[opensuse] nVidia GeForce 8500GT not active at boot after nvidia-xconfig tweak
Dear List Members, openSuSE 10.3 on x86_64 system with Intel Core2Duo CPU and nVidia GeForce 8500GT video card and ASUS P5K motherboard. Forgive the long post but I figure it will save time in the long run if I give as much info as possible at "day one." Installation went well from downloaded and burned DVD iso. Updates not a problem. But 3D not enabled and I wanted to implement Xgl and Compix for use with medical imaging software - this will be a scientific workstation machine. Information on http://en.opensuse.org/NVIDIA suggested a "one click" approach to installing the new nVidia driver which theoretically activates 3D, allows Xgl and so forth. The "one click" method appeared to work correctly - no error messages. Subsequent instructions said to run nvidia-xconfig with some options. With each of the three invocations the xorg.conf file was overwritten - I expected this would be the case. There was one instance of "screen went black and evidently lost synch" during this process - IIRC it was during the first of the nvidia-xconfig operations but I could be wrong. That was the only "unexpected" event. So far no error messages or other abnormal behaviour. However upon logout and logon again, as per instructions, there was no video output from the nVidia card! SSH'ed into the machine and restored xorg.conf from a backup copy, restarted the X system (ctrl-alt-backspace) and had video again. Attempted to use sax2 to sort things out but similar results - had to SSH in again and "rescue" the system. And I still do not have 3D, nor can I get info out of glxinfo - claims the display 0:0 does not exist. Consequently things like glxgears do not run. At this point a cold boot. Disturbingly during the POST there was *no* video on screen. The card and monitor have dual (analogue and digital) connections but video did not appear on either. Once the POST was over and Linux took over things, I get the log-on screen. Subsequent cold starts repeat this behaviour - it is as if the video card has had a "personality change" and now only works in conjunction with the Linux OS and the nVidia drivers... it no longer functions "stand alone" with just the motherboard BIOS. I assume the on-board firmware has been tweaked by the actions of X, sax2 and/or nvidia-xconfig such that it is now reliant on the Linux environment. If so, is there a way forward which will allow the card to return to its "native" state from whence I can start afresh? I have seen reference on the web to others' experiences with nVidia and openSuSE which suggests that the "one click" method is sometimes inappropriate - for non-specific reasons. I am happy to use "the long method" such as running the nVidia installer in init3 mode (non graphical) and withstand the "pain" of Linux kernel upgrades if that in fact solves the problem :-) Your help and patience are appreciated! Kind regards, Denis -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wednesday 21 November 2007 20:49, Denis Brown wrote:
Dear List Members,
<snip>
At this point a cold boot. Disturbingly during the POST there was *no* video on screen. The card and monitor have dual (analogue and digital) connections but video did not appear on either.
Once the POST was over and Linux took over things, I get the log-on screen.
Subsequent cold starts repeat this behaviour - it is as if the video card has had a "personality change" and now only works in conjunction with the Linux OS and the nVidia drivers... it no longer functions "stand alone" with just the motherboard BIOS.
What is the vga= parameter in your grub menu, (/boot/grub/menu.lst). Try putting vga=normal there and see if you get the startup messages. Alternatively, what happens if boot in failsafe mode, any difference? -- Don -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
At 01:24 PM 22/11/2007, Don Raboud wrote:
On Wednesday 21 November 2007 20:49, Denis Brown wrote:
Dear List Members,
<snip>
At this point a cold boot. Disturbingly during the POST there was *no* video on screen. The card and monitor have dual (analogue and digital) connections but video did not appear on either.
Once the POST was over and Linux took over things, I get the log-on screen.
Subsequent cold starts repeat this behaviour - it is as if the video card has had a "personality change" and now only works in conjunction with the Linux OS and the nVidia drivers... it no longer functions "stand alone" with just the motherboard BIOS.
What is the vga= parameter in your grub menu, (/boot/grub/menu.lst). Try putting vga=normal there and see if you get the startup messages.
Alternatively, what happens if boot in failsafe mode, any difference?
Thanks Don. Will try the grub vga=normal parameter. I do not get a chance to boot in failsafe mode because I can see no video to know what to press / click. :-( Kind regards, Denis -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Denis Brown wrote:
Dear List Members,
openSuSE 10.3 on x86_64 system with Intel Core2Duo CPU and nVidia GeForce 8500GT video card and ASUS P5K motherboard. Forgive the long post but I figure it will save time in the long run if I give as much info as possible at "day one."
Installation went well from downloaded and burned DVD iso. Updates not a problem. But 3D not enabled and I wanted to implement Xgl and Compix for use with medical imaging software - this will be a scientific workstation machine.
Information on http://en.opensuse.org/NVIDIA suggested a "one click" approach to installing the new nVidia driver which theoretically activates 3D, allows Xgl and so forth. The "one click" method appeared to work correctly - no error messages. Subsequent instructions said to run nvidia-xconfig with some options. With each of the three invocations the xorg.conf file was overwritten - I expected this would be the case. There was one instance of "screen went black and evidently lost synch" during this process - IIRC it was during the first of the nvidia-xconfig operations but I could be wrong. That was the only "unexpected" event.
So far no error messages or other abnormal behaviour.
However upon logout and logon again, as per instructions, there was no video output from the nVidia card! SSH'ed into the machine and restored xorg.conf from a backup copy, restarted the X system (ctrl-alt-backspace) and had video again.
Attempted to use sax2 to sort things out but similar results - had to SSH in again and "rescue" the system. And I still do not have 3D, nor can I get info out of glxinfo - claims the display 0:0 does not exist. Consequently things like glxgears do not run.
At this point a cold boot. Disturbingly during the POST there was *no* video on screen. The card and monitor have dual (analogue and digital) connections but video did not appear on either.
Once the POST was over and Linux took over things, I get the log-on screen.
Subsequent cold starts repeat this behaviour - it is as if the video card has had a "personality change" and now only works in conjunction with the Linux OS and the nVidia drivers... it no longer functions "stand alone" with just the motherboard BIOS.
I assume the on-board firmware has been tweaked by the actions of X, sax2 and/or nvidia-xconfig such that it is now reliant on the Linux environment. If so, is there a way forward which will allow the card to return to its "native" state from whence I can start afresh?
I have seen reference on the web to others' experiences with nVidia and openSuSE which suggests that the "one click" method is sometimes inappropriate - for non-specific reasons.
I am happy to use "the long method" such as running the nVidia installer in init3 mode (non graphical) and withstand the "pain" of Linux kernel upgrades if that in fact solves the problem :-)
Your help and patience are appreciated! Kind regards, Denis Hi Denis, I experienced a very similar behaviour with a motherboard that had integrated graphics where I wanted to use an older nvidia board.
So as the P5K surely does not have integrated graphics, by chance do you happen to have another graphics board inside your computer? Yesterday I installed an Nvidia 8600GT inside an Asus P5KR Board with the "hard way" installer/init 3 installation of the nvidia drivers. No problems like that so far. Kind regards Eberhard Kind regards Eberhard -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
At 07:24 PM 22/11/2007, Eberhard Roloff wrote:
Denis Brown wrote:
Dear List Members,
openSuSE 10.3 on x86_64 system with Intel Core2Duo CPU and nVidia GeForce 8500GT video card and ASUS P5K motherboard. Forgive the long
<snip>
Your help and patience are appreciated! Kind regards, Denis Hi Denis, I experienced a very similar behaviour with a motherboard that had integrated graphics where I wanted to use an older nvidia board.
So as the P5K surely does not have integrated graphics, by chance do you happen to have another graphics board inside your computer?
Yesterday I installed an Nvidia 8600GT inside an Asus P5KR Board with the "hard way" installer/init 3 installation of the nvidia drivers.
No problems like that so far.
Thanks Eberhard. At present there is only the one video card, the 8500. Tomorrow I will replace it temporarily with a 7800GT to test my theory that the card has somehow been "reprogrammed". If so, the question remains as to how to "un-reprogram" it :-) Nice to know that the "hard way" (which I have used in other Linux + nVidia instances) works well. Kind regards, Denis -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (3)
-
Denis Brown -
Don Raboud -
Eberhard Roloff