Mandrake 10.0 Dell Inspiron 2650 video problems

[irlandes]

I am trying to install Mandrake 10.0, because of network/modem problems with 9.1 which developed recently. That is a posting on NETWORKING.

I used my dual boot XP to download the latest nvidia driver pkg1 from ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-86/1.0-6106.

When I ran the driver install file, it gave me an error that /etc/X11/X was missing. A google search showed that was a link to /usr/bin/X11/CFree86. I put it in.

I also discovered that there was no /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 nor XF86Config file, or rather the files had 0 bytes. I ran xf86config but that didn't work, though I made the recommended changes. I theorize I was not properly specifying my monitor.

I googled again, and found a Redhat 9 XF86Config-4 for the 2650. It then gave me a great NVIDIA logo screen for some seconds, but then went blank. Maybe I didn't wait long enough but after a full sixty seconds, feared for my video card and hit the switch. I looked at the Redhat file, and it had some weird stuff, such as changing keys around. I tired to eliminate it, but no help.

I tried to search this URL, but no real luck yet. Whether I use kde or startx or kdm or gdm it gives me the NVIDIA logo then dies.

Any ideas?

I had wanted for some time to try SuSe 9.2 but no local store has other than 9.1. I thought maybe the included video drivers and modem drivers would work, with less hassle.

I used to buy the expensive Mandrake package, but there were too many big bugs in too many versions so I have chosen to not do that any more. It really frosts me to have the same bugs paying $70 or so as I had in the free download version.

As I type, the only thing I haven't done is check for all the kde stuff, but I had assumed the kdm command meant it was there. I will post this because it takes so long to re-boot and dig around using the terminal prompt. Next, I will go digging for kde rpms, hope kdebase is a major clue.

If this is the wrong thread, accept my apologies.

[irlandes]

I went back to the NVIDIA README file. With a couple days more experience, stuff made more sense.

I read through the /var/log/XFree86.0.log and there were no errors. The main WW (warning) was resetting vert refresh to 59-60 HZ. It seemed to indicate that it set up fine.

I also checked for KDE rpm's. When I did a rpm -qi kdebase I was told it was not installed.

When I tried to install:

rpm -ivh kde*

I got a message listing 29 rpm's that were already installed, including kdebase.

[irlandes]

someone on yahoo.groups told me it was necessary to run the vesa driver for the 2650. That is not true, but the suggestion was too much to pass up on. I changed my XF86Config-4 file to the vesa driver. I had not been aware there was any driver included that would run the monitor.

Anyway, it did not work, but /var/log/XFree86.#.log showed an error that it did not show when I had the nvidia driver called out.

That error was a missing font. I looked at the Redhat Config file I was using, and it only listed a unix font, which was not present on my machine.

I looked at a completely different file for a different brand, and copied over a couple of font paths.

Voila! it worked, poorly but after it gave the Nvidia logo screen, it went to a KDE screen. It seems to work now except for a failure to log out, pretty much as Drake 9.1 had. However, changing to gdm does not fix it as it fixed 9.1.

In any case, though, that may be a different problem. My current problem was no usable font call-out on my borrowed Config file.

[irlandes]

iI think this problem is difference between the commercial Mandrake 10.0 and the free download version. I found several folks on the yahoo linux-dell forum, who have it working fine with the commercial version. Their /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 files show the unix fontpath mine rejects, so there is obviously a difference in fontpath between free and pay versions.

I am not sure that is the reason they can make it work and I can't, but that is the only really obvious difference.

In any case, I reloaded Mandrake 9.1. I am beginning to suspect my original problem which was a loss of access to eth0 NIC, and/or modem, might be a HD problem. After reinstall, modem works, but evolution leaves my messages on the earthlink pop server, though i have it set up correctly to delete them after download. That sure looks like an erratic HD, though I am aware there could be other causes of these weird failures.