stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

im_ka · 2004-03-07 14:24:32

hey!
sorry if this issue has been already discussed, but i only got even more confused when i read threads on nvidia :oops:

here's the deal:
i got widget installed as my only os. got a geforce 2 video card.
i'm trying to install the nvidia driver, but after running # sh .... i get these messages:

"No precompiled kernel interface was found to match your kernel...."

"The installer will need to compile a kernel interface for your kernel"

"Unable to find the kernel source tree for the currently running kernel"

could some1 give me a "noobs' guide for installing the nvidia driver on arch linux with kernel 2.6.3"? i'm sure i'm not the only one struggling with this.

thanks in advance for any help!

Mr Green · 2004-03-07 14:42:41

Hi

To get nvidia drivers to work you will need to compile kernel (2.6.3)

if you want to keep old kernel then rename adding .old

as root run abs

as root:

cd /var/abs/kernels/kernel26

makepkg

pacman -A kernel26-x.pkg.tar.gz

cd src/

mv linux-2.6.3 /usr/src

then update lilo/grub

then reboot

once you get prompt (no X running)

then install nvidia drivers....

HTH.....

Mr Green

im_ka · 2004-03-07 14:58:01

thanks i'll try this out.

but won't be my old settings (network card, sound card) lost?

Mr Green · 2004-03-07 15:12:37

Please if you new to Linux & not sure what you are doing then read up about it on the forums

do not be afraid to ask for help

we are here if you need us.......

As for settings unless they are compiled in you should not upset anything......

But as I say dual booting (2.4 & 2.6.3) means at least you can still use your system

Mr Green

sarah31 · 2004-03-07 15:13:53

no why would they you are not removing the modules and handling of the modules is all managed by external files. the only things you may lose would be external driver you may have applied.

Mr Green · 2004-03-07 15:23:42

Thank you sarah31 I was not sure but its better to be safe

im_ka · 2004-03-07 15:45:29

thanx 4 the answers, im almost done with the pacman part.

well, i'm not a complete noob, i had suse and fedora be4 (2 months linux experience) but as we all know, one can not learn much from those distros.

im_ka · 2004-03-07 19:41:36

ok, i got nvidia working. thanx 4 the help

just wanna add a few things (for other newbies reading this thread)

-the pacman part was unnecesarry
-editing lilo: copy the "bzImage" file from the new kernel to /boot so lilo doesnt complain about the the bootimage being too big
-after installing the driver, make sure you "modprope nvidia"

alexthelion · 2004-03-08 12:20:02

im_ka wrote:

-the pacman part was unnecesarry

What is "the pacman part" for you? Could you post a step-by-step guide of what you did?

Thanks

alexthelion · 2004-03-08 12:24:37

Just a little question:

What is the difference between a "kernel26" installed by pacman -S (i.e. the prebuilt one from the net) and the same kernel built on my machine with abs + makepkg?

Is there a way to get the NVidia drivers working without rebuilding the kernel?

Thanks, Alex

i3839 · 2004-03-08 13:02:32

You should be able to just download the kernel source with the same version of the kernel you're currently running, then make sure that /usr/src/linux points to that source, and run the nvidia installer. If the installer still gives an error that it can't find the source, then do a 'make modules_install', and do ctrl+c after a few seconds, or make the link /lib/modules/2.x.x/build yourself.

An alternative is to add a prebuild Arch nvidia module to the installer. It is very easy to do, the hard part is to get rid of the existing prebuild redhat/suse/mandrake modules so that the installer isn't 6 mb. It's possible to add perbuild modules for all Arch kernel versions (both 2.4 and 2.6), so that the kernel source shouldn't be needed.

alexthelion · 2004-03-08 15:42:49

i3839 wrote:

or make the link /lib/modules/2.x.x/build yourself.

Actually, I prefer making the link myself. What do I have to link to which location?

i3839 · 2004-03-08 17:12:20

build should be a link to the kernel source, e.g. build -> /usr/src/linux-2.6.3.

im_ka · 2004-03-09 13:49:50

did not do this:

Mr Green wrote:

pacman -A kernel26-x.pkg.tar.gz

Mr Green

and i updated lilo by adding bzImage (the compressed file) instead of vmlinuz.

hth

Arch Linux

#1 2004-03-07 14:24:32

stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#2 2004-03-07 14:42:41

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#3 2004-03-07 14:58:01

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#4 2004-03-07 15:12:37

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#5 2004-03-07 15:13:53

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#6 2004-03-07 15:23:42

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#7 2004-03-07 15:45:29

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#8 2004-03-07 19:41:36

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#9 2004-03-08 12:20:02

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#10 2004-03-08 12:24:37

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#11 2004-03-08 13:02:32

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#12 2004-03-08 15:42:49

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#13 2004-03-08 17:12:20

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

#14 2004-03-09 13:49:50

Re: stuck with installing the nvidia driver [FXx]

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