nVIDIA Drivers & X Server Problem.

[xt2k]

hello fellas,
i was trying to install nVIDIA's drivers downloaded from their site directly, so i typed:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run

then it started a new DOS-Like windows that wrote something about:

you have the X Server running, installation failure, please shut down the X Server to be able to install the drivers...

so how i can shut down the f***ing thing? 'coz i need to install those drivers -this is something i have learned from windows which is: do NOT ever count on the OS drivers, find the manufacturer drivers!

help guys?
XT

[jasonlambert]

which distro / version?

[xt2k]

RH9.

XT

[jasonlambert]

XT,

can you post the contents of your /etc/inittab file please.

Jason

[xt2k]

hey Jason,
actually no i cannot, coz my linux doesn't seem to see my modem and now i am inside my winXP, it is quite a bit annoying to change between systems to get to the internet...
the manuafacturer site says no linux support, and i have read your FAQs and i know now that it might be a controllerless or winmodem... so no hope i think.
thanks for your quick replies.

XT

[jasonlambert]

ok, what i was looking for in the file, was a comment at the top that says something like <number> - multiuser mode, and a line like <number> - X11

Once you have those 2 numbers, open a terminal window, type "init <multiuser number here>" to close X and go into console only mode.

You then run sh filename.bin to install the nvidia driver, then either reboot if necessary or run "init <X11 Number>" to return to X.

Jason

[xt2k]

okay, okay wait a second...
i am a newbie here and this is my 5th or 6th day using linux so please dive into details, k?
what i understood is that i have to go to /etc/inittab and open it (Kate?) then i would check for <number=A> - multiuser mode (comment) and <number=B> - X11 (line), right till now? okay.

now i should open terminal (where? root? or just a user? '/'?) and type:
init <number=A>
to close X Server, then i can istall the drivers? and i don't care about rebooting it is okay, but if don't wanna reboot just type init <number=B> right?

okay thanx i got it - LOL
XT

[xt2k]

hey Jason,
i went there and found:
2 - multiuser
5 - X11
so i opened the Terminal and typed:
su (then password)
init 2
it says: unknown command
then "init 2", INIT 2 and it said unknown command for all these, any suggestions?

XT

[kriss]

"su -"

remember the - and it should work, all paths updated etc

[Chris H]

xt2k, do the following:

* physically log in as root
* open a terminal window and type 'init 3'
* this will dump you in text mode and stop the xserver
* cd to the directory with the driver file
* tpye 'sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run'
* follow the installer instructions
* type 'startx' to restart the xserver
* using nautilus find the XFree86 file (/etc/X11/ I think?)
* edit this using the editor suggested by nautilus
* change the occurence of 'nv' with 'nvidia'
* save
* log out and back in as user and you should see the nVidia splash screen

That's the way I did it using as little of the command line as possible

post back if you need more help.