Driver installation help pls. For a linux noob

[Daraus]

Hello , i just installed fedora 8 using KDE desktop.

I just downloaded the Nvidia Geforce 8600 GT driver for linux_64.

I can`t understand how to run the nvidia xconfig.tar.gz and the nvidia.pk2.run driver.

Can some one pls help me how to install these.My monitor is slowing down. I have no idea since i used Windows.

The site for the driver is http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_amd64_169.12.html

[bob]

You really should check the Read This First Forum for easier solutions: http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=183569 Basically, you should set up Livna as a repository for 3rd. party applications such as this and then use yum, the package manager, to install kmod-nvidia. Check out Dangermouse's auto-installer as well as Firewing1's excellent tutorials. He's the guy who's writing the Nvidia drivers for Fedora and sure knows how to set them up.

[Daraus]

I downloaded Livna and then run su - in the terminal , but when i`m in the root terminal and write rpm -Uhv to install Livna it says :

rpm: no packages given for install

What am i doing wrong ppl ?

[bob]

Ah, I'm willing to bet that you're in the wrong directory! If you're using 'su -', then don't forget to 'cd' (change directory) to where the .rpm is downloaded, probably in /home/username or /home/username/desktop.

[Aurum]

I'm downloading NVIDIA Linux x86 for my fedora 8 based system. Will this work??
I have a NVIDIA GTX 8600 Ge Force card installed on my computer. I'm a noob here. So please help...

[remeeraz]

I downloaded Livna and then run su - in the terminal , but when i`m in the root terminal and write rpm -Uhv to install Livna it says :

rpm: no packages given for install

What am i doing wrong ppl ?

Ok, firstly, you need to enable an extension repository, I use Livna. Before you can enable it, you need to import their GPG key

Open a terminal and type

su -
enter the root password

Now type
rpm --import http://rpm.livna.org/RPM-LIVNA-GPG-KEY

Once you've done that install the RPM to enable the repository.

These links points directly at the rpm file used to install the Livna repository from it's own site.
http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-4.rpm Fedora Core 4
http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-5.rpm Fedora Core 5
http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm Fedora Core 6
http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-7.rpm Fedora Core 7
http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-8.rpm Fedora 8
http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-9.rpm Fedora 9

On clicking the appropriate link, you should be asked what you want firefox to do with it, presuming your using firefox.

Put a dot in the radial selection next to "Open with" and make sure that "Package Installer" is displayed in the drop down window on that line, then click "OK"

Once you have done this you can then use yum or yumex to install the relevant kmods to get your graphics adaptor to work.

I always suggest using Yumex, why? Cause it's a GUI and it makes sense. It also adds the relevant dependencies automatically, and it allows you to search for packages and filter results and find much more detailed information about them with much less hassle than yum alone.

Open a terminal and do the following line at a time;

su -
enter the root password
yum -y update
then
yum -y install yumex

Before you install the kmod for your graphics adaptor, you need to know which kernel you are using.

from a terminal, do;
uname -r
make a note of the result as it's yer kernel version.

Now you could go the easy way and install the "akmod-nvidia" which will automatically generate the correct nvidia drivers for your kernel. I don't use them.

from a terminal window do;
yumex
if your not already root, you will be asked for your root password.

Now search the "Available" radial button selection for "kmod-nvidia" and locate the relevant kernel version wich you should have made a note of, put a tick in the box to the left of it and click "Process Queue" Yes, the dependencies will be added automatically and it will ask you if this is ok. Click OK.

When it's done, reboot. Problem Solved.

[Aurum]

I don't have an internet connection. So, I got the ".run" driver file for my graphic card from the official NVIDIA site and then tried to install it through the terminal. Installation initiates and then abruptly comes to a halt, giving me a message saying that I seem to be using an X server and I must exit it before i wish to install the required packages. I tried rebooting. Nothing seems to work. I'm stuck... Please help.

(Im using Fedora 8. I'm trying to install an NVIDIA 8600 series card on my system)

[Hlingler]

(1) To get to text-only mode (no X11): log out of desktop, then press ALT-CTL-F1; this will put you into a full-screen "virtual terminal" (VT); log into it as root user, then command: init 3; the system should shut down services and reload in text-only mode. You can proceed in the VT from there with the installation of the binary driver.
(2) Installation of the NVidia driver, no matter what the source, is almost certain to require internet access, and the installation of the correct kernel-devel and kernel-headers packages. You might get lucky as the binary includes some kernel modules.
(3) Use of the binary installer, rather than re-packaged RPMs (of the exact same driver) is not recommended: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Xorg/3rd_Party_Video_Drivers

Good Luck,
V