-i would also like to thank otis and dalek for their help, i'd still be scratching my head if it wasnt for you guys. now i'll try to load the ut04 demo and see if it runs when i get home today

Your welcome. I scratched my head to when I had to go through all that config stuff.

I was a newbie at one time, still am at some stuff.

Glad you got it going. Enjoy those games.

Later

Problems installing NVIDIA driver. This is on Mandrake 10.0 official btw.
I tried following the tutorial in post#2.
I downloaded the kernel before trying to install using the extra bit of info further on down the first page.
I downloaded the nvidia driver package - NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-5336-pkg1.run.
Booted into failsafe mode and got an error about running in runlevel 1 and that I should be in runlevel 3. There was an option to continue with the installation, but I didn't select it. I selected to reboot into runlevel 3, but got back to the GUI desktop.
Here's a copy of the nvidia install log.
I quit the install and got booted back to the desktop.
When I get to the login prompt do I type telinit 3? Or do I do this after logging in as root?
Bit confusing...
Thanks in advance.

at the login, login as normal, su to root, then type init 3 (enter). that will kill X. you'll be at a prompt again, login as root, proceed with nvidia install.

actually, you can do the same thing from the desktop. open your favourite terminal (konsole, xterm, etc.) then do the init 3 thing, root, & install. i only put the failsafe method in that how-to in case you can't get to a GUI.

otis

Thanks Otis, I'll give it a try now.

You do have to be in init 3 for that to work. Init 1 or failsafe won't work. It doesn't load, or mount, a lot of file systems and will not install or will not work if it does.

That should work if you go to init 3. I have a how to in here somewhere to. It has been a while.

Later

OK. Got to init 3 & started the nvidia install. Accepted the license and then I got this error message:
I selected 'yes'.
It couldn't connect to the network though as, I assume, running at init 3 level disables the net connection or doesn't bring up the ethernet interface. I had to exit the install and made my way back to the desktop.

So, what to do now?
I downloaded the source kernel earlier, so it's there as required, so what's missing?

just ignore that question & answer "no". the installer will compile the kernel module for you & install it.

otis

Hmmm... this is starting to get right on my wick now...

Answered NO to the question about downloading a Kernel Interface etc...
Proceeded onto the next screen and answered OK for the installer to compile the Kernel Module.

Get this error: There's only an OK option to select, so I select it and get the 'failed installation' error that I've seen before which directs me to the log. I've tried to open the nvidia-installer log, but there doesn't seem to be anything in it.

Any more suggestions?

ok...........let's back track a bit to clarify something..........

you said in your earlier post you have the kernel............

do you also have the kernel source installed? and, if so, does it match your kernel version? you need the matching kernel sources for the drivers to be able to compile, not just the kernel. the kernel itself & the kernel sources are 2 different things. in a terminal, as root, type the following to get your kernel version...........

you will see something like this.......... Linux default 2.6.3-15mdk etc, etc, etc.........

that will be your kernel version. (or mine, in this case. your version may differ)

so, for the drivers to install you'd also need kernel-source 2.6.3-15mdk (or whatever source matches your kernel.

how to get it? 2 ways........

if you can get to a GUI mode without the drivers installed, just use Mandrake Control Center (MCC)->software management->install. type kernel in the search box & install the source that matches your kernel. if you can't get to a GUI, then boot using the "failsafe" method i described, login as root, DON'T use the init 3 method, but instead type

(hit enter)

choose the matching source if it finds more than one & install it. then, proceed with the nvidia install.

otis

Code: uname -a
Results: Linux localhost 2.6.3-7mdk #1
Code: urpmi kernel-source
Results: everything already installed.

does the kernel source match the kernel version? you could well have a source installed that doesn't match the kernel itself. are you able to get in GUI mode at all? if so, that's the easiest way to check. use MCC->software management->remove & type kernel. look for the source & see if it matches the kernel. if not, uninstall it then install the correct one. if GUI isn't an option, then in terminal as root type............

(hit enter)

that will give you the version of your installed kernel source. if it doesn't match, type.........

(hit enter)

that will uninstall the source. then type..........

(hit enter)

choose the matching source & install it.

otis

Ok, I had the wrong kernel source package installed - what a dumbass must do more -
I'll try the nvidia install again and see how it goes this time.
Thanks a lot Otis, you're really helped me out.

not a dumb ass, just an honest mistake.

post back & let me know how you made out.

otis

Heh.
Got the drivers installed. Configured the XF86 file as per the prior instructions.
Lilo loads up, I select 'Linux' from the list and everything goes fine until you get the gui logon.
No nvidia splash screen, no GUI, no KDE, no nothing.... Just a plain black screen, no cursor, no mouse, nothing...

ARRGH!!

Any suggestions of where to go from here?