On Sunday 21 November 2004 06:32 am, Brian Coiley wrote: > "Andrea Vettorello" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 10:30:17 -0000, Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Hi there, > > > > > > Complete Linux newbie here. Successfully partitioned the disk on my > > > W2K box, and got it dual-booting with Woody (installed from a CD set). > > > I thought that was pretty cool, and I was going good! Tried startx, > > > and > > got > > > > this: (EE) No devices detected. > > > > > > Hmmm, no video driver presumably. My video card is a an ASUS V9520 > > Magic > > > > (Nvidia GeForce FX5200 Series). No Linux drivers at Asus, so tried > > Nvidia: > > > lots there! Unfortunately the most recent ones all refused to install > > > because they don't support kernel versions earlier than 2.4 (despite > > > the readme saying that 2.2.12 is the minimum). The Woody install seems > > > to > > have > > > > given me 2.2.20. > > > > > > So, by trial and error, I have finished up with driver version 5328. > > > However, when I run the Nvidia install, I finish up with the following > > > error: "Unable to load the kernel module nvidia.o. This is most likely > > > because the kernel module was built using the wrong kernel header > > > files. Blah blah blah." > > > > > > Now, I've used apt to install kernel-source-2.2.20. I have used the > > > kernel-include-path switch on the Nvidia installer to point at the > > folder > > > > containing the kernel.h file, which is what the installer seems to > > > want. Thus, my command line is this: > > > > > > sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-5328-pkg1.run --kernel-include-path > > > /usr/src/kernel-source-2.2.20/include > > > > > > But, I still get the error described above. > > > > > > Incidentally, before the install fails, I get a warning that "The > > compiler > > > > used to compile the kernel was gcc 2.7; the current compiler is gcc > > 2.95." > > > > Thus far I have overriden this warning and gone ahead anyway, but could > > > someone tell me how to set the CC environment variable, as suggested by > > the > > > > installer, to get the correct compiler? > > > > > > If all this is complete codswallop (or if indeed I am in the wrong > > > newsgroup!) please don't spare my feelings! As I said, I am a complete > > > newbie, and all help will be very gratefully received, even if only to > > > direct me elsewhere! If any technical help is forthcoming, please, > > please > > > > treat me like an idiot! I need actual commands to type! > > > > Surely someone with a nvidia card that read this list will answer > > helping you, but in the meantime you can search for former answers in > > the Debian mailing list archive (http://lists.debian.org/search.html) > > or with google (you can search "debian woody geforce" or "debian woody > > nvidia"). > > > > Said that, probably you'll find easier to switch to Sarge, if you have > > a network connection, that should have better support for your card, > > as there should be some packages with support for the nvidia binary > > drivers, but YMMV... =) > > > > > > Andrea > > Thank you Andrea for your reply. I have spent hours trawling archives, and > found lots of threads about Nvidia drivers, but none that I could > understand! I really need a complete idiot's guide to doing this which, as > you say, will need to come from someone who's done it. > > Regarding Sarge, isn't that unstable? What exactly does that mean? How > exactly would I switch to it? I deliberately chose to install Woody, from > a set of CD's, because I felt that for a complete dunce like me it would be > far easier than downloading and installing bleeding-edge stuff that I don't > understand. > > I do have a network connection, which is working OK. > > Thanks, > > Brian
Brian, The problem seems to be with the installation itself. If you included the X window system (graphical desktop) during the install, you would not have had to type "startx". You would most likely be presented with a Desktop Manager like GDM or KDM where you would logon to Gnome or KDE. Since you just started, I would go back through the install process again, making sure to include the desktop system. Select "Sarge" instead of "Woody" as your installation choice. If you do not have a choice of a 2.4 or 2.6 kernel in the installation process, you may want to download newer installation media, or if you have broadband internet, try the "net install" CD image. http://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/ As far as the video driver is concerned, a driver called "nv" (http://www.xfree86.org/current/nv.4.html) will be used and installed by default for the nvidia card. If you need special features, look into the "nvidia" driver (http://www.desktop-linux.net/nVidia.htm), but you don't need it to use the card. -- Alvin Smith -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
