Linux Virgin, NVIDIA 6600, please help

[mykaitch]

I have installed Debian Etch. Made netinst CD etc and all went fine.
Partitions work and XP is still ok.
Also made a knoppix liveCD and that works fine too.
This the problem:
When I boot Linux I get a garbage screen as if the video driver is broken.
I have a geforce6600 which seems to be notorious.
I have tried all the ALT-CTL-Fn modes and they are all garbage although
on some as you type you can see that some kind of screen update is happening.

If I use knoppix I can see all my files, partitions (windows and Linux) etc
but cannot find the install log.
How can I add a Linux driver that I hope might fix it.
I have NO Linux skill so if you can help you really will have to tell
me what goes where and how. CPM was so simple. Hope you guys can help, thanks.
PS if you find the mouse pointer missing with knoppix then at the boot prompt add...

...knoppix xmodule=vesa. Its some kind of magic spell that brings the pointer back.

[iwanabeguru]

can you log in with a user or as root from terminal?
the log file /var/log/Xorg.0.log

[mykaitch]

No, I cannot get to a termnial because there is no useable video mode. I have looked at GRUB but my boot options do not offer a recovery mode (whatever that is). However, once booted you can switch modes (?) with ALT+CTL+Fn. In all modes the display is garbage but as you type you can see 'something' in response. I do have a Linux driver for the card and I can get into knoppix live CD ok - but when I get there I have no idea what to do !

[jens]

No, I cannot get to a termnial because there is no useable video mode. I have looked at GRUB but my boot options do not offer a recovery mode (whatever that is). However, once booted you can switch modes (?) with ALT+CTL+Fn. In all modes the display is garbage but as you type you can see 'something' in response. I do have a Linux driver for the card and I can get into knoppix live CD ok - but when I get there I have no idea what to do !

You obviously don't need video(or even a working system) for that, those are plain text files.
Since you probably screw up your X configuration during the installation, post "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" as well (use your knoppix CD to mount your file system).
Using the vesa driver should normally allow you to start X.

[mykaitch]

Thanks for the advice Jens, but for me 'mount the file system' sounds like having unprotected Linux. As I said, I am a total newbie. Anyway, I am going to try another graphics card today. I can always fallback to XP - at least that is an OS that works.

[soccercisco]

what you refer to as "garbage" is actually pretty handy. It is referred to as a Command Line Interface (CLI). Once you are there, you could login using the username you selected during installation and then the corresponding password. Then, you could configure your system by typing commands... after some work you can get a pretty GUI like other OSs. Even Window$ has a CLI and it is called MS-DOS...

But, if you are content with point-and-click, as you mentioned, you could always fall back to Window$ because for you it works fine.

Let us know if you need any more help (and are willing to try). Ask questions if you don't understand something, that's what this FREE forums are all about.

Cheers,

[mykaitch]

Yes, I know what a CLI is ( I started with CPM). That is not garbage. What I see is exactly what you might see if, say the video card had a memory fault. Its not that I prefer Windoze, its that I MUST have Linux for the next project - I am working on a realtime sound processor based on the Sony PS3, running Linux. The PS3 is used because of its MIPs. I tried another video card but I think it was too old, an old ATI RagePro card.

Could I.....boot into knoppix and then, if I knew how, 'access' my Etch install ?
What I HAVE to to is to write some C to access the ALSA library which I know I have. Could this work ? How ? And yes, thanks I do want help and that is why I came here.

[mykaitch]

1) Remove GeForce6600 3D card.
2) Throw it in bin.
3) Open old 95 PC and remove PCI ATI RagePro
4) Fit to new PC and boot.
5) Try to figure out what Use setkeycodes means......
and why xserver is shutdown...

[jens]

1) Remove GeForce6600 3D card.
2) Throw it in bin.
3) Open old 95 PC and remove PCI ATI RagePro
4) Fit to new PC and boot.
5) Try to figure out what Use setkeycodes means......
and why xserver is shutdown...

Replacing an excellent NVidua FX6x card with a crappy ATI card is not a solution at all.
Start by using the vesa driver, it will work for everything.
Remove that ati card and plug in the nvidia one again.
Install the the non-free nvidia drivers via apt, edit xorg.conf by replacing vesa with nvida and fully enjoy all nice 3D stuff.

It's that easy.

[mykaitch]

Thanks Jens, but as I tried to explain, with the amazing and fabulous Ge6600 card ( love those heatsinks) I get no video, so no console, so no logon so cant do didly squat. Now, since I am quite happy with a CLI, its time to learn.
However, if there was a way that I could install the GeForce card with my ATI in place, and then swap them, well thats worth a go. Luckily my council collects the bins every other week, so I can get the GeForce card back, might have to wipe off a few old sprouts but it should be ok.Right now I am trying to find some kind of (boot script or bat?) that 'sets up' my machine - there must be some script somewhere that I can edit to fix xserver, but as I said, this is day 1 for me, liberated from the Gates Assimilation. I will, take, act upon, and be very grateful for, all advice given.