I need help installing Nvidia driver in Fedora 11 64 bit please

[Daniel ~]

I'll give it a try when I've got up with the site... thanks cliff, it can't be worse than my last two tries!! LOL

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by chrisbard

I remember the times when you guys use to say in linucs you just install a driver and it works without even rebooting. And now you have to reinstall linucs?

We ARE beginning to see why you need a child proof OS ..":O}

[Daniel ~]

Rebooting:

[Daniel@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost Daniel]# rpm -Uvh http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/...ble.noarch.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfr...ble.noarch.rpm
Retrieving http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/...ble.noarch.rpm
Retrieving http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfr...ble.noarch.rpm
warning: /var/tmp/rpm-tmp.YIIfPt: Header V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID 49c8885a
warning: /var/tmp/rpm-tmp.JE53G4: Header V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID b1981b68
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
1:rpmfusion-free-release ########################################### [ 50%]
2:rpmfusion-nonfree-relea########################################### [100%]
[root@localhost Daniel]# yum install kmod-nvidia xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs.x86_64
Loaded plugins: presto, refresh-packagekit
rpmfusion-free | 3.8 kB 00:00
rpmfusion-free/primary_db | 344 kB 00:01
rpmfusion-free-updates | 3.3 kB 00:00
rpmfusion-free-updates/primary_db | 40 kB 00:00
rpmfusion-nonfree | 3.3 kB 00:00
rpmfusion-nonfree/primary_db | 91 kB 00:00
rpmfusion-nonfree-updates | 3.3 kB 00:00
rpmfusion-nonfree-updates/primary_db | 23 kB 00:00
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package kmod-nvidia.x86_64 0:190.42-1.fc12.6 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: kmod-nvidia-2.6.31.6-145.fc12.x86_64 >= 190.42-1.fc12.6 for package: kmod-nvidia-190.42-1.fc12.6.x86_64
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs.x86_64 0:190.42-5.fc12 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia = 190.42-5.fc12 for package: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64
--> Running transaction check
---> Package kmod-nvidia-2.6.31.6-145.fc12.x86_64.x86_64 0:190.42-1.fc12.6 set to be updated
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-nvidia.x86_64 0:190.42-5.fc12 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: livna-config-display >= 0.0.21 for package: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: nvidia-xconfig for package: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: livna-config-display for package: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: livna-config-display for package: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: nvidia-settings for package: xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64
--> Running transaction check
---> Package livna-config-display.noarch 0:0.0.23-1.fc11 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: system-config-display for package: livna-config-display-0.0.23-1.fc11.noarch
---> Package nvidia-settings.x86_64 0:1.0-3.2.fc12 set to be updated
---> Package nvidia-xconfig.x86_64 0:1.0-1.fc12 set to be updated
--> Running transaction check
---> Package system-config-display.x86_64 0:2.2-1.fc12 set to be updated
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

================================================== ==============================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
================================================== ==============================
Installing:
kmod-nvidia x86_64 190.42-1.fc12.6 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates 29 k
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs
x86_64 190.42-5.fc12 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates 6.1 M
Installing for dependencies:
kmod-nvidia-2.6.31.6-145.fc12.x86_64
x86_64 190.42-1.fc12.6 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates 2.2 M
livna-config-display noarch 0.0.23-1.fc11 rpmfusion-nonfree 68 k
nvidia-settings x86_64 1.0-3.2.fc12 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates 656 k
nvidia-xconfig x86_64 1.0-1.fc12 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates 76 k
system-config-display x86_64 2.2-1.fc12 fedora 184 k
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia x86_64 190.42-5.fc12 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates 1.6 M

Transaction Summary
================================================== ==============================
Install 8 Package(s)
Upgrade 0 Package(s)

Total download size: 11 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
Setting up and reading Presto delta metadata
fedora/prestodelta | 1.6 kB 00:00
Processing delta metadata
Package(s) data still to download: 11 M
(1/8): kmod-nvidia-190.42-1.fc12.6.x86_64.rpm | 29 kB 00:00
(2/8): kmod-nvidia-2.6.31.6-145.fc12.x86_64-190.42-1.fc1 | 2.2 MB 00:03
(3/8): livna-config-display-0.0.23-1.fc11.noarch.rpm | 68 kB 00:00
(4/8): nvidia-settings-1.0-3.2.fc12.x86_64.rpm | 656 kB 00:01
(5/8): nvidia-xconfig-1.0-1.fc12.x86_64.rpm | 76 kB 00:00
(6/8): system-config-display-2.2-1.fc12.x86_64.rpm | 184 kB 00:00
(7/8): xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64.rpm | 1.6 MB 00:02
(8/8): xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64.rpm | 6.1 MB 00:08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 487 kB/s | 11 MB 00:22
warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 signature: NOKEY, key ID a3a882c1
rpmfusion-nonfree-updates/gpgkey | 3.4 kB 00:00 ...
Importing GPG key 0xA3A882C1 "RPM Fusion nonfree repository for Fedora (12) <rpmfusion-buildsys@lists.rpmfusion.org>" from /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-nonfree-fedora-12-x86_64
Is this ok [y/N]: y
warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 signature: NOKEY, key ID 57bbccba
fedora/gpgkey | 3.2 kB 00:00 ...
Importing GPG key 0x57BBCCBA "Fedora (12) <fedora@fedoraproject.org>" from /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-x86_64
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Finished Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
Warning: RPMDB has been altered since the last yum transaction.
Installing : system-config-display-2.2-1.fc12.x86_64 1/8
Installing : nvidia-xconfig-1.0-1.fc12.x86_64 2/8
Installing : nvidia-settings-1.0-3.2.fc12.x86_64 3/8
Installing : livna-config-display-0.0.23-1.fc11.noarch 4/8
Installing : kmod-nvidia-2.6.31.6-145.fc12.x86_64-190.42-1.fc12.6.x86_64 5/8
Installing : kmod-nvidia-190.42-1.fc12.6.x86_64 6/8
Installing : xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64 7/8
Installing : xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs-190.42-5.fc12.x86_64 8/8

Installed:
kmod-nvidia.x86_64 0:190.42-1.fc12.6 xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs.x86_64 0:190.42-5.fc12

Dependency Installed:
kmod-nvidia-2.6.31.6-145.fc12.x86_64.x86_64 0:190.42-1.fc12.6
livna-config-display.noarch 0:0.0.23-1.fc11
nvidia-settings.x86_64 0:1.0-3.2.fc12
nvidia-xconfig.x86_64 0:1.0-1.fc12
system-config-display.x86_64 0:2.2-1.fc12
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia.x86_64 0:190.42-5.fc12

Complete!
[root@localhost Daniel]# sed -i '/root=UUID/s|$| rdblacklist=nouveau|' /boot/grub/grub.conf
[root@localhost Daniel]# setsebool -P allow_execstack on
[root@localhost Daniel]#

[Daniel ~]

Nope. Same reaction as when using Gizmo's instructions on page one of this thread...Thank you very much for trying Cliff. I'm going to set up Fedora with out Nvidia, then do a back up, then I'll be open to any and all advice as to how to get nivida without borking Fedora boot up.

[ThunderRd]

In the beginning of this thread I gave you some instructions to install the driver from the .run file. Our only problem was shutting down the x server, because I didn't know how to do it in Fedora at that time. ( I do now )Our question was answered by dsio and aedan.

We gave up on it because there seemed to be a better way to do it in Fedora, and the others have forgotten more than I know

But, since the other way hasn't been successful, you could try it again. I have done it successfully in fedora 11 and 12.

[Daniel ~]

I wiill once I have a back up of and I'm finished setting the rest of fedora up. Sorry I realized this after I posted to you, was kinda of tired at that point! ":O}

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

I get the drivers from here:
Index of /packages/linux-nvidia/Linux-x86_64

or here:
Index of /packages/linux-nvidia/Linux-x86

depending on 32 or 64-bit install. The files are all named NVIDIA-something-something-something.run. The current driver is 190.42.

Then, I boot to a console, or alternately you can invoke a console from your GUI with alt-ctrl-F1. Then stop GNOME (you must be root, so use su or sudo or whatever Fedora uses):

/etc/init.d/gdm stop

Then navigate to the driver file and run it (again, you must be root):

sh /home/Daniel/Desktop/NAME-OF-DRIVER-FILE.run

If all goes properly, it will ask you if you want to write a new xorg file, say yes. It may also ask some other questions, just answer with the defaults.

For example, if it sees a previous driver install, it will want to remove it, but it will ask you first. It won't overwrite anything or remove anything without your permission (Chris - this is unlike Windows ). You must allow it to remove the prior install to allow the current one, so say yes. You'll have to logoff or restart afterwards.

Hi Thunder RD. Sorry very slow on the up take here... But which of these files do I need? If I need all three do I just repeat your instructions for each file one after the other in order

I'm looking here

As I read and put together your instructions with the

/etc/init.3/gdm stop

exception it occers to me to ask if I need at some point to use the init5, if so in what place in the order of your instructions... and do I just type:

/etc/init.5/gdm start

Also... buy console do you mean Terminal...or something else? I ask as alt-ctrl-F1 doesn't seem to do much of anything in fedora 12 see pic. TIA! ":O}

[ThunderRd]

OK Dan, you need only one file. I'd use the one ending in "pkg2.run"

Forget the original instructions to shut down the x server, they don't work in fedora, they are for debian distros. Do what Gizmo said:

su root
init3

on separate lines.

This will shut down x, it does for me. Then run the script with :

sh <name of file.pkg2.run>

and that should do it. It will tell you that you have a previous install (maybe), ask you for permission to remove it, answer yes. It will also ask to rewrite xorg.conf. Answer yes again. If you get any errors, let us know here.

If you get errors, it's prolly because you do not have the kernel source or headers installed. If you don't, install the headers for your kernel version and try again. You should be able to do this in your package manager. It would be something like "linux-headers-2.6.x.x" in the package manager.

[Daniel ~]

":O} When I try to download the file it just fills my browser screen with code! Also I not following you here:

"If you get errors, it's prolly because you do not have the kernel source or headers installed. If you don't, install the headers for your kernel version and try again. You should be able to do this in your package manager. It would be something like "linux-headers-2.6.x.x" in the package manager.

I don't understand headers and I don't understand no s-stinking package managers

What part of "as you would a little child" don't you understand! LOL

(Thank you for your patience!)

[Gizmo]

Give me a bit Daniel, and I may be able to come up with something for you.

F12 already has the necessary headers and components installed to compile the nVidia drivers.

The biggest problem I see with having you load the straight nVidia drivers the way ThunderRd is suggesting is that any time you install a new kernel, you'll have to recompile the nVidia drivers before you can get back to a GUI. If something changes in the kernel such that the driver version you have doesn't work any more, you'll then also have to download and install the latest nVidia drivers, ALSO without a GUI.

I'm not sure that's really wise, given your problems with dyslexia, UNLESS I can come up with a set of batch files to automate the process.

[Daniel ~]

As Mint 8 has arrived I can occupy myself there until you have time to BEAT my fedora 12 into shape...Setting up Mint 8 as I check my mail... I think you guys are going to Like Mint 8...":O}

No 3d or sound problems back to "it just works" computing! ":O}

[Gizmo]

Speaking of which: Linux Mint 8 Helena - Main Edition

[ThunderRd]

The reason you're not downloading the driver is you have to right-clck the file, and "save as..."

Once you have the file saved, the procedure is easy, and I'm sure it would work. But...

Alas, Gizmo may be right about this process. It is easily done, once you have the driver in hand, but he's right, you'll have to do it every time you update the kernel. I hadn't thought of that, and it may be a deal-breaker for you.

Personally, it isn't much of a problem for me, but that's because I have been experimenting with kernels lately and at this point I can do it in my sleep. Unless you want to learn by doing...

In any case, if you need the driver up right away, follow what I told you, but remember that if you do an update of the kernel, they may break, requiring you to do the procedure again.

For a more effort-free tactic you'll have to wait for Chris.

[Daniel ~]

I really appreciate you efforts on my behalf ThunderRd! But Chris is right I'm a cut and paste kinda guy easily confused, as we have seen here! LOL

I'd better wait it out. Mint 8 is fun! ":O}

[Gizmo]

Daniel, are you currently running the nvidia drivers or the nouveau drivers?

[Daniel ~]

In Fedora I'm pretty sure it's not Nvidia as nothing works, weather I have the nouveau drivers is problematic as...nothing works ( Cube desktop effects, games...)

Where to check and I'll boot to Fedora and check...":O}

[Gizmo]

go to a command-line and type the following:

yum info xorg-x11-drv-nouveau

Paste the output of that command back here.

Also, look in either the 'System Menu', under 'Preferences', or the 'Applications Menu', under 'System Tools', and see if you see the 'NVidia X Server Settings' application.

TBH, it sounds to me like Mint is probably the better option for you, but I'll happily see if I can help you sort the nVidia thing under Fedora.

BTW, AlienArena is currently broken on F12.

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

go to a command-line and type the following:

yum info xorg-x11-drv-nouveau

Paste the output of that command back here.

Also, look in either the 'System Menu', under 'Preferences', or the 'Applications Menu', under 'System Tools', and see if you see the 'NVidia X Server Settings' application.

TBH, it sounds to me like Mint is probably the better option for you, but I'll happily see if I can help you sort the nVidia thing under Fedora.

BTW, AlienArena is currently broken on F12.

Nvidia does NOT show up any where you've asked me to look. I really appreciate the help. My only problem with Mint 7 and 8 is that everything works for me and I get rusty dealing with Linux problems. I actually like Fedora as it makes me work a bit to get things right... Hard on the AOA Linux crowd...but what can I do! ? ":O}

[Daniel@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost Daniel]# yum info xorg-x11-drv-nouveau
Loaded plugins: presto, refresh-packagekit
flash | 1.3 kB 00:00
flash/primary | 1.1 kB 00:00
flash 1/1
updates/metalink | 9.4 kB 00:00
updates | 4.4 kB 00:00
updates/primary_db | 2.0 MB 00:02
Installed Packages
Name : xorg-x11-drv-nouveau
Arch : x86_64
Epoch : 1
Version : 0.0.15
Release : 18.20091105gite1c2efd.fc12
Size : 338 k
Repo : installed
From repo : updates-testing
Summary : Xorg X11 nouveau video driver for NVIDIA graphics chipsets
URL : X.Org Wiki - Home
License : MIT
Description: X.Org X11 nouveau video driver.

[Daniel ~]

When trying to turn on Dektop effects I still get:

"Accelerated 3D graphics is not available.
Desktop effects require hardware 3D support."

I'd love to know what the point is in having a "Xorg X11 nouveau video driver for NVIDIA graphics chipsets" that can't even run desktop effects let alone play a game!?

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

I'd love to know what the point is in having a "Xorg X11 nouveau video driver for NVIDIA graphics chipsets" that can't even run desktop effects let alone play a game!?

Dude! It's a work in progress! LOL. Considering that nVidia aren't terribly interested in helping reverse-engineer their proprietary drivers, I'm impressed it works as well as it does!

Seriously, though, they are making progress, and I gather that there is even a version of the driver that has 3D kinda working. However, 2D HAS to work in order to get anywhere at ALL, and it's easier to implement. If the guys working on nouveau could actually get real help from nVidia, it would make things go a lot faster. As it is, they are having to reverse-engineer nVidia's drivers.

Anyway, on to other things.

It's safe for us to assume that you are running on the nouveau drivers.

The first thing we need to do is make sure that your nouveau drivers don't interfere with the nVidia drivers. su to root and do the following:

mount /boot
cd /boot/grub
sed 's/\(.*\)nouveau[^ ]* \(.*\)/\1\2/' < grub.conf | sed 's/\(.*\)vga[^ ]*\(.*\)/\1\2/' | sed 's_[[:space:]]kernel /vmlinuz.*_&nouveau.modeset=0 vga=0x307_' > grub.conf

The above code mounts your boot partition onto the file system (it should be by default anyway) and then modifies your grub.conf file so that the nouveau driver doesn't do a kernel modeset which will screw up the nvidia drivers later. It also sets your boot resolution to 1280x1024 in 256 colors.

Next step is to get the kernel sources and headers. su to root and:

yum install kernel-headers kernel-firmware kernel-devel

These MAY already be installed, in which case yum will indicate that they already exist.

Now we need to build a batch file that will do the magic of compiling the nvidia drivers for you.

su to root and do the following:

echo '#!/bin/bash' > /root/nv.sh
echo telinit 3 >> /root/nv.sh
echo '[ ! -d /root/nvidia-drivers ] && mkdir /root/nvidia-drivers' >> /root/nv.sh
echo cd /root/nvidia-drivers >> /root/nv.sh
echo cp /home/Daniel/nvidia/NVIDIA-Linux-x86*pkg2.run . >> /root/nv.sh
echo chmod 500 NVIDIA-Linux-x86*pkg2.run >> /root/nv.sh
echo 'NVIDIA_DRIVERS=$(ls -alt NVIDIA-Linux-x86*-pkg2.run | head -n 1 | awk '\''{print $8}'\'')' >> /root/nv.sh
echo './$NVIDIA_DRIVERS --silent' >> /root/nv.sh
echo reboot >> /root/nv.sh
chmod 700 /root/nv.sh

Those commands will create a file in your /root directory called nv.sh and make it executable by the root user, but no one else. When run, that file will switch you to run-level 3, copy the nvidia drivers from the download location in your home directory over to the root user's build directory, and then actually build and install the drivers.

echo '#!/bin/bash' > /root/nv-remove.sh
echo telinit 3 >> /root/nv-remove.sh
echo cd /root/nvidia-drivers >> /root/nv-remove.sh
echo 'NVIDIA_DRIVERS=$(ls -alt NVIDIA-Linux-x86*-pkg2.run | head -n 1 | awk '\''{print $8}'\'')' >> /root/nv-remove.sh
echo './$NVIDIA_DRIVERS --uninstall' >> /root/nv-remove.sh
echo reboot >> /root/nv-remove.sh
chmod 700 /root/nv-remove.sh

Those commands will create a file in your /root directory called nv-remove.sh and make it executable by the root user, but no one else. When run, that file will switch you to run-level 3, and remove the nvidia drivers.

Now, we need to modify the root user's .bashrc file. su to root and:

echo '[ `tty` = "/dev/tty2" ] && ./nv.sh' >>/root/.bashrc
echo '[ `tty` = "/dev/tty3" ] && ./nv-remove.sh' >> /root/.bashrc

This will hard-wire your 2nd tty to run the nvidia driver script when you log in as root on that terminal, and your 3rd tty to remove the nvidia driver when you login as root on that terminal. I'll explain that more in a minute.


Now, you need to go to Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers and download the appropriate drivers for your system. I'm assuming you're running 64-bit, so you'll have to get the 64-bit Linux drivers, otherwise get the 32-bit Linux drivers. They should be named something like NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.42-pkg2.run.

THIS PART IS IMPORTANT:
Make CERTAIN that you save the driver package in the /home/Daniel/nvidia directory (you'll have to create the directory).

Now, any time you want to build the drivers, all you have to do is:

1. make sure you've got the proper drivers downloaded in your /home/Daniel/nvidia directory (the bash script will automatically try to use the newest drivers that it finds; it does this based on the date and time stamp of the package files, i.e. when they were downloaded).
2. Press ctrl-alt-F2 (hold down the control and alt keys together, and while continuing to hold them down, press the F2 key).
3. The screen will go black. After a few seconds, you'll be prompted to enter your username. Use 'root' without quotes, and give your root password when prompted.
4. Your hard drive will begin going nuts, and a few minutes later you'll automagically reboot and be back up and running in your new nVidia drivers (we hope).

You will HAVE to follow this process any time you download and install a new kernel. If you forget and install a kernel without rebuilding the drivers, then most likely you will be presented with a blank screen. If that happens, simply wait for the drive light to quit going crazy, and then follow the steps above for building the drivers. You should be fine.

Very rarely, something in the kernel will change in a way that REQUIRES new nVidia drivers. If you try and try to build the nVidia drivers and keep getting a blank screen, then perform steps 1-4 above, but using the F3 key instead of the F2 key. This will cause the nvidia drivers to be removed and then reboot, bringing you up on the nouveau drivers instead. While you won't have any fancy features, you'll at least be able to get back into your system.

Now, after you've done all the above, you probably still won't be able to get turn on desktop effects. If you can't, open a terminal and type the following (do NOT su first):

compiz --replace&

That will make compiz your default screen manager. After that, you should be able to turn on desktop effects.