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gregsmith_to
January 19th, 2010, 11:47 PM
I've got a Geforce 9500 in 8.04 LTS 64-bit. The display is 1920x1080 DVI out. And it looks OK now but the nvidia driver is not running. I'm getting really tired of trying random things (some of which worked in the past) and rebooting and seeing that big ugly ancient 'X' cursor.


Short version: xorg.conf is not right. Installing the nvidia-glx package doesn't fix it (or change it). I have no idea how xorg.conf is supposed to get set up to make this work.

Long version:

The current xorg.conf looks like this. Not much, but currently the only way I can stay out of failsafe VGA mode.


# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
EndSection


I have a menu item 'nvidia X server settings' which confirms that the driver is not running. The package manager says I have 'nvidia-glx' installed (and nvidia-settings) in fact I just removed and reinstalled nvidia glx a little while ago.

BTW, this installation was originally using the motherboard nvidia chip (took some effort to get the driver running on that), I got the new GeForce, got an nvidia driver running on it (see thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1274735 ), then I installed an NVIDIA driver that supports cuda - that worked for a while, but was rather buggy, and I needed to reinstall it each time there was a kernel update. Eventually it refused to install, so now I'm just trying to get back to nvidia-glx (see http://xkcd.com/349/ ). Having been through all that, and logged a lot of it on the thread, I figured this would be no problem, but I'm totally stuck (another thing: 'Hardware Drivers has *always* shown me an empty list - is that right?)

There is a program /usr/bin/nvidia-xconfig; In the past nvidia-xconfig has got the driver working for me. When I run it now, it will complain that there is a missing section in the xorg.conf, and the result will not work (complains during startup that it can't detect the display, and goes into failsafe VGA mode). When I put in an xorg.conf that (I think) used to work back in September on the old nvidia controller, and then run nvidia-xconfig, it doesn't complain, but the result still doesn't work. Below is the result (after running nvidia-xconfig). Note: I don't know where this nvidia-xconfig came from, it could have left from any of the old drivers. I see that 'package manager' offers a version of nvidia-xconfig, but that actually conflicts with the nvidia-glx package, so I'm completely confused as to how the xorg.conf is supposed to be created.

Thanks in advance for any help. This forum has been so helpful to me.

So, here is the result from nvidia-xconfig which doesn't work (and no, I don't have any wacom gear). Let me know where else I should look.


# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder26) Tue Jan 22 17:57:31 PST 2008

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
Load "v4l"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "stylus"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "eraser"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "cursor"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
VendorName "Samsung"
ModelName "Samsung SyncMaster 931BF (VGA)"
HorizSync 30.0 - 81.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
Gamma 1
ModeLine "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -hsync -vsync
ModeLine "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -hsync -vsync
ModeLine "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -hsync -vsync
ModeLine "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "832x624@75" 57.3 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -hsync -vsync
ModeLine "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
ModeLine "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
ModeLine "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x960@75" 129.9 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1400x1050@60" 122.6 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1600x1200@65" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "nvidia"
BoardName "nv"
Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
SubSection "Display"
Virtual 1600 1200
Depth 24
Modes "1400x1050@60" "1600x1200@65" "1280x960@75" "1600x1200@60" "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@60" "1280x1024@75" "1152x864@75" "1024x768@60" "1024x768@70" "1024x768@75" "832x624@75" "800x600@60" "800x600@75" "800x600@72" "800x600@56" "640x480@75" "640x480@72" "640x480@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection


Here is the output of lspci


00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP67 Memory Controller (rev a2)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 ISA Bridge (rev a2)
00:01.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP67 SMBus (rev a2)
00:01.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP67 Memory Controller (rev a2)
00:02.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a2)
00:02.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller (rev a2)
00:04.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a2)
00:04.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller (rev a2)
00:06.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP67 IDE Controller (rev a1)
00:07.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP67 High Definition Audio (rev a1)
00:08.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Bridge (rev a2)
00:09.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP67 AHCI Controller (rev a2)
00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 Ethernet (rev a2)
00:0b.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0c.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0d.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0e.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0f.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:10.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:11.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
01:08.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB43AB22/A IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Unknown device 0640 (rev a1)

audiomick
January 20th, 2010, 12:04 AM
Hallo.
Your problem is a bit over my head, but what I noticed is, in your "lspci" output, I can't see where your graphics card is being properly recognized.

Mine says (extract of output)

00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801IR/IO/IH (ICH9R/DO/DH) 4 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) 2 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600 GT] (rev a1)
03:00.0 IDE interface: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88SE6121 SATA II Controller (rev b2)
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
05:01.0 Network controller: AVM GmbH A1 ISDN [Fritz] (rev 02)


and yours says

02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Unknown device 0640 (rev a1)

I don't know for sure that this is your problem, but it doesn't look right to me.

gregsmith_to
January 20th, 2010, 12:59 AM
OK ... I ran 'update-pciids'; and lspci looks like below now. Tried to re-install the driver, various other things; 3 reboots later, I can see no other change in behaviour. Still nothing in 'hardware drivers'.



00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP67 Memory Controller (rev a2)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 ISA Bridge (rev a2)
00:01.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP67 SMBus (rev a2)
00:01.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP67 Memory Controller (rev a2)
00:02.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a2)
00:02.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller (rev a2)
00:04.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a2)
00:04.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller (rev a2)
00:06.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP67 IDE Controller (rev a1)
00:07.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP67 High Definition Audio (rev a1)
00:08.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Bridge (rev a2)
00:09.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP67 AHCI Controller (rev a2)
00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: nVidia Corporation MCP67 Ethernet (rev a2)
00:0b.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0c.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0d.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0e.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:0f.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:10.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:11.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP67 PCI Express Bridge (rev a2)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
01:08.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB43AB22/A IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G96 [GeForce 9500 GT] (rev a1)

gregsmith_to
January 20th, 2010, 02:37 AM
Hey, I got it working, I installed 'EnvyNG' and let it do the install, reboot, it works. Interesting though: Envy 'failed to detect a compatible card', so there's something odd here which is probably why the regular process is failing. I selected the option where I just forced it to go ahead and install the nvidia driver and it seems fine now. I have 173.14.12, opengl, glx, all works.

audiomick
January 20th, 2010, 12:48 PM
Glad it works. I wonder why the card is apparently not being found properly?

gregsmith_to
March 27th, 2010, 10:20 PM
Well, I just booted the 9.10 LiveCD and that offered a restricted driver (185) so that's good news. I'll probably upgrade to 10.4 when that comes out.