Latest kernel not booting 2.6.25.6-76.fc9.i686 not booting

[techbridge]

Having a problem booting the latest FC9 kernel upgrade 2.6.25.6-76.fc9.i686. Upgraded via software update from 6-55, which worked fine.

With the latest kernel 6-76 on first boot it only got as far as "decompressing the kernel.. done"
"booting the kernel.."

On the 2nd boot attempt it got to the Login: prompt - but screen was flashing wildly and did not start gui.

Any ideas? Nvidia driver problem perhaps?

[LDC]

does some module on your startup list require to be recompiled?
if that is not the case, I think you can only switch back to .55

[techbridge]

Not sure. I'll need to check that. I remember installing something that did require a kernel recompile, but I'm not sure what it was...something to do with multimedia ?? - sound or video codec??

What's the best way to check the startup list for something that would need recompiled? Do I do that in the previous kernel? I'm back in .55 now.

[LDC]

the only thing I can think to is to enter Interactive mode and look at the screen... but maybe many people here can come out with a far better method

[techbridge]

Yes. I'll try that. I didn't notice anything funky on the second boot other than the flashing screen but will see what happens this time. I was wondering if it is generating some log somewhere that I could look at and submit to Bugzilla? Maybe if I start up in safe mode?

[LDC]

you can always access /var/log and take a look to all messages....

[techbridge]

Yep. As suspected it was Nvidia - upon entering startx - I get fatal server error due to Nvidia. So I need to find a way to update them via the command line - if there is an update.

I tried a yum update 'nvidia' (guess I need to find the actual name of the package)

Thanks for your help!

[techbridge]

For the record, my solution was this:
Boot into new kernel (any way you can) and reinstall the latest Nvida driver from the command prompt by typing:

$ sudo sh /<your download directory>/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.09.pkg1.run

Answer yes to all the installation prompts, then be sure to reboot after installation completion.
You should now be up and working in the latest kernel. I suspect this may need to be done after each kernel upgrade, so keep the Nvidia file handy.

Cheers!

[LDC]

ok so it was just as suspected:

Originally Posted by LDC

does some module on your startup list require to be recompiled?

good thing it works now, have fun.

[MarcoP]

I was going to upgrade the kernel when I saw this topic. I do have installed NVIDIA drivers and I still have nvidia files ... would I need to reinstall the drivers every kernel upgrade even if I use xorg-x11-drv-nvidia.i386?

[techbridge]

According to dave@redhat yes - at least if you use the Nvidia installation script as I did (I think the x-org 11 drivers are the same as the Nvidia sh script - and I didn't see an update for 6-76.).

I think the work around is to use the Livna repository package through the yum gui (Add/Remove Software).
kmod-nvidia-2.6.25.9-76.fc9.I686-173.14.09.2.lvn9

You'll need to add the livna repository first.

It also installs a metapackage component (along with the Xorg-x11 drivers) who's sole purpose is to require the nvidia kernel module(s) for the newest kernel to make sure you get it together with a new kernel.

I installed the livna driver for build 6-76 after I was back up and running in gnome, rebooted and so far I am running with no problems.

Guess I'll find out after the next kernel update.