FC2 dead after NVIDIA install?!

[ChronicusCaesar]

Hi- i am an intermediate linux user, new to the fedora package.

let me say first off, that i DID look around a bit before writing this posting (couldn't find exactly my answer though i found some related postings), and although i am not sure what area this post truly belongs in, i am a noob to this forum and i am sure you will forgive me this one time :)

I am running fedora core 2 (fully updated) on a Toshiba Satellite 5105-S701 laptop, and i am having a rather serious problem.

Basically, i "successfully" installed the most recent NVIDIA drivers, using the steps provided in their readme.

My problem is that after modifying my xfree86 config file in the way that the readme suggested, i can no longer reach any kind of login prompt on my machine...

I can get as far as the "press I for interactive startup" option, but then no matter what i do or press, the computer screen goes black, and will *never* recover.

My real question is this: Is there a way to bypass the visual elements of the Fedora startup process so that i can "un-modify" my xfree86 config file and continue using Linux.

I posess enough linux-ing ability to fix the problem if i could just log in somehow.

Is there a key combination or something that a noob like me doesn't know about, that will kick me directly to a prompt?

Am i screwed and should reinstall?

Am i completely retarded and missing something obvious (no flames necessary, heh)?

Please help, and thanks for reading this mess.

-Puzzled

[jtang613]

You didn't look very hard did you?

This is a well documented issua with the NVidia drivers and the FC2 kernel. It stems from the fact that FC2 kernel is compiled with "4k Stacks" turned on. This breaks the NVidia drivers.

Download linux-2.6.6 from www.kernel.org, set it up for your configuration, and make sure "4k Stacks" is disabled in the "Kernel Hacking" section. Then re-install your NVidia drivers... and Voila!

hth,
jt

[ChronicusCaesar]

i admit that i only looked around for a bit, and i apologize if i missed a posting with my same question.

i did find another posting right near my own that talks about the fact that the NVIDIA drivers don't work with Fedora in their stock format.

however, i had already long messed up my machine before reading that posting, so there was really no way for me to correct my original install.

also, i would love to fix it in the manner you suggested, but like i said, i cannot log into FC2 in any way to attempt to fix my damaged config file.

perhaps i am too noob to understand everything you said in your reply, unless i can implement your solution from a recovery disk or a frozen machine...

my real question lies not so much with the video drivers, but how to bypass the part of the startup process that causes my computer to freeze (caused by bad video config i believe).

I just want a keystroke or *something* of that nature that will allow me to get to a command prompt, so i can VIM that bad file back to goodness.

Thanks for your response :)

i will reinstall the drivers with your method once i get back onto my system.

perhaps i will try booting from the CD again to see if that provides me with any other options.

i still would appreciate any responses :)

thanks,
puzzled

PS- if i somehow missed the idea of your reply, please slap me around and let me know.

[ChronicusCaesar]

fixed it, and now that i have i realize its basic nature, but i still want to post its fix- used the recovery function of the FC2 disk 1, and then edited out the problems in my xorg.conf file (which i shouldnt have edited in the first place). reboot.

my problem was using only linux systems that have never had any problems, heh. i didnt even remember the recovery part of the installer

-not puzzled

[skoona]

Assuming your using GRUB, as most FC2 users do, this may work. Tell GRUB to only run at level 3 or 1, and to remove the graphical boot screen. These actions will prevent black screen that occurs whenever X or graphics are engaged.

Howto:

1. Watch the boot process from a power off state, until it gets to the GRUB boot screen.
2. Using the arrow keys quickly move to a kernel that you think should boot. DON'T HIT ENTER YET.
3. Touch the 'e' key for edit. new screen comes up.
4. select 'kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet'. backspace and remove 'rhgb quiet', replace it with '3' the runlevel you want. Try 3 first and then 1 if three didn't work. The line shoudl read like this when finished: 'kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL=/ 3'.
5. Press enter once.
6. touch 'b' for boot
7. the system should boot to run-level 3, allowing you to edit and or repair most things.
8. If you think you have it fixed and want to try run level 5 (X or graphics mode); then try this command ' init 5', or next time try 'startx'. Either one will cause X to attempt to startup.

Hope this helps.