Hi all, first off, I've been reading these forums figuring out a few problems, but there's no posts relating to a question I have right now. I can't figure out how to install my motherboard drivers. Currently, it's a MSI K8N Neo-FSR mobo with the nforce3 250GB chipset. I went to the nvidia site and looked at their extremely vague instructions, which did not help me at all. Here's their directions:

STEP 1: Download the Driver File
Download - NFORCE-Linux-x86-1.0-0283-pkg1.run

STEP 2: Begin Installation
From within a shell with root privileges, type "sh NFORCE-Linux-x86-1.0-0283-pkg1.run" to initiate the installation.

STEP 3: Review the NVIDIA Software License. You will need to accept this license to continue with the installation.

STEP 4: Review the Known Problems for any special installation instructions required by your platform.

STEP 5: Install
Follow the directions provided by the installer. The installer will prepare the driver and install the driver and application files in the appropriate place.

Note: For systems running a kernel for which there is no pre-built binary driver, the installer will need to build the driver. In order for the installer to build the driver, the kernel source needs to be installed.

STEP 6: Review Documentation
Refer to the ReleaseNotes (HTML Version) (installed in /usr/share/doc/nforce) for instructions on configuring the system with the installed drivers.

Can someone go into some more detail about how I go about doing this, as those directions are just to vague for my windows-plagued mind

I'm going to assume that you have allready downloaded the file NFORCE-Linux-x86-1.0-0283-pkg1.run so I will start from there

the first thing you will want to do is make sure you have the "kernel-source" package installed from your SuSE disk, check that by going into YaST and opening up the "Install and Remove software" module then do a search for kernel-source if its installed your ready to proceed if not install it.


now you need to open a command shell hit "alt + F2" and you should get a small window waiting for a command

Type: xterm and hit enter

a terminal windows will open now type: "su -"

you will be propten to enter your root password once you enter that you should get a prompt that looks like

linux:~#

now you need to change the working directory to the one that you save the NFORCE-Linux-x86-1.0-0283-pkg1.run file in.

to do that use the cd or Change Directory command the command should look like:

cd /home/myhome if you saved it in your home directory, you will need to change "myhome" to the name of you home directory. I f you saved the file somewhere other than your home directory you will just need to exchange the "/home/myhome" with the path to the folder where the file is saved.

now that you are in the correct folder you type:

sh NFORCE-Linux-x86-1.0-0283-pkg1.run

then just follow the instructions in the installer

restart your system and you should be up and running


ADDITIONAL NOTE: you will be changing the core system so back up any files you want before you do this. while everything should work out fine, if something does go wrong it will be a pain trying to get it working again without reinstalling unless you know what your doing.

Sorry to be Mr. Nasty, but if you find these instructions beyond you, it is time to get a decent book on beginng Linux and have a good read. It's not so much that Linux is harder, but you always have to read the instructions before you wade in and the best instructions for noobs come in a nice dead-tree book which you just have to fork out for.

To attempt to help you out here:

1) You download the file using a web browser. If you can't get X to run without the drivers (the old chicken and egg scenario) then you'll need to use Lynx, or work out how to set X to run with the Vesa drivers, or copy the file off another machine which is working. Your beginning Linux book will explain all of these options.

2) Well, you 'type' using the 'keyboard' in a 'shell', what more can I say?

3,4,5,6) Basically telling you to RTFM. The instructions come up on the screen, you read them!

Oh dear, any more sarcasm from me and the mods will have me barred :-(

If all else fails, find your local geek and tell them you have a machine on which it is absolutely impossible to run Linux. The'll be round there to fix it like a shot.

TIM

wooxy -- Welcome to LQ! HenchmenResourc's comments should solve the installation question you asked, but if not, please post back with any followup questions. (Nicely done HenchmenResourc - very complete!)

avarus -- sarcasm is one thing, but being rude is another. Perhaps phrases such as "From within a shell with root privileges..." are obvious to you, but to people who are new to Linux, those terms may be utterly confusing. If you have nothing constructive to say in a post, or your reply more or less can be summed up as "RTFM", you are better off just skipping the thread and moving along. That sort of attitude is not what LQ is about, and really isn't welcome here. I'm not trying to be Mr Nasty either but honestly there's no reason to treat people shabbily. -- J.W.

HenchmenResourc - Thanks for the help man. Worked perfect, now just get ATI to write some good drivers for the x800 and you'd be my god

avarus... I'm not alone as many people find linux terms confusing upon first looking at them.