Very Computer

This PC runs ok with the standard nv drivers, but can't even start X server
with the nvidia drivers.

System: P4 2.4GHz, 256MB RAM
Shuttle AV49 motherboard, chipset VIA P4X400 VT8 VT8235
GeForce 4 MX440 64MB   4xAGP

I did a fresh install of MDK9.1, and X works ok with the nv distro drivers.
I installed the 4349.run drivers and X won't start.  It just gives a black
screen (sometimes some coloured noise across the bottom) and freezes the
whole PC.

/var/log/XFree86.0.log has no EE errors. The last two lines are
NVIDIA(0) AGP 4x successfully initialised
NVIDIA(0) setting mode "1280x1024"

This is the correct size setting for the LCD monitor.
This hardware worked ok with MDK9.0 and the 4191 nvidia drivers.

The 4363 drivers from Nvidia give the same crashes as 4349.
I tried NvAGP options at 0 and 1, but the problem persists.

Any suggestions of what else I could try?

TIA

Peter

a really strange one. Let me try to make a few suggestions

- in your XF86Config, try to set:  Option "NvAgp" "0"
in the Device section. This will disable AGP support, thus, running the
card in PCI mode. Not that this is desireable, but if X then starts, it
would show that your problem is AGP related.

- if it is AGP related, try not to use the built-in AGP of the nvidia
drivers ("NVAGP"), but to use the agpgart module from your linux distro
instead. You can accomplish this by setting: Option "NvAgp" "2". From what
I can see in your log, the driver is currently using NVAGP. It may well be
that the earlier drivers have been using agpgart without you being aware of
it. (I didn't see your chipset in the list of supported chipsets in the
pdf file mentioned below!).

- to try if you have that agpgart module, and if it loads, do a "modprobe
agpgart" from a root command line (without X running) and check with
"lsmod". You should see "aggart" somewhere under 'Module', or else, it
will give you an error message back, saying either that it could not be
found or it has unresolved symbols, and fails.

- as it might also be display-related, try to turn off display device
detection by setting: Option "IgnoreDisplayDevices" "DFP,TV". Possible
values are "CRT", "DFP" and "TV". This option has been introduced to
resolve problem with long delay times during X starting - sometimes up to
several minutes (!). Maybe you have such an incident, and just *think*
your machine is frozen after a minute or so.

- there is a very good pdf manual on their linux driver website:
"NVLinuxWebNotes_4363.pdf", which is basically where I took most
suggestions from. It is a 'must have' for every nvidia user.

- this taken from my log (nvidia Geforce4 Ti 4200), continuing from where
yours stops - maybe that could help to identify the problem as
well:

(II) NVIDIA(0): AGP 4X successfully initialized
(II) NVIDIA(0): Setting mode "1280x1024"              <-- yours ends here
(II) NVIDIA(0): Using the NVIDIA 2D acceleration architecture
(==) NVIDIA(0): Backing store disabled
(==) NVIDIA(0): Silken mouse enabled
(II) Loading extension NV-GLX
(II) Loading extension NV-CONTROL
(II) Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
(II) Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
(II) Initializing built-in extension XTEST
(II) Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
(II) Initializing built-in extension LBX
(II) Initializing built-in extension XC-APPGROUP
(II) Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
(II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
(II) Initializing built-in extension RENDER
(II) [GLX]: Initializing GLX extension
(II) Keyboard "Keyboard[0]" handled by legacy driver
(**) Option "Protocol" "imps/2"
(**) Mouse[1]: Protocol: "imps/2"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) Mouse[1]: Core Pointer
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
(==) Mouse[1]: Buttons: 3
(**) Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
(**) Mouse[1]: ZAxisMapping: buttons 4 and 5
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Mouse[1]" (type: MOUSE)

and mine ends here with a running X server.

I hope some of this helps to get you back in business.

Kind Regards,

Martin

Quote:

> a really strange one. Let me try to make a few suggestions

Quote:> - in your XF86Config, try to set:  Option "NvAgp" "0"
> in the Device section. This will disable AGP support, thus, running the
> card in PCI mode. Not that this is desireable, but if X then starts, it
> would show that your problem is AGP related.

So, maybe it isn't AGP related.
Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll check them out.  And that pdf doc,
I've been using the readme that comes with the nvidia drivers.

Thanks for your help.

Peter

although you seemed to have omitted my suggestion to set Option "NvAgp"
"2", I do agree that after switching AGP off with "0", there is not much
ground left to argue that there is a problem with AGP ;-)

I know latest drivers are always more appealing, but do the 4191 drivers
work with 9.0 ? I'd throw them in if possible, and wait for the - maybe
chipset related - problems to be settled.

If even the nvidia guys at nvnews think this is a though one, there will
be a fix in the near future. Nvidia's drivers are not open source, but for
now I think there is very little reason to complain, compared to what  
nvidia's hardest rival ATI has to offer for linux.

Nvidia's pdf document alone speaks by itself. ATI has a text file that
seems to be largely copied between the many different driver packages they
have for their various chipsets (which alone is very confusing). Nvidia
doesn't have this variety in their drivers to begin with - they have what
they call 'UDA' ( Unified Driver Architeture), which is very convenient
for the end user.

I think it is bad that neither ATI nor nvidia give out enough information
about their GPUs to make open source or third party drivers development
possible (e.g. by xig), I have to say it is currently nvidia that has the
better support for linux.

I do own both, one card with an ATI GPU and one with an nvidia GPU. Just
for the laughs, go and have a peek at my "Medion Radeon 9600 TX support
tackle" thread, and see how easily one can be left standing in the rain,
even though the chip manufacturer does offer linux drivers...

Kind Regards,

Martin

Quote:

> although you seemed to have omitted my suggestion to set Option "NvAgp"
> "2", I do agree that after switching AGP off with "0", there is not much
> ground left to argue that there is a problem with AGP ;-)

Quote:> I know latest drivers are always more appealing, but do the 4191 drivers
> work with 9.0 ? I'd throw them in if possible, and wait for the - maybe
> chipset related - problems to be settled.

Anyway, we purchased the PC recently with the requirement that it runs
Linux, so now it is back at the shop.  They can fix it or substitute a
graphics card that does work.

Thanks for your comments and assistance.

cheers

Peter

yeah well, having somebody to hold responsible is of course the best way
of fixing something ;-)

I wish I had made such a deal for my new machine, cause I can't get that
darn Radeon 9600 TX card working, not even with the latest drivers ...

Martin

http://www.schneider-digital.de/html/download_ati.html

I am still interested in any information about working or non-working
configurations regarding ATI R300 based cards,

Regards,

Martin

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