Arch Linux

rajibando

Member

Registered: 2021-04-11

Posts: 15

Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

Just skimmed through the article:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ke … de_setting

Very nice article. However, i have a problem.

I have been satisfied until this time by Debian, Knoppix and occasionally Ubuntu.

The trouble arose when I tried to upgrade my laptop, which still runs like a dream in Knoppix and Ubuntu LTS, to the latest editions of Debian/Ubuntu.

There is a known problem with my NVIDIA graphics card, in that drivers have to be installed. The details were posted to the Ubuntu forum in order to receive a solution, here:
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2460287
But I have not yet received a solution till date.

With Ubuntu14 LTS, driver setting was optional, as the ISO could be mounted into a GUI environment with loopback loop on the Grub menu and used without additional drivers. When installed on HDD, a 640x480 screen would be present to help things like installing appropriate drivers.

Not any more possible with Ubuntu 20.10. Also, Debian Buster Live latest won't set up. Though it is said that Linux works better for older hardware ... as newer drivers are added all the time.

To clarify, since the post could be read with one click, the same is not being replicated here. But of course, if directed I shall readily comply.

Is ArchLinux intrinsically built grounds up to solve this issue? Can a GUI environment be set up without initial driver installation from NVIDIA? Drivers are readily available at the NVIDIA portal and easily installed.

The details of the laptop is here: http://bit.ly/HCL_Pen2Core

Edit Note: Apologise for the same typo thrice. AMD instead of NVIDIA. Also, further details added.

Last edited by rajibando (2021-04-11 14:24:49)

jonno2002

Member

Registered: 2016-11-21

Posts: 684

Re: Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

distro makes no difference, what is your exact hardware ? and what errors are you having ?

Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,911

Re: Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

That ubuntu post mentions a Nvidia GeForce 8200M G videocard, yet you talk about an AMD videocard .
I agree with jonno2002 we need more info about your hardware.

Please post full output of

$ lspci -knn

Welcome to archlinux forums

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

rajibando

Member

Registered: 2021-04-11

Posts: 15

Re: Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

Thank you, Lone_Wolf, for replying to my post.

That ubuntu post mentions a Nvidia GeForce 8200M G videocard, yet you talk about an AMD videocard  ...

My bad. If possible, could the word AMD be replaced by NVIDIA please? Just an inadvertent typo, thrice entered. The ubuntu post is absolutely correct, rest assured.
Presently, the laptop is shut off and the HDD, taken off. Likely to receive another HDD in a few days to have a new OS/system installed.

... Welcome to archlinux forums ...

Thank you, it is my pleasure to have joined.

Details added on the first post.

Last edited by rajibando (2021-04-11 16:37:42)

Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,911

Re: Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

Drivers are readily available at the NVIDIA portal and easily installed.

installing software directly from upstream on archlinux is asking for trouble.
makepkg / PKGBUILDs make packaging software for archlinux easy.

Your card appears to be from NV50 Tesla family[1] .
Nvidia legacy gpu list[2] gives 3.40xx as driver version for your card.

That driver is not in official repos anymore and is no longer updated by nvidia.
There is an AUR[3] package for it[4], but nvidia states this driver only supports upto kernel 5.4 [5] .

Linux 5.4 is an LTS kernel and should be available until dec 2025 .
It is in AUR and it's maintainer is also involved in maintaing the nvidia 390 aur package .

An alternative would be to use the opensource nouveau driver[6] instead of the proprietary nvidia driver.
This may perform less then the nvidia driver but does work with latest kernel.

The archlinux installation iso doesn't have any proprietary nvidia driver so will use the nouveau driver anyway.

[1] https://nouveau.freedesktop.org/CodeNames.html
[2] https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/legacy-gpu/
[3] https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ar … Repository
[4] https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/nvidia-340xx-dkms/
[5] https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers … a_id/3142/
[6] https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Nouveau

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2021-04-12 12:28:03)

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

rajibando

Member

Registered: 2021-04-11

Posts: 15

Re: Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

Thank you very much, Lone_Wolf, for responding to my post with so much research and information. Kindly accept my admiration for your huge efforts and upholding your end of the Social Contract out of your own volition.

... That driver is not in official repos anymore and is no longer updated by nvidia. ... The archlinux installation iso doesn't have any proprietary nvidia driver so will use the nouveau driver anyway. ...

I have a few copies (editions, i.e.,) of the drivers saved through years. If they don't match or are rejected, and if Nouveau driver works (it hasn't been working ever, e.g., in Knoppix) well and good. If it doesn't, we shall take things from there.

Until then, i shall then wait for the new HDD to arrive and then try things when it has arrived. I thank you for so much support.  I would also seek your permission to Email you a few relevant titbits.

It is strange that Ubuntu14 LTS or Puppy Linux worked without any driver installation. No other OS, Debian or its offshoots, worked without drivers. Debian would have a working low resolution screen. Knoppix would hang with nouveau driver, every time.

These zero-sum "secret-proprietary" Games have really ruined the entire computing ecosystem, to make it into a reflection of our inner world.

Last edited by rajibando (2021-04-12 15:10:00)

jonno2002

Member

Registered: 2016-11-21

Posts: 684

Re: Old, problematic HCL Me laptop, fails latest Live ISOs

it should just work, i grabbed my arch-on-a-stick and jammed it into an old p4 i have lying around with a geforce 9400gt in it and everything just works.

xorg uses the modesetting driver, glxgears works as it should, glxinfo outputs:

$ glxinfo -B    
name of display: :0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
Extended renderer info (GLX_MESA_query_renderer):
    Vendor: nouveau (0x10de)
    Device: NV96 (0x641)
    Version: 20.3.4
    Accelerated: yes
    Video memory: 498MB
    Unified memory: no
    Preferred profile: core (0x1)
    Max core profile version: 3.3
    Max compat profile version: 3.3
    Max GLES1 profile version: 1.1
    Max GLES[23] profile version: 3.0
OpenGL vendor string: nouveau
OpenGL renderer string: NV96
OpenGL core profile version string: 3.3 (Core Profile) Mesa 20.3.4
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 3.30
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL version string: 3.3 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 20.3.4
OpenGL shading language version string: 3.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: compatibility profile

OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.0 Mesa 20.3.4
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.00

the 9400gt is in the same nv50 family as your 8200m so i dont see why it wouldnt work.

this is all WITHOUT the proprietary nvidia drivers installed, kernel uses the nouveau module