** Reply to message from David Robertson on Fri, 08 Oct 2004 08:32:02 +0300

On Thu, 2004-10-07 at 18:26 -0400, Gil Weber wrote:

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Hi, everyone.

I'm running SuSE 9.1 Pro on a e-machine (T2842). Had been using the on-board chip for video. Just purchased a GeForce FX 5500PCI video card and I'm having problems. Hope that you can help.

I uninstalled the driver for the onboard chip and then installed the new video card and rebooted. I then went into Yast2 (hardware) to load the driver. The closest one I could find was the GeForce FX 5200.

Then I did a Yast2 on-line update to add the Nvidia driver.

All of that seemed to go well.

But I can't configure the video card.

When I go into Yast2 (hardware) to try to set resolution, enable 3-D, etc. I click "change" but nothing happens.

So I then went into the SuSE menu and clicked on system/configuration/SAX2, but SAX2 doesn't open. Again, the pooter just sits there and stares at me.

So, what to do? What file should I be looking at to edit that will again let me configure the video card (run SAX2)?

Also, by loading that FX5200 driver from Yast (since Yast did not present me with a choice of FX5500) have I created a problem?

Reboot to runlevel 3 so that none of your video drivers are loaded (at the boot screen, enter "init 3" in the box at the bottom). Once booted, log in as root, and try running

sax2 -m 0=nvidia

That should bring up the sax2 configuration options.

HTH

David

David, thx for reply. Unfortunately it did not help. Here's what happened when I followed your instructions.... 1) After I logged in as root and entered the next line came up reading: "initializing, please wait." 2) After a bit the screen flickered and went to a grey screen that looked like a very fine mesh (like on a screen door), with a large "X" in the center (the cursor). 3) Then that screen flickered and it went back to the screen where I logged in and entered your "sax" command. This time I got a message that read: "ups lost card during probing....abort." 4) And then that took me back to the original prompt where I tried it all over again, with the same results. So something is screwed up. I went into the "install and remove software" section of Yast2 and did a search for "SAX." I seem to have 3 items loaded: a) sax2 b) saxident c) sax tools a fourth item, xfree86 driver option is NOT checked (not installed). So, should I uninstall these 3 sax files and reinstall them? Is that safe or will I totally screw up my pooter? Thx. Appreciate your help getting to the bottom of this. At present I cannot configure my video card or the monitor, or anything else that appears in that same section of Yast for configurations. Gil

On Fri, 2004-10-08 at 12:25 -0400, Gil Weber wrote: --snip--

David, thx for reply. Unfortunately it did not help. Here's what happened when I followed your instructions....

1) After I logged in as root and entered the next line came up reading: "initializing, please wait."

2) After a bit the screen flickered and went to a grey screen that looked like a very fine mesh (like on a screen door), with a large "X" in the center (the cursor).

3) Then that screen flickered and it went back to the screen where I logged in and entered your "sax" command. This time I got a message that read: "ups lost card during probing....abort."

4) And then that took me back to the original prompt where I tried it all over again, with the same results.

So something is screwed up.

I went into the "install and remove software" section of Yast2 and did a search for "SAX." I seem to have 3 items loaded:

a) sax2 b) saxident c) sax tools --snip--

Can you disable the on-board card via the bios? Perhaps that is what is confusing sax2. I have the same 3 packages installed for sax2 - have you run a complete online update, because these have been updated since the release of 9.1? David -- Registered Linux User No 207521 The Linux Counter: http://counter.li.org/ "The above is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect that of the little voices in my head."

On Friday 08 October 2004 18:11, Gil Weber wrote:

** Reply to message from David Robertson on Fri, 08 Oct 2004 21:54:45 +0300

(snips)

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Can you disable the on-board card via the bios? Perhaps that is what is confusing sax2.

I don't know. The on-board video was disabled using Yast (before installing the GeForce card and installing the nVidia driver).

You might want to look at you're motherboard manual once also. I know that on "some" mb's with built-in video there is a actual jumper that you have to change. Just a thought! Dana

On Fri, 2004-10-08 at 14:01, Gil Weber wrote:

OK, but forgive my lack of knowledge. Where do I search? If I use Google what search terms will help me find this code for a 5500? I don't know how to structure a proper search.

Also, I can't see the list of device ID numbers in the Yast hardware list. I can't even see the list. Remember, I can't get into the configuration screens. SAX2 won't run.

(snip)

...

If you look in /etc/X11/XF86Config, what driver is loaded (you'll see a line something like 'driver = nv' or 'driver = nvidia', if memory serves).

It says "nvidia."

...

...

So I then went into the SuSE menu and clicked on system/configuration/SAX2, but SAX2 doesn't open. Again, the pooter just sits there and stares at me.

From your later reply about running sax2 from runlevel 3, I'd say that you should check that the gfx card is seated properly. If it's not communicating properly (which is the only way I can interpret the msg you got) that suggests that it's either loose or defective. Can you try using the card in Windows either on the same PC or a different one? That should give more pointers if you can do so.

The card seems to be seated properly. It's certainly not loose in any case.

I do not have Windows on this computer. Don't have another computer I can use to test this card. ;o(

Gil

About a month ago at work I had problems configuring the graphics card -after- a YOU update to SAX2. I re-installed SAX2 from the DVD/CD and was then able configure the card again. YMMV. -- Ken Schneider UNIX since 1989 SuSE since 1998 * Only reply to the list please*

In a previous message, "Gil Weber" wrote:

** Reply to message from John Pettigrew on Fri, 8 Oct 2004 17:47:23 +0100

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In a previous message, "Gil Weber" wrote:

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I then went into Yast2 (hardware) to load the driver. The closest one I could find was the GeForce FX 5200.

That's probably because the FX5500 is newer than YaST's hardware list. You'll also see at the bottom a list of device ID numbers, which are codes for the card rather than its consumer name. A web search should turn up the right ID code for the 5500, which you can use in YaST.

OK, but forgive my lack of knowledge. Where do I search? If I use Google what search terms will help me find this code for a 5500?

I don't know - try various things and see. One obvious option is to search nvidia's site for technical details of the card. You could also try something like 'GeForce FX5500 "device id"', but I've not tried it. You'd have to play around a bit.

Also, I can't see the list of device ID numbers in the Yast hardware list. I can't even see the list. Remember, I can't get into the configuration screens. SAX2 won't run.

I know - I was giving advice more for once you've got it working again :-)

...

If you look in /etc/X11/XF86Config, what driver is loaded (you'll see a line something like 'driver = nv' or 'driver = nvidia', if memory serves).

It says "nvidia."

OK. Once you've got sax2 working, don't install the nvidia driver until you're sure everything is working properly with the nv driver. Only change one variable at a time, as far as possible. I'd also try downgrading your sax2 package to the one off the SUSE discs and seeing whether that works - it's possible that an upgrade has broken it. Sorry not to be of more help! John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Knossos: escape the ever-changing labyrinth before the Minotaur catches you!

In a previous message, Peter B Van Campen wrote:

On Friday 08 October 2004 14:08, John Pettigrew wrote:

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OK. Once you've got sax2 working, don't install the nvidia driver until you're sure everything is working properly with the nv driver. Only change one variable at a time, as far as possible.

All NVIDIA cards are handled by the same "unified" nvidia code avail at the NVIDIA web site. Just choose the right package for the SUSE Linux distro you have.

Sorry, but it's simply not that easy for everyone. I've tried on three different systems with two different NVidia cards, and tried many, many times, with three different versions of SUSE. On no occasion have I got the nvidia drivers to work properly. Mostly, they cause the PC to crash. On two occasions I've had partial success, but both times the drivers wouldn't let me use a mode larger than 1280x1024 and I use 1600x1200 (I need the space for work), so I had to revert to the nv driver, which lets me use this resolution without any trouble at all. I've no idea why I have this trouble when others don't. I can only suppose that the chicken I wave over the box is the wrong colour or something.

If you can pick a resolution and color depth that is acceptable, and SAX2 shows your preferred options "ON" then you are done.

If, indeed! Of course, my problem was that the driver usually locked the system solid, which isn't very helpful. John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Valley of the Kings: ransack an ancient Egyptian tomb but beware of mummies!

On Fri, 2004-10-08 at 20:15, Gil Weber wrote:

** Reply to message from John Pettigrew on Fri, 8 Oct 2004 20:08:02 +0100

(snips)

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I'd also try downgrading your sax2 package to the one off the SUSE discs and seeing whether that works - it's possible that an upgrade has broken it.

Sorry not to be of more help!

John

John, I put the SuSE DVD in the drive and told it to reinstall/update the 3 SAX files. Made no difference. Still can't do any configuration and SAX2 won't run. ;o( Gil

Regarding the disabling of the onboard video, that needs to be done in BIOS not YaST. -- Ken Schneider UNIX since 1989 SuSE since 1998 * Only reply to the list please*