Updating Nvidia Drivers - An Easy Way

[Brodo]

For those who don't know, you can't update the proprietary Nvidia drivers in Mageia using the standard Nvidia .run packages due to internal conflicts in the OS.

To get around this Anssi Hannula developed a script (available here) that converts the Nvidia package to 5 RPM files suitable for installation in Mageia.

Unfortunately installing these files with urpmi is not always plain sailing, if you don't start with the right file the installation does not go smoothly and some portions of the driver are missed causing the computer user some grief and strife. The requests for help I've seen on these forums usually have highly technical answers involving modifying the xorg.conf, grepping and spending many hours in a console trying to sort it out.

This is a method that is easy and it works. I've used it to update 4 systems without a hitch
1) Download the required Nvidia .run file and the script mentioned above and store them in the same folder.

2) Run the script to create the rpms

3) In Mageia Control Centre, go to "Configure Media Sources" -> File -> Add a Custom Medium. Enter the path to the above folder in the drop box and click OK. Make a backup of your xorg.conf file

4) Now go to "Install & Remove Software", Set both selection boxes to All. Type in CUDA and uninstall it. I found that this is a necessary step as installing the new drivers breaks CUDA.

5) Type Nvidia into the search box, you will see the Nvidia driver you want in the results shown under the 'Release" column as "1custom.nvidia.mga1"(or 2 depending on your OS version). Tick the box, the install program will advise of the other packages that are needed (as normal), click OK on these and hit "Apply". The drivers will install as normal.

6) If you need it, reinstall CUDA, the current MGA packages work with the upgraded drivers so this is straight forward.

If you are upgrading an existing Nvidia driver go to step 7, If you are upgrading from "nouveau" go to step 8

7) Go to the "Boot" section of MCC, select "Set Up auto Login" and uncheck the "Launch the Graphical environment on start up" box. (this just makes it easier to debug if you have problems). I recommend disabling the X-server this way rather than through the "Set up graphical server" program under the Hardware tab. If your xorg.conf was working before the new drivers were installed restore it from the backup.

8) Upgrading From nouveau - Use the standard method. Go Hardware-> Set Up Graphical Server. When the program asks if you want to use the Nvidia driver click yes. Once again disable the "run x on boot up" function. MCC will install the new Nvidia driver in the normal manner.

9) Reboot and log in at the console, when you've logged in type "startx". If the X-server starts and operates as it should all is well and good and you can re-enable the auto start. If it freezes you can restart back to the console for debugging purposes.

I found this method particularly useful because I run multiple video cards and setting up multiple video cards from scratch is a PITA.Being able to re-use a working xorg.conf in a situation like this is a big plus.

Hope this helps someone
Brodo

[Lebarhon]

Thanks a lot, may be you should put this in the wiki.

[timosch]

if you have trouble to load your new nividia driver, run in a console box with su this command: nvidia-xconfig and reboot

[oldcodger]

Or you could use nvidia-settings in a root konsole.

[Brodo]

Or you could use nvidia-settings in a root konsole.

There are many ways of doing this but not everyone is a console wizard. This is simple and it's quick (it takes less than 15 minutes to complete), and has a 100% success rate. As I said in the title, it's an easy way

Brodo

[timosch]

thats true, but helpfull is when we collect all possible ways to solve a problem and each user has a choice... no?

feel free to add the command to ur main post, it is helpfull

[dubigrasu]

Just curious, why do you run multiple video cards?

[Brodo]

Just curious, why do you run multiple video cards?

Because I crunch CUDA for various BOINC projects.

Brodo

[dubigrasu]

Ah, I see. I thought I smelled bitcoins

[vatbier]

7) Go to the "Boot" section of MCC, select "Set Up auto Login" and uncheck the "Launch the Graphical environment on start up" box. (this just makes it easier to debug if you have problems). I recommend disabling the X-server this way rather than through the "Set up graphical server" program under the Hardware tab. If your xorg.conf was working before the new drivers were installed restore it from the backup.
Brodo

The last sentence is unclear to me, Brodo. What exactly do you mean?
Do you mean that if on reboot X-server with the new drivers fails that then you can restore your backed up xorg.conf? And I assume you also have to uninstall the new nvidia drivers and restore the old nvida drivers?
Or do you mean that we should use the backed up xorg.conf with the new nvidia drivers?
Or do you mean something else?

Sorry for nitpicking but I don't like unclear things in "easy ways".
And thanks for the info!

[Brodo]

7) Go to the "Boot" section of MCC, select "Set Up auto Login" and uncheck the "Launch the Graphical environment on start up" box. (this just makes it easier to debug if you have problems). I recommend disabling the X-server this way rather than through the "Set up graphical server" program under the Hardware tab. If your xorg.conf was working before the new drivers were installed restore it from the backup.
Brodo

The last sentence is unclear to me, Brodo. What exactly do you mean?
Do you mean that if on reboot X-server with the new drivers fails that then you can restore your backed up xorg.conf? And I assume you also have to uninstall the new nvidia drivers and restore the old nvida drivers?
Or do you mean that we should use the backed up xorg.conf with the new nvidia drivers?
Or do you mean something else?

Sorry for nitpicking but I don't like unclear things in "easy ways".
And thanks for the info!

I meant you should restore your xorg.conf from the backup that was taken earlier. If you are only doing a driver update this should not be necessary.

Sorry for not being clearer

Brodo

[doktor5000]

Actually xorg.conf should only be used if you want to override default settings, so if you want to use default settings and dynamic detection of those, just move away xorg.conf and also everything which has been added below /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/