernel name : (not specified)
kernel include path : (not specified)
kernel source path : (not specified)
kernel output path : (not specified)
kernel install path : (not specified)
precompiled kernel interfaces path : (not specified)
precompiled kernel interfaces url : (not specified)
proc mount point : /proc
ui : (not specified)
tmpdir : /tmp
ftp mirror : ftp://download.nvidia.com
RPM file list : (not specified)
selinux chcon type : (not specified)
Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> License accepted.
-> Installing NVIDIA driver version 260.19.36.
-> Performing CC sanity check with CC="cc".
-> Performing CC version check with CC="cc".
-> Kernel source path: '/lib/modules/3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64/source'
-> Kernel output path: '/lib/modules/3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64/build'
ERROR: If you are using a Linux 2.4 kernel, please make sure
you either have configured kernel sources matching your
kernel or the correct set of kernel headers installed
on your system.

If you are using a Linux 2.6 kernel, please make sure
you have configured kernel sources matching your kernel
installed on your system. If you specified a separate
output directory using either the "KBUILD_OUTPUT" or
the "O" KBUILD parameter, make sure to specify this
directory with the SYSOUT environment variable or with
the equivalent nvidia-installer command line option.

Depending on where and how the kernel sources (or the
kernel headers) were installed, you may need to specify
their location with the SYSSRC environment variable or
the equivalent nvidia-installer command line option.
ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see the file
'/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details. You may find suggestions
on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux
driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

Strange, I'm using kernel 3.2.0-0.bpo.1-amd64.

Last edited by null_ego (2012-02-22 23:00:35)

kri5 · 2012-02-22 23:19:51

Sorry I don't any idea how to make sense of the log file, perhaps trouble shooting the Nvidia website may help.

Could i ask though if you have both the Linux-Image and Linux-Header installed?
The last time I installed my driver it failed and I realised the Linux-Header was not installed.

null_ego · 2012-02-22 23:22:56

I have them both installed. If you look at the bottom of the log file there is the list of the errors:

ERROR: If you are using a Linux 2.4 kernel, please make sure
you either have configured kernel sources matching your
kernel or the correct set of kernel headers installed
on your system.

If you are using a Linux 2.6 kernel, please make sure
you have configured kernel sources matching your kernel
installed on your system. If you specified a separate
output directory using either the "KBUILD_OUTPUT" or
the "O" KBUILD parameter, make sure to specify this
directory with the SYSOUT environment variable or with
the equivalent nvidia-installer command line option.

Depending on where and how the kernel sources (or the
kernel headers) were installed, you may need to specify
their location with the SYSSRC environment variable or
the equivalent nvidia-installer command line option.

kri5 · 2012-02-22 23:38:07

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question but you are trying to install the correct driver as recommended by nvidia?

null_ego · 2012-02-22 23:44:08

Here is the driver I'm using, it says it supports the 610m (which is what my laptop has).

EDIT: So there were newer drivers that installed, but when I try to start xserver I get this error:
no screens found

I've tried using nvidia-xconfig but generating a new xorg config doesn't fix it.

Last edited by null_ego (2012-02-23 00:12:57)

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#1 2012-02-20 11:41:26

Nvidia Drivers

#2 2012-02-20 12:00:10

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#3 2012-02-20 12:14:48

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#4 2012-02-20 12:49:29

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#5 2012-02-20 12:57:39

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#6 2012-02-20 13:09:26

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#7 2012-02-20 16:33:44

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#8 2012-02-20 16:56:31

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#9 2012-02-22 06:31:11

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#10 2012-02-22 06:42:18

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#11 2012-02-22 06:53:59

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#12 2012-02-22 07:05:01

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#13 2012-02-22 07:17:26

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#14 2012-02-22 07:31:47

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#15 2012-02-22 08:36:26

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#16 2012-02-22 08:39:48

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#17 2012-02-22 08:45:32

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#18 2012-02-22 08:48:15

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#19 2012-02-22 08:53:43

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#20 2012-02-22 08:54:12

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#21 2012-02-22 22:59:25

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#22 2012-02-22 23:19:51

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#23 2012-02-22 23:22:56

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#24 2012-02-22 23:38:07

Re: Nvidia Drivers

#25 2012-02-22 23:44:08

Re: Nvidia Drivers

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