nVidia Driver Error [solved]

32 · 2010-12-22 09:07:24

I have searched for an answer, but have no more patience. Thank you for listening; I've posted as much information as possible--simply put, I can't get my GUI up.

I am in the midst of installing Arch.

# uname -ar

tells me it is kernel 2.6.34

I have an nVidia GeForce FX 5200 video card. The ArchWiki Beginner's Guide recommends installing nvidia-173xx drivers. Unfortunately, typing:

 # pacman -S nvidia-173xx

returns:

 error: 'nvidia-173xx': could not find or read package

At first, I thought the network was down. ping google.com proves the network is up.
Then, I thought the mirror list or repository wasn't working. Calling a different package proved there was nothing wrong with pacman, the mirrors, or the repository.

I tried other drivers that were said to work to some extent with the video card, rebooted, logged into root and entered:

# startx

which returned an error message that summarizes to: "failed to load nvidia modules."

I have seen on Archlinux.org documentation that nvidia-173xx is built for kernel 2.6.36. Is this the root of the problem? Would updating the system not have negated this difference?

How do I download and install nvidia-173xx or appropriate alternative drivers with the desired outcome that I can setup a GUI?

Thanks

Last edited by 32 (2010-12-22 23:21:34)

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 09:16:06

You may need to run

pacman -Syyu

To bring system up to date then try

pacman -S nvidia-173xx

again

32 · 2010-12-22 09:34:00

I tried your suggestion, Mr Green. The same error was returned.

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 09:38:04

Ok output of

pacman -Qi pacman

pacman -Ss nvidia

32 · 2010-12-22 09:57:01

# pacman -Qi pacman
name                 : pacman
version               : 3.4.0-2
url                     : http://www.archlinux.org/pacman/
Licenses           : GPL
Groups              :base
Proves               : none
Depends on       : bash libarchive>=2.7.1 libfetch>=2.25 pacman-mirrorlist
Optional Deps     : fakeroot: for makepkg usage as normal user
Required by         : none
Conflicts none      : None
Replaces            : None
Installed Size      : 2084.00 K
Packager            : Dan McGee <dan@achlinux.org>
Architecture        : i686
Build Date           : Mon 21 Jun 2010 05:54:15 AM PDT
Install Date          : Sat 18 Dec 2010 01:40:03 AM PST
Install Reason      : Explicitely installed
Install Script        : Yes
Description          : A library-based package manager with dependency support

# pacman -Ss nvidia
extra/libvdpau 0.4-1
     Nvidia VDPAU library
extra/nouveau-drm-lts 0.0.16_20100313-2
     nvidia opensource X driver
extra/nouveau-firmware 20091212-4
     nvidia opensource X driver - firmware needed for NV40 and above
extra/nvclock 0.8b4-1
    A small utility which allows users to overclock NVIDIA based video cards
extra/nvidia 256.35-1 [installed]
     NVIDIA drivers utilities and libraries
extra/xf86-video-nouveau 0;016_git20100517-1 [installed]
     Open Source 3D acceleration driver for nVidia cards (experimental)
community/nvdock 1.02-3
     A tray icon for easy launching for the NVIDIA control panel
community/nvidia-cg-toolkit 2.2-4
     nVidia Cg libraries

Meyithi · 2010-12-22 10:05:00

Use a different mirror, sure it might work but it might be out of date.

http://www.archlinux.org/mirrorlist/
http://www.archlinux.org/mirrors/status/

Uncommented mirrors also run top to bottom, the highest uncommented mirror will be the one that syncs.

graysky · 2010-12-22 10:09:32

Meyithi wrote:

http://www.archlinux.org/mirrorlist/

Excellent tool I never knew about!

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 10:48:14

You seem to have nvidia installed already....yes get your mirrors sorted then update

See if that helps

32 · 2010-12-22 11:02:04

You're saying I should update the system using each mirror until the kernel reaches 2.6.36, then I will no longer have a problem?

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 11:07:13

No you need to try a different mirror or at least update mirrorlist

post your /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist and your country we will do it for you

32 · 2010-12-22 14:03:31

I'm using:

##
## Arch Linux repository mirrorlist
## Generated on 2010-12-22
##

## United States
#Server = http://mirrors.cat.pdx.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.ece.vt.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.hosef.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.hosef.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://hpc.arc.georgetown.edu/mirror/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://locke.suu.edu/linux/dist/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/ftpfull/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/ftpfull/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://schlunix.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.yellowfiber.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

I've gone through and tried

# pacman -Ss nvidia

with most of the mirrors, but there are never any changes

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 14:20:09

You are not using any mirror by the looks of that.....

32 · 2010-12-22 14:27:34

I used the list provided by GraySky without uncommenting the mirrors I'm utilizing on the machine on which I am installing Arch. Right now, I have random mirrors open.

## United States
#Server = http://mirrors.cat.pdx.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirror.ece.vt.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://mirrors.hosef.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirrors.hosef.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://hpc.arc.georgetown.edu/mirror/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://locke.suu.edu/linux/dist/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/ftpfull/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/ftpfull/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://schlunix.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.yellowfiber.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 14:31:59

Can you give me output of

pacman -Ss nvidia

It will not load anything merely tells you what packages pacman finds on servers

graysky · 2010-12-22 14:33:15

32 wrote:

I used the list provided by GraySky without uncommenting the mirrors I'm utilizing on the machine on which I am installing Arch. Right now, I have random mirrors open.

I provided the list? Use the website posted earlier to see which mirrors are good for you country. Make sure you have an updated mirror in the list, then:

pacman -Syy # this updates the syncdb
pacman -Syu # this updates your system

Inxsible · 2010-12-22 14:55:15

32,

you need atleast 1 mirror that pacman can use to download new packages from. Therefore you need atleast 1 uncommented server that is nearest to your geographical location. Also when someone asks for some information, make sure you provide it from your system (the one having problems). That's the only way people here can help you out.

Also, if you cannot find a package, in the official repositories, then chances are that it might exist in AUR. nvidia-173xx can be found here. Choose the one that you feel is the most appropriate for you.
All in all it is highly imperative that you take some time and read through our Beginner's Guide and also some basic articles about Arch in general. Our Wiki is an excellent resource. Please make use of it.

32 · 2010-12-22 15:10:43

I'm sorry, I've made a mess communicating on the last few posts.

After Mr Green's post at 11:07 I systematically went through each item on /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist under United States. After uncommenting one mirror, I would return to the terminal, type in pacman -Ss nvidia, and note any changes, then go back to /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist, comment the mirror just used, uncomment the mirror below it, and iterate. The output of pacman -Ss nvidia never changed from what I posted at 9:57. After exhausting the list, I uncommented a few random mirrors and checked the nvidia summary. My posts at 14:03 and 14:27 were an attempt to relay this information using the list provided by Meyithi, not graysky. I apologize for being vague or incorrect.

To answer Mr Green. The read out to pacman -Ss nvidia has no difference from my earlier quote and certainly no nvidia-173xx driver.

To graysky. Thank you for the advice. The system is now updated, but still, the original error persists.

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 15:15:02

[mrgreen@myhost ~]$ pacman -Ss nvidia
testing/xf86-video-nouveau 0.0.16_git20101217-1
    Open Source 3D acceleration driver for nVidia cards (experimental)
extra/libvdpau 0.4-1
    Nvidia VDPAU library
extra/nouveau-drm-lts 0.0.16_20100313-4
    nvidia opensource X driver
extra/nouveau-firmware 20091212-4
    nvidia opensource X driver - firmware needed for NV40 and above
extra/nvidia 260.19.29-1
    NVIDIA drivers for kernel26.
extra/nvidia-173xx 173.14.28-2
    NVIDIA drivers for kernel26, 173xx branch.
extra/nvidia-173xx-utils 173.14.28-1
    NVIDIA drivers utilities and libraries, 173xx branch.
extra/nvidia-96xx 96.43.19-2
    NVIDIA drivers for kernel26, 96xx branch.
extra/nvidia-96xx-utils 96.43.19-1
    NVIDIA drivers utilities and libraries, 96xx branch.
extra/nvidia-utils 260.19.29-1 [installed]
    NVIDIA drivers utilities and libraries.
extra/xf86-video-nouveau 0.0.16_git20100819-2
    Open Source 3D acceleration driver for nVidia cards (experimental)
community/nvclock 0.8b4-1
    A small utility which allows users to overclock NVIDIA based video cards
community/nvdock 1.02-3
    A tray icon for easy launching of the NVIDIA control panel
community/nvidia-cg-toolkit 3.0-2
    NVIDIA Cg libraries

My output

cedeel · 2010-12-22 15:20:17

Now install your drivers..

pacman -S nvidia-173xx

Mr.Elendig · 2010-12-22 15:20:35

You have to -Sy after changing the mirrorlist. Btw, paste your whole pacman.conf too.

hokasch · 2010-12-22 15:21:49

32 wrote:

After uncommenting one mirror, I would return to the terminal, type in pacman -Ss nvidia, and note any changes

gravsky wrote:

Make sure you have an updated mirror in the list, then:
pacman -Syy # this updates the syncdb
pacman -Syu # this updates your system

/edit: nvidia-173xx is indeed in extra

Last edited by hokasch (2010-12-22 15:22:58)

32 · 2010-12-22 15:34:28

The nvidia-173xx and nvidia-173xx-utils drivers are very clear on your print out. I am going to try to figure out pkgbuild using the AUR as lnxsible suggested.

Mr Green · 2010-12-22 15:39:02

The packages are on repos not my system, you need to figure out how to use pacman first.

Cannot really be much more help

MrG

32 · 2010-12-22 16:10:15

After fiddling more with the mirror list and updating again, it finally worked.

Thank you for your patience and help.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-12-22 09:07:24

nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#2 2010-12-22 09:16:06

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#3 2010-12-22 09:34:00

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#4 2010-12-22 09:38:04

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#5 2010-12-22 09:57:01

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#6 2010-12-22 10:05:00

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#7 2010-12-22 10:09:32

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#8 2010-12-22 10:48:14

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#9 2010-12-22 11:02:04

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#10 2010-12-22 11:07:13

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#11 2010-12-22 14:03:31

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#12 2010-12-22 14:20:09

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#13 2010-12-22 14:27:34

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#14 2010-12-22 14:31:59

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#15 2010-12-22 14:33:15

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#16 2010-12-22 14:55:15

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#17 2010-12-22 15:10:43

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#18 2010-12-22 15:15:02

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#19 2010-12-22 15:20:17

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#20 2010-12-22 15:20:35

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#21 2010-12-22 15:21:49

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#22 2010-12-22 15:34:28

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#23 2010-12-22 15:39:02

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

#24 2010-12-22 16:10:15

Re: nVidia Driver Error [solved]

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