Mandrake 9.1: Install ATI Drivers

[blackhawk714]

Is there any way to get the ATI fglrx driver to work correctly with Mandrake 9.1? I have attempted the install and got nowhere. Help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks :)

[bwkaz]

"got nowhere"?

What errors (EXACTLY) are you getting when you try to install the RPM?

[blackhawk714]

When I install the RPM it forces me to "force" the rpm install
(rpm -i --force fglrx.rpm).

I get this messgae after that

*** Trying to install a precompiled kernel module.
*** WARNING ***
Tailored kernel module for fglrx not present in your system.
You must go to /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod subdir
and execute './make.sh' to build a fully customed kernel module.
Afterwards go to /lib/modules/fglrx and run './make_install.sh'
in order to install the module into your kernel's module repository.
(see readme.txt for more details.)

As of now you can still run your XServer in 2D, but hardware acclerated
OpenGL will not work and 2D graphics will lack performance.

failed.
*** Error: no kernel module build environment - please consult readme.
Installed: qt3 (gcc 3.2) based control panel application
===
ATI display drivers successfully installed
please run 'fglrxconfig' now
===


Also every time I run an OpenGL game, I get a message saying that I am still using MESA software even after installing the drivers. Please help. I like mandrake and don't want to switch back to RED HAT 9. (ahhh) Any help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks :D

[bwkaz]

"no screens found" is a generic error that happens when something else goes wrong.

After trying to startx with the config file that fglrxconfig put in place, copy /var/log/XFree86.0.log somewhere and look through it for the problem.

[blackhawk714]

I installed the drivers succesfully and the X server restarts in 640x480. The Res is so low that I cannot change the resolution to anything. Everytime I open a window to change the res, I can't see the "OK" button. I can only get the res I want by editing the XF86Conf-4 file. Any suggestions??? Thanks :)

[blackhawk714]

I downloaded a opengl game (Enemy Territory) and installed it. I run it and get this error

************************************************** *********
You are using software Mesa (no hardware acceleration)!
Driver DLL used: libGL.so.1
If this is intentional, add
"+set r_allowSoftwareGL 1"
to the command line when starting the game.
************************************************** *********
...WARNING: could not set the given mode (4)
Initializing OpenGL display
...setting mode 3: 640 480
Using XFree86-VidModeExtension Version 2.2
XFree86-VidModeExtension Activated at 640x480
Received signal 11, exiting...


I don't get it. I need help please. Thanks

[bwkaz]

Since you can't use a GUI applet to change your resolution, you get to learn how to do it the "hard" way. ;)

Open XF86Config-4 in an editor, and find the "Screen" section. Find the DefaultDepth line. Then look in the Display subsection that matches that Depth. On the Modes line, make sure that "640x480" is not listed first, but that higher resolutions are listed before it.

You might also want to change DefaultDepth if it's anything less than 16.

If higher resolutions are already listed before 640x480, then for some reason your driver is rejecting them. (Usually this happens because of a bad monitor or a misconfigured Monitor section in XF86Config-4.) Check your /var/log/XFree86.0.log file for the reason that those higher resolutions are being rejected by the graphics driver.

[DFo3D]

I had the same problem when I tried to install the drivers. Once you install the rpm, BEFORE you try to run fglrxconfig

You need to do what the error said.
"You must go to /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod subdir
and execute './make.sh' to build a fully customed kernel module.
Afterwards go to /lib/modules/fglrx and run './make_install.sh'"

In other words, su to root, then type exactly as follows (# means command prompt, don't actually type that)

# cd /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod (then hit enter)
# ./make.sh (hit enter)
# cd .. (hit enter)
# ./make_install.sh (hit enter)

Then you can run fglrxconfig, and use that wizard and follow it's onscreen instructions. Make sure you find out your monitor's refresh ranges before running that though, and just enter your own when prompted.

After you're done, you should have OGL support and be able to run whatever rez you want bud!

[blackhawk714]

I tried just that and it gives the message kernel source not found. It cannot find the kernel for some strange reason. Any ideas??? Should I just build a "Linux from Scratch" system??? Thanks :)

[bwkaz]

Nah, just install Mandrake's kernel-source package. ;)

Or restart the installer (boot to CD 1), choose "Upgrade" when asked, and install the entire "development" set of packages. That's the shotgun way to do it, but it'll work.

[jamesml]

I tried that and you are left wanting. Instead I went to the xig website and purchased their ati driver. My system is no fassstt and silky smooth! Absolutely no hassle installation or problems with lockups.

[DFo3D]

er...but it's not "free" and doing what bwkaz said is totally free.

Besides, that's why ATI made the driver, so it could be used.

Fortunately, for me being on Gentoo, the way I install the driver I just typed

# emerge ati-drivers

Then I could run fglrxconfig :D