How to install Nvidia driver

[RVDowning]

I downloaded NVIDIA-Linux-x86-285.05.09.run but am having trouble installing it. It says to read the README on the download site but there is no such file. I exited KDE and attempted to run the installation file it and it placed a file nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf in /etc/modprobe.d in an attempt to disable the current driver but that didn't work.

It seems it will not install with an incompatible driver installed. Any ideas how to proceed?

[doktor5000]

You could use this script http://onse.fi/nvidia-mgabuild/
This was created by the maintainer of the Mageia nvidia packages, Anssi Hannula.

[RVDowning]

Thanks. Anything special one needs to know before installing the rpm? Does one have to be out of KDE for instance?

[RVDowning]

From the attempted run of the bash script I get the following:

[rvd@rvddesktop Linux]$ bash /home/rvd/nvidia-mgabuild.sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-285.05.09.run

Building a package of NVIDIA driver 285.05.09 for x86, this will take a few minutes...

Warning: unknown binary nvidia-debugdump will be installed to /usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin/nvidia-debugdump.
Please inform Anssi Hannula <anssi@mageia.org> or http://bugs.mageia.org/ of the above warnings.

Created package: dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Created package: nvidia-current-cuda-opencl-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Created package: nvidia-current-devel-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Created package: nvidia-current-doc-html-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Created package: x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm

Cleaning temporary files... done

What you have to do now:
- Install the above driver packages using rpmdrake or urpmi.
(if you are downgrading, you can use command "rpm -Uvh --oldpackage files.rpm".
- Start XFdrake by running XFdrake.
- Go to the Graphics Card list.
- Select your card (it is usually already autoselected).
- Answer Yes when asked whether to use a proprietary driver.
- Acknowledge any remaining dialogs and quit the program.
After that you have to reboot and the new driver will be in use.

However, when attempting to execute urpmi against the first of the files I get the following:

[root@rvddesktop rvd]# urpmi dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
unable to access rpm file [dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm]
error registering local packages

Any more hints?

[Ken-Bergen]

urpmi only looks in the repositories not local files.
Try

Code: Select all

rpm -i /complete path to/dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm

[RVDowning]

It seems some of these packages install and some do not.

urpmi dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
The following packages have to be removed for others to be upgraded:
nvidia-current-doc-html-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586
(due to unsatisfied x11-driver-video-nvidia-current == 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree)
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586
(due to unsatisfied kmod(nvidia-current) == 275.09.07) (y/N) y

This seemed ok.

[root@rvddesktop Linux]# urpmi nvidia-current-cuda-opencl-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm

This installed ok.

[root@rvddesktop Linux]# urpmi nvidia-current-devel-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
A requested package cannot be installed:
nvidia-current-devel-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586 (due to unsatisfied x11-driver-video-nvidia-current[== 285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1])
Continue installation anyway? (Y/n) n

DID NOT INSTALL

[root@rvddesktop Linux]# urpmi x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Some requested packages cannot be installed:
nvidia-current-doc-html-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586 (due to unsatisfied x11-driver-video-nvidia-current[== 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree])
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586 (due to conflicts with x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586)
Continue installation anyway? (Y/n) n

DID NOT INSTALL

Now I'm afraid to reboot lest I have no video any more.

[Ken-Bergen]

It looks like I was wrong as I just amused that urpmi didn't handle local rpms so always used rpm -i .

[RVDowning]

Any idea how I should proceed? Do I have a driver installed? I'm afraid to reboot lest I do not. The following is the result of the urpmi of the dkms file.

[root@rvddesktop Linux]# urpmi dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
The following packages have to be removed for others to be upgraded:
nvidia-current-doc-html-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586
(due to unsatisfied x11-driver-video-nvidia-current == 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree)
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586
(due to unsatisfied kmod(nvidia-current) == 275.09.07) (y/N) y


installing dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Preparing... ####################################################
1/1: dkms-nvidia-current ####################################################

Creating symlink /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-current/285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1/source ->
/usr/src/nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1

DKMS: add Completed.

Preparing kernel 2.6.38.8-desktop-6.mga for module build:
(This is not compiling a kernel, just preparing kernel symbols)
Storing current .config to be restored when complete
Running Generic preparation routine
make mrproper.....
using /proc/config.gz
make oldconfig......
make prepare....

Building module:
cleaning build area....
make KERNELRELEASE=2.6.38.8-desktop-6.mga SYSSRC=/lib/modules/2.6.38.8-desktop-6.mga/build module..............
cleaning build area....
cleaning kernel tree (make mrproper).....

DKMS: build Completed.

nvidia-current.ko.gz:
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/2.6.38.8-desktop-6.mga/dkms/drivers/char/drm/

depmod.....

DKMS: install Completed.
removing package nvidia-current-doc-html-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586
removing package x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: nvidia-current
Version: 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree
Kernel: 2.6.33.7-desktop-2mnb (i586)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

nvidia-current.ko.gz:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/2.6.33.7-desktop-2mnb/kernel/drivers/char/drm/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
depmod.....

DKMS: uninstall Completed.

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: nvidia-current
Version: 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree
Kernel: 2.6.33.5-desktop-2mnb (i586)
-------------------------------------

Status: This module version was INACTIVE for this kernel.
depmod.....

DKMS: uninstall Completed.

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: nvidia-current
Version: 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree
Kernel: 2.6.38.8-desktop-4.mga (i586)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

nvidia-current.ko.gz:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/2.6.38.8-desktop-4.mga/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
depmod....

DKMS: uninstall Completed.

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: nvidia-current
Version: 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree
Kernel: 2.6.38.8-desktop-5.mga (i586)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

nvidia-current.ko.gz:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/2.6.38.8-desktop-5.mga/dkms/drivers/char/drm/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.

depmod....

DKMS: uninstall Completed.

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: nvidia-current
Version: 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree
Kernel: 2.6.38.8-desktop-6.mga (i586)
-------------------------------------

Status: This module version was INACTIVE for this kernel.
depmod....

DKMS: uninstall Completed.

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.


Hops this wasn't too long a file. Where do you folks currently post long items?

[Ken-Bergen]

If the boot goes wrong you can always run drakX11 from a command prompt to re-install the old driver.

If you'd put the output you posted in quote tags it would've been better but it was readable and not to much to post here.

[RVDowning]

Thanks.

I'm not sure how to tell what driver I'm using. I did reboot and X did come up. My video is as bad as its been since I moved to Mageia, so I think I am probably still using the same driver, but I don't know how to tell.

One example of the type of issue I have: I go into gnumeric, bring up a spreadsheet and do a Save As. In the dropdown box there are entries. However, if my cursor is in that dropdown box the selected entry does not appear. I have to move the cursor out of the box to see what the selected item is. Of course that may be a gnumeric specific bug. This did not occur in Mandriva, but then Mandriva was using an older gnumeric, so I have no way to tell whether that might be the problem.

It looks like xorg.conf hasn't been modified in a month, so I think I am still using the old driver.

Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360"
Driver "nouveau"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

[eonwir]

It seesm like you are still using the "nouveau" driver.
Did you manage to install also the second rpm x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm? It would have been better i think to install all the nvidia rpms in one go:

Code: Select all

urpmi dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm


Then i guess you can resume with the instructions given by Anssi's script: Start XFdrake by running XFdrake (or drakx11), configure the proprietary driver, ... , then reboot.

After rebooting, you can check that you run the nvidia proprietary driver by typing (as root):

Code: Select all

lsmod | grep nvidia


which should return you at least one line with "nvidia" in it.

If you are running the nvidia driver, you can further see which version it is and configure it with the "nvidia-settings" command (there must be an entry for it in the graphical menu).

[doktor5000]

Didn't ask this from the start, as it seemed you know what you were doing and why you need the newer driver,
but could you please tell me the exact reason why you try to install nvidia driver manually and not use the packages in the repositories?
And if it would happen to be not working, is there a bug report for this?

Also to find out which driver is used, assumptions won't give you exact results.
Check with

Code: Select all

grep -i driver /var/log/Xorg.0.log

[RVDowning]

It seesm like you are still using the "nouveau" driver.
Did you manage to install also the second rpm x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm? It would have been better i think to install all the nvidia rpms in one go:

Code: Select all

urpmi dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm


Then i guess you can resume with the instructions given by Anssi's script: Start XFdrake by running XFdrake (or drakx11), configure the proprietary driver, ... , then reboot.

After rebooting, you can check that you run the nvidia proprietary driver by typing (as root):

Code: Select all

lsmod | grep nvidia


which should return you at least one line with "nvidia" in it.

If you are running the nvidia driver, you can further see which version it is and configure it with the "nvidia-settings" command (there must be an entry for it in the graphical menu).

Finally having a chance to look at this again.

Attempted to run the code you indicated and got the following:

Code: Select all

urpmi dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586.rpm
Package dkms-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586 is already installed
Some requested packages cannot be installed:
nvidia-current-doc-html-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586 (due to unsatisfied x11-driver-video-nvidia-current[== 275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree])
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-275.09.07-0.1.mga1.nonfree.i586 (due to conflicts with x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-285.05.09-1custom.nvidia.mga1.i586)
Continue installation anyway? (Y/n)


Code: Select all

ldmod | grep nvidia

returns nothing

Code: Select all

lsmod | grep nouveau
nouveau               613132  2
ttm                    64672  1 nouveau
drm_kms_helper         40531  1 nouveau
drm                   179474  4 nouveau,ttm,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit           13089  1 nouveau
i2c_core               29667  6 videodev,i2c_nforce2,nouveau,drm_kms_helper,drm,i2c_algo_bit
video                  18729  1 nouveau
button                 13737  1 nouveau


So, still on the nouveau driver.

[doktor5000]

Could you please do the following? urpme -a nvidia which removes all nvidia packages.
Then, in the directory with the packages you created:

Code: Select all

urpmi ./*.rpm

Please post the commands and the output you get here.

[RVDowning]

Needless to say things didn't work. The rpms seemed to install and I rebooted just to come up on the same NOUVEAU driver. I ran XFdrake but don't see a way in there to change a driver.

Mageia didn't create a menu entry for nvidia-settings (after all, this isn't Mandriva). I found it after doing a search on the system in /usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin, but it wouldn't execute and said to execute nvidia-xconfig first. I executed that and it said to reboot. At this point I couldn't get back into a graphical server. Running nvidia-settings would still say to run nvidia-xconfig which in turn did nothing. Running XFdrake didn't seem to allow for anything.

Luckily nvidia has enough sense to take a copy of Xorg.conf, so i was able to copy the backup copy back over, so finally came back up.

I think I've had enough now. I'm just going to wait for the Powerpack version which is due in latter November and go back to Mandriva.

[Ken-Bergen]

I think I've had enough now. I'm just going to wait for the Powerpack version which is due in latter November and go back to Mandriva.

I'm puzzled.
What do you expect from Powerpack that Free plus non-free repositories would not give you?

[doktor5000]

First, you shouldn't have used nvidia installer directly, as this interferes with our packages of the driver.
Secondly, there shouldn't be a reason to use other drivers than those provided in the repositories, except for some older cards.
Thirdly, if you don't provide the commands you used or the error messages you got as "things didn't work" we can't really help you well.

Otherwise i'm as puzzled as Ken-Bergen and of the same opinion ...