can't install nvidia driver

[sphynx]

Just installed suse 10.3 x64 under gnome. When i went to install the nvidia driver via the suse website using the ypm - yast reported there was a missing dependancy. But i installed anyway, the result was the x-server dying. So i went back to the os nvidia driver and am back in the gui.

But now i need to figure out what depndancy i'm missing. yast gave no details other than some dependancy was missing for x11-video-nvidiaG01 (driver for x64 systems).

Also, i tried to re-install the driver again via the ypm link and this time yast didnt report any missing dependancies. However upon reboot the result was the same (BSOD):
"failed to start the x server"

Detais (from what i can tell the critical line is): "fatal: module nvidia not found" (EE) nvidia(0): failed to load the nvidia kernal module!"

[peteh]

Try installing the nvidia driver "the hard way". You'll need the kernel source and the gcc version used to compile your kernel (usually 4.2 if you on the latest default, I think).

[sphynx]

Ok, i managed to install the driver 'the hard way' - apparently yast can't handle 64bit systems. Anyway, now thats over with i still have 1 more problem. sax2 still reports '3d acceleration not supported' etc etc.

How do i enable it even though i've got the 169.12 x64 driver successfully installed?

[gogalthorp]

You can test if the acceleration is actually on by running opening a console and running glxgears. This app will report the frames per second (FPS) I get on a 6800 based card 10000+ FPS

Also you might want to look at your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and see if the driver is nvidia or nv. You want nvidia.

If "nv", as root change it to "nvidia" and restart X (ie log out then back in) You should see a NVIDIA splash screen.

[ConnectedWorld]

Hi,
May be you should try Envy. It will automaticaly detect you video card Nvideo/ATI download and install all required drivers with auto configuration of the Xserver. Look here.

[bigtomrodney]

I would suggest removing the driver you installed using YaST if you haven't already. Mixing different versions of the nVidia driver can have some nasty side effects. When you get that removed, reinstall the 'hard way' to ensure all of the required files are present and were not removed as part of the rpm package in error.

[Manchunian]

May be you should try Envy.

I absolutely don't advise this. Just like the other scripts of this kind (Automatix etc) Envy can take the pain out of the installation of NVIDIA drivers, but they can break your system in the long run. This happened to me!

[bigtomrodney]

Just like the other scripts of this kind (Automatix etc) Envy can take the pain out of the installation of NVIDIA drivers, but they can break your system in the long run. This happened to me!

I agree. Envy is actually more work than just using the YMP where possible. Once you have kernel headers installed it's actually quite straightforward to install the nVidia driver by hand. I think it's just the terminal and dark colours that put people off.

init 3
sh /path/to/nvidia.....run
<accept>
Enter
Enter
Enter
Enter
init 5

Booyakasha!

[sphynx]

I neverf installed the driver from yast - yast reports missing dependacies. So i installed from terminal as root using the hard method after installing make, gcc and kernel source. However, when i boot - i don't see the nvidia logo flash.

@thorp - I ran glxgears in terminal and got a window with 3 gears spining. The text output says: 87775 frames in 5 seconds = 17554.885 FPS. That's the 1st line anyway, then it just recalculates every 5 seconds.

EDIT: does it matter if, in sax2, card and monitor properties: shows that my monitor model is "VESA...."? (it doesn't have my model of monitor so i left it at this default).

[peteh]

Did you run

 sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia

after installing?