FX5200 and X

[CCCPSpy]

I have searched around the forums and found people with similar problems but I can't get mine to work.

When I installed Red Hat, I had to use text install because it probed the wrong card. But I picked Nvidia GeForce FX (generic) as my card and I get a blank screen. So, I booted into rescue mode and tried running "redhat-config-xfree86". That did not work, it didn't give me an error or anything so I don't know why nothing happend. I also reinstalled Linux and chose Nvidia Geforce 2 (somone else had suggest that in another thread) and that didn't work either. "Linux lowres" just makes my moniter constantly turn on and off too.

I saw some other people mentioned editing the xf86config but I can't find that, or XF86Config. I am not about to give up because I have Red Hat running on my other computer and I like it. If anyone knows what to do I would be happy.

Oh yea, my card is a Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 AGP with 128 RAM if that helps.

[je_fro]

The command to be executed as root is:
/usr/X11R6/bin/xf86config

Once you get everything configured you may want to head over to nvidia.com and grab their video driver. Select IA32 and read the docs and you'll be fine.

[CCCPSpy]

Can I run this command from rescue mode, or do I have to login to Linux with text only?

[je_fro]

If that's (rescue-mode) like "read only" then yeah, you'll have to do it from the console. No big deal, though, I'd do it from there.

[CCCPSpy]

Sorry for me being so newb, but how do I get to the console if I can not get into Linux?

[je_fro]

If X isn't starting you should get to:

login:
password:

just login and issue the command. If you can't do that, maybe put the install cd back in and pretend to do an "upgrade" then fix your card, make no other changes and get out.

[CCCPSpy]

Well I got to run the XF86Config but it gave me an error saying it had a fatal server crash. Something about the font? Sorry It wasn't specific but maybe it's enough to know what to do anyways?

[je_fro]

You put in all the correct parameters such as the Horiz and Vert refresh rates, correct mouse location, vid card etc???
Can you tell me more about what the error was?
was it like No Screens Found
or Font Path, or what?

[CCCPSpy]

The crash was me doing someting else, forget I ever mentioned it. But how do I edit the file (edit XF86Config didn't work) and which video card should I tell it to use?

[stumbles]

Originally posted by CCCPSpy
The crash was me doing someting else, forget I ever mentioned it. But how do I edit the file (edit XF86Config didn't work) and which video card should I tell it to use?

For now just to get things working try using "nv" as the driver. In the /etc/X11/XF86config-4 file there is a section called Section "Device", in that section you will see a line called Driver .

You will want to change the driver name, the one in quotes to "nv".

[CCCPSpy]

How do I edit the file's contents? I tried using the pico command, but it does'nt work.

[stumbles]

Originally posted by CCCPSpy
How do I edit the file's contents? I tried using the pico command, but it does'nt work.

I've never used pico so couldn't say. Try a different editor like vi, nano, etc.

[Hey15Bob]

if you have a cd burner on your other computer, you could probably just download the linux drivers from nvidia, then run the file from cd to install your drivers. the drivers can be downloaded at :

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-4496

then boot into linux(not rescue mode), log in as root, then at the command prompt, navigate to your cdrom drive (probably /dev/cdrom)...i forget how to do this, maybe someone else can jump in and fill that in for you...then type in: sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run

this should install the correct drivers and i think it will setup your xf86config....though i am not sure about that.

you should also read over the instructions at the nvidia link as they are probably much better than mine.

[CCCPSpy]

Well thank you all for your help. The "nv" thing did the trick. Now onto my next problem, getting my wireless NIC to work.

[DruManiac]

i had the same problem... its probally anly coz of ur monitor.... get a high hertz monitor... ur monitors refresh rate is too low for gforce fx... i had to install in text mode then install nvdia drivers and then start X... try that

[Culley]

This post has help me a great deal, I was having a problem with on-board video adapter so I bought a gforce mx400 64 meg pci card a was wondering how to install the nvidia drivers I downloaded. Thanks to Hey15Bob for the explanation and to the rest for your input.