Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420, S-video

[quadrplax]

I don't need something that's "workable". As you read in my first post, my problem is the S-Video out is completely glitched in the Noveau drivers, not the VGA. The VGA was a bit glitchy though before I uninstalled Noveau, ex the terminal became transparent sometimes. Just curious, it I uninstalled Noveau then how can I still get an image on the screen.

also why do you always
do this at the end of your posts
EDIT: can't get it to work, how do you do that indenting thing xD

[Bashing-om]

quadrplax; Hello,

All we can do is try, - That card is legacy, and no longer has any support from Nvidia so our only recourse is explicitly using the fall back kernel driver "llvmpipe" - what is loaded IF nothing else is loaded ; the driver that grub utilizes prior to loading the kernel - or see what we can do with the open source driver "nouveau".
To that end we need to make sure that there is nothing Nvidia residing on the system at present, make sure that we install the "nouveau" driver.
Let's see what we have presently on the system. Post back the outputs of terminal commands:

lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 vga
sudo lshw -C display
dpkg -l | grep nvidia

And we will proceed to purge Nvidia and install the nouveau driver; and see what results with the boot parameter "nouveau.noaccel=1".
-----------------
Off Topic - How to indent-

Rather than use the "quick reply" button @ lower right of the post, choose the big red button "+ Reply to Thread" @ lower left and gets you many more "editing" functions. ( all that may also be replicated from terminal if you know the BB code sequences ). The "indent" function is in the 2nd row, 10th icon to the right.
//
As to my ending quips, personal indication of my "end of transmission" -> a attitude developed years ago in the realm of teletyped communications. And as well, a make up of my sore lack in proper communications skills. A means of self identity (??) and projecting my image .
-------------------------

everything is but

a process in learning

[quadrplax]

Ok, I'll try that. I'm guessing that the basic driver will work out just fine. I know that at least by default Noveau doesn't look right. I did have this card working before in Windows XP (via S-Video) and I don't remember needing to install the driver when I would reload OS (but I could if I wanted to for more display settings). Also, the bios is perfectly happy with using the S-Video port. I'll post back when I get a chance to test this.

[quadrplax]

lspquadrplax@Starbase5-Linux:~$ sudo -i
[sudo] password for quadrplax: 
root@Starbase5-Linux:~# lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 vga
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 MX 420] [10de:0172] (rev a3)
    Subsystem: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:015a]
    Kernel modules: nouveau, nvidiafb, rivafb
02:01.0 Communication controller [0780]: Conexant Systems, Inc. HSF 56k Data/Fax/Voice/Spkp Modem [14f1:2016] (rev 01)
root@Starbase5-Linux:~# sudo lshw -C display
  *-display UNCLAIMED     
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: NV17 [GeForce4 MX 420]
       vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: a3
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 66MHz
       capabilities: pm agp agp-2.0 vga_controller cap_list
       configuration: latency=64 maxlatency=1 mingnt=5
       resources: memory:fc000000-fcffffff memory:f4000000-f7ffffff memory:f3f80000-f3ffffff memory:f0000000-f001ffff
root@Starbase5-Linux:~# dpkg -l | grep nvidia
ii  nvidia-common                              1:0.2.44.2                          Find obsolete NVIDIA drivers
root@Starbase5-Linux:~#

[Bashing-om]

quadrplax; Well,

That says you have no graphics driver presently loaded.

It is past my thinkability for this session, I will pick this up on my morrow and we get Nvidia removed and nouveau installed and see what it looks like.

in due time

[Bashing-om]

quadrplax; ; OK.

Back in the saddle.

Find the .run file for the uninstall operation: (maybe)

sudo find / -name "NVIDIA-Linux-*"

well on our way

[quadrplax]

Wait, so I need to remove Nvidia drivers yet I have no drivers installed? Anyways, after searching the root, all it found were the two files in my Downloads folder, ake version 96.43.23 and 96.34.20 of the installation file.

[Bashing-om]

quadrplax; Welp ....

We need to insure there are no residual config files from Nvidia that will interfere/conflict with 'nouveau'.
Which brings to mind we need to check and make sure Nvidia has not blacklisted 'nouveau' !

sudo grep 'blacklist.*nouveau' /etc/modprobe.d/*

Not really knowing what might have taken place with the attempted install(s) of the proprietary driver, let's see what results:

From console - so we can stop lightdm - key combo ctl+alt+ F1 -> console

sudo service lightdm stop
cd Downloads
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-96.34.20.run --uninstall ##Assuming this is a 64 bit OS 
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-96.43.23.run --uninstall ## assuming this is a 64 bit OS
cd
sudo nvidia-settings --uninstall
sudo nvidia-uninstall
sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia*
sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop ##YOU do have (u)buntu desk top version installed, right ?
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-nouveau
update-initramfs -u

Reboot to the grub boot menu - > 'e' key for edit mode and append "nouveau.noaccel=1" to the line @ "quiet splash". Key combo ctl+x to continue the boot process.

Can you now get good graphics and is the S-Video port working ?

If so we will make the boot parameter permanent by editing the file "/etc/default/grub".
Your card will not support 3d graphics either, so in the display set up; disable all added effects and accelerations.

My hope

workie great last long time

[quadrplax]

Ok, I haven't run the commands you just posted. As a test, I connected the TV to the computer again. Before I used a 4-Pin S-video to RCA cable to connect it. I tried doing 4-Pin to 4-Pin and got no image, but with the 4-Pin to RCA, now after removing default drivers, it works fine! I had to manually set the resolution with xrandr to be able to see it on the TV, but other than that all seems good now. Good thing I have a S-Video to RCA cable I guess. That's weird actual S-Video doesn't work (I know it's not a cable flaw). Best guess there is because computer is 7-Pin port and VCR is 4-Pin. Whatever though, RCA isn't too bad quality on a bad TV anyway.

[Bashing-om]

quadrplax; Great !

If it ain't broke, do not fix it.

As it suits you I am tickled pink. We can save all this for another day.

good work, done cheap