Alternate nvidia setup guide

From blag.wiki.aktivix.org

This guide was tested using BLAG 30000 with some updates, the default kernel and ck patched kernels. It should help with any TNT2 or GeForce-based nvidia card driver (i.e. module) installation. Of course make sure you've backed up any files you can't easily replace before diving in such as your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

First, download the nvidia driver from nvidia.com[1]. You'll also probably have to install binutils if this is a fresh BLAG install. You might need your kernel-header files too. You can get them using apt-get or synaptic. Just look for a file named kernel-devel-* that matches your kernel and install it.

apt-get update && apt-get install binutils

Look for the kernel you want to build the module for:

ls /lib/modules/

That'll display what kernels you have on your system; make a note of the one you want to build the driver for. Next, change to the directory you downloaded the nvidia driver to and run it. Be sure to use the --kernel-name flag and the -K switch or else this won't work and you'll have a little mess to clean up.

Example: 
cd /home/escapenguin/nvidia/
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pk g1.run --kernel-name=2.6.11-1.27_FC3.desktop_2 -K

Now you need to edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file so X uses the nvidia driver:

nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

or

vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Note the arrows:

Section "Module"
       Load  "dbe"
       Load  "extmod"
       Load  "fbdevhw"
       Load  "glx"
       Load  "record"
       Load  "freetype"
       Load  "type1"
       #Load  "dri"                       <----------comment that out as shown 
EndSection
...
Section "Device"
       Option      "RenderAccel"       "True"
       Identifier  "Videocard0"
       Driver      "nv"                   <-----------change that to 'nvidia'
       VendorName  "nVidia Corporation"
       BoardName   "GeForce FX 5700"
       BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection
...
#Section "DRI"
#       Group        0                    <------comment out the entire section as shown
#       Mode         0666
#EndSection

Make sure you typed everything correctly and save the file. Next you want to load the nvidia module you just installed:

/sbin/modprobe nvidia

And make sure it's there:

/sbin/lsmod | grep nvidia

Restart X to use the new driver you built by hitting CTRL-ALT-BKSP. Time for Unreal Tournament! That is, if you followed these directions well, otherwise a mistake will now be quite obvious.

by: escapenguin 09/01/05