Installing nVidia driver in Debian 6 squeeze

[kcredden]

addendium:

Ok I was just thinking of something but i need your advice and help with it.

If it's the nouveau driver that's causing the problems, can I mearly switch to another built-in video driver. If nVIDIDA doesn't like the nouveau driver, then why not use an older one? As long as I can get to the command line, I'm fine. I juts need your advice on how to achieve this.

Help?

- Kc

Ok folks I bet you've had a lot of *****es about this. But is there ANY easy way to install the current nVIDIA video drive (3-d, non-free) on Debian 6/squeeze?

I've found the extensive way to install it, but that's far beyond my capibilties. Does Synaptic have any solutions?

I've got the newest nVIDIA driver from the site. But after typeing sh ./NVIDIA-[TAB] the installer constently complains that nouveau is running, there is no way to disable it, then there's no MAKE, no binutils, GCC is wrong, etc, etc, etc.I never had this much problem installing drivers.

Nouveau doesn't work well with my dual monitors, and my 16:9 monitor is distorted badly. Should I just toss D6 for now, go with a distro that has:

a) the Beryl cube installed
b) comes with KDE 4.5 (That's hat I'm currently running on my netbook and I /love/ it.)
c) works fine with nVIDIA 7300 GS, and multi-monitors?

What (debian) distro would you suggest, aside from Ubuntu? I'm done with Ubuntu.

- Kc

[WhoIsThere]

What (debian) distro would you suggest, aside from Ubuntu?

Debian Squeeze (stable).

Follow the instructions here:
NvidiaGraphicsDrivers - Debian Wiki

I recently updated successfully using the 'module-assistant' method. I'd recommend trying that first.

[fanderal]

after typeing sh ./NVIDIA-[TAB] the the installer constently complains that nouveau is running

In Debian and many other distros, a closed source driver cannot be installed while the open source driver is installed and running. Nouveau must be uninstalled, along with the kernel modules and support files, before the closed source nvidia driver can be installed.

Should I just toss D6 for now, go with a distro that has:

a) the Beryl cube installed
b) comes with KDE 4.5 (That's hat I'm currently running on my netbook and I /love/ it.)
c) works fine with nVIDIA 7300 GS, and multi-monitors?

What (debian) distro would you suggest, aside from Ubuntu? I'm done with Ubuntu.

The major distros and most Debian based distros can be set up the way you want.

If you decide to stick with Debian, you might wanna check out the Nvidia wiki page WhoIsThere posted.

[kcredden]

Thanks for all the advice folks. Nothing worked, without major risk, and time. Which I don't have. So I have two options left. The one I need advice on. I have a Debian 6/gnome install disk. Do you know of any way of telling the install disk NOT to install any video driver. I just found, that my 33 disk set of Debian 5.03 does that automatically. It installs the command line, and basic system. From there, I have to install X, and the GUI from the KDE disk.

If you can do that, will that solve the problem? Will that allow me to install the nVIDIA driver?

At the moment, it doesn't matter if I reinstall everything. I knew the video would be a problem, so I've stopped at this point until the video is running.

If this disk doesn't work, know of a site that has this to download as well?

Thanks
- Kc

[fanderal]

Nothing worked, without major risk, and time. Which I don't have.

Debian is a great distro but it comes with a learning curve. If you don't have the time to read and learn, and prefer to click on an automated driver installer, that's your choice. There are distros which provide that kinda automation (don't know which ones, offhand) and might be more to your liking. Good luck.

[kcredden]

Ok folks, just wanted to say thanks for your help but I was only partly sucessful. I was able to finally turn off nouveau, which solved the main problem. You use GRUB to stop the loading of it I found, but I did so many things I have no idea if that really was the solver or not.

The biggest problem turned out to be the driver itself. It required many things that should have not been a problem. I don't know if it's D6 or the driver itself. But I'm done with nVIDIA. I'm ordering a new video card - probably Intel - since the netbook works just fine with Debian 6, KDE 4.7 and the Beryl Cube, and sell the old card.

- Kc

[Dreamz]

I tried today to install Debian...everything was perfect until I had to install the Ati driver...after one hour trying, I just switched back to Ubuntu. I have no problems in learning, reading...I also like it, but I found installing a driver just too complicated.

[BoDiddley]

I have Nvidia and Debian/lxde. I started out with Knoppix. I think you both are taking the wrong approach. Debian autodetected just fine. Knoppix I used a cheat code on the boot.I believe it was "Knoppix xmodule = NV". before that nothing would work.

I would say that it is KDE. But I have tried KDE. My favorite was Mepis because it ran on a separate ReiserFS partition. However, I do not like KDE, way too heavy and intense. Might as well use Windows. But nVidia (as you put it worked well). I should also mention that with Mepis you pay for updates.

I think you guys should read a little longer, and find a different approach. If you showed-up at Linux looking for plug-and-play - you might want to move on.

That said, I have built myself the perfect little lightweight distro based on Debian Lenny. It sits on 3 GB of disk space, everything works and I get no errors. I am AMD to boot.

You gotta want it.

Have you tried searching on Linux distro? It will give you a chart of all the comparisons.

[Dreamz]

Hi,
I tried a few of them (Ubuntu 10.04lts, 10.10 and 11.04, Mint Deb and Debian 6). The most I like is Debian, I feel Ubuntu with a few bugs always even in the LTS, at least with my system configuration (I7 6gb ati 3870).

I started with Ubuntu like 2 months ago; after 1 week I got running Dreamweaver and Photoshop (which I need for work) with Playonlinux, and this caused me to delete the windows partition the same day.

I tried Debian today making a fresh install...open source drivers made my Ati fan to work at 100%, so I installed the driver from Ati directly which caused my system not to work properly of course.
Then readed guides about installing Ati drivers, and the recommended manual was one where I had to exit the desktop environment, with some instructions which reported me errors or not found in console....I though that I would be able to do with more patience, that is the way I learned Maya or 3DMax in the past which are complex programs...but for installing just one driver, did not encouraged me to do so.

The first thing I did when installing Debian was making my own sources.list, searching for templates I like, icons, making the system to fit my needs...and I dont have problem in reading and spending time on it, but the driver just made me turn back

PD (Just found a new simpler guide, maybe I try again tomorrow...)

[BoDiddley]

I use dual boot. It gives me a chance to learn as I go. Anything I cannot do in Debian, I pop back into Windows.

I finally got my printer working, Java, and all that. I have yet to attempt my scanner. And that is about it. I am also not sure if Wireless works, probably better if it did not - for now.

I was successful because I really am a minimalist.

I reloaded Windows when I first began because Windows XP partition flags with an error. So I reloaded after partitioning.

Linux partition should allow you to resize it using gparted. I use Parted Magic boot CD, because you cannot resize an active partition. You might want to reload Windows in another partition. Then reinstall grub so it finds the Windows partition. That was a gutsy move considering you need something for work - All I do is play on this one.