Ubuntu

Installing nVidia drivers on Ubuntu 8.10 for GeForce FX 5200

Asked by dogsolitude_uk

Hi!

I've been using Linux for about a week, so am still really new to this. Been using Windows for yonks though

I restored an old PC, installed Ubunto 8.10 on to it, and it worked beautifully. I shoved in a cheapo AGP graphics card, nVidia GeForce FX5200 256mb, into to it to perk it up a bit.

I was delighted to find that Ubuntu recognised it, recognised the driver, downloaded the right thing, installed it and seemed to sort everything out. I rebooted, and everythign was the same as before: no desktop effects, couldn't run anything with OpenGl in it, games just wouldn't start etc.

I reinstalled again, no joy (SuperTux runs at 20fps, Secret Mario thingy won't open at all, no desktop fx, even though I downloaded the compiz stuff).

The driver manager tells me via a little green dot that the nVidia drivers are activated.

The nVidia setup program in the administration menu doesn't work - clicking on it just gives a brief HD whirr, and nothing...

I checked the nVidia readme: http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/173.14.12/README/
... And checked through the advice there.

The xorg.conf file looks fine, I looked at chapter 5 (http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/173.14.12/README/chapter-05.html), which lists the files that should be installed and their locations, and found that a load of files and symlinks were missing from the installation. It suggests running 'ldconfig'. Done so, and nothing has changed.

I tried downloading the .run installation package from the nVidia website: 173.14.12 (same version as already installed) in the hope that running it from this would put in the right files to the rght places etc.

I tried running it off the terminal, and it told me to shut down X.

I shut down X (following advice from elsewhere in this site), tried again, got a bit further, but it wouldn't rebuild the kernel...

All I want to do is get the card working properly! I love Linux and Ubuntu, ironically enough, but this is driving me nuts!

1 - Does anyone have any suggestions?
2 - Can I manually 'plant' the right files into the right directories and build my own symlinks?
3 - What could have stopped them being put there in the first place?
4 - Is this a common issue? If so, is it likely to resolved in future updates? I'm conscious that the 5200 is the sort of card that Queen Victoria might have considered a bit dated, and so may not be supported much in future - I'm loath to buy a new one because I've only had it for a week!

Hope someone can help!

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dogsolitude_uk
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juancarlospaco (juancarlospaco) said : 		#1

On Firefox, copy, paste on the Address Bar, and press ENTER:

apt:/ubuntu-restricted-extras

Now, use the drivers from System--->Administration--->Hardware Controllers
Select, install and use the Recommended.

Go to menu Applications--->Accesories--->Terminal
type, and press ENTER:

glxgears

Tell me if you see 3D Gears.

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Gerard (gerard78) said : 		#2

Hi I have the same Graphic Card nVidia "crappy" FX 5200 and I got the same problem last year on Kubuntu 8.04 with KDE 3.59 when instaling/enabling Compiz (are you using it?): none effect. This year when upgrading to Kubuntu 8.10 with KDE 4.1.3 as it have native eeffect with KWin I enbled without enabling the prop drievers nVidia and scren turned black! (I mentiond this on my 1st post ) Id to reinstall again as I cant saw anything. I reinstalled but no formatting the partition so when load KDE still viewed black! Again i reinstalled for 3rd time! and instal/enabled prop drivers and enbaled effects: some worked some caused screen viewed wrong (excuse my english please), cause of Plasmoids specially when open a OOWriter document the panel viewed wwwrong. (I cant add a screenshot? las time I did) and the menu. So I unsinstaled prop drivers but as effects where enableed the scrren turned black again! JEEZ! I hit the mouse till broken as I NEVER REINSTALLED 4 TIMES A OPERATING SISTEM !! So the next tiome I didnt enabled anything as Im afraid to all goes wrong...I think there are some thiongs more important like view snow or a cube in a desctp. See the othe post here.

Besides today I tried to register on KDE bugs to report what tje hell everytime I run KDE appeas the MAX resolution and Ive to clik on SysSett to put mine. I click on activate account, I login and I get an error ! Username not valid. I sent an email to KDEbugsAdmin but I didnt get an ansewr, prob cs is Saturaday...

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dogsolitude_uk (dogsolitude-uk) said : 		#3

Thanks for the quick response: sorry I'm late getting back to this...

OK, downloading and installing the stuff...

System -->Administration-->Hardware Drivers...

The Hardware Drivers windows shows that I'm using "NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (version 173) [recommended]"

Typing 'glxgears' gives me: "NVIDIA OpenGL Driver requires CPUs with SSE to run."

Ah, I think we have found the problem! Running on an AMD Duron 800.

Any way round this?

Gerard: I feel your pain!

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juancarlospaco (juancarlospaco) said : 		#4

You need a CPU with SSE.

Upgrade PC.

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dogsolitude_uk (dogsolitude-uk) said : 		#5

Nosing around I found that the beta drivers 173.14.15 re-enabled support for non-SSE cpus such as Athlons:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=122423&highlight=non-sse

These are in beta at the moment. Are there likely to be any major issues with these?

juancarlospaco: *L*, yes, might be an idea! The rig was just a bunch of stuff I had lying around anyway :)

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Gerard (gerard78) said : 		#6

Another coincidence! Duron was the processor of my previous PC! But I ve on it a nVidia Geforce TNT2 no a nVida FX 5200! Besides mine is 128 MB and yours is 256 MB! Too much GCard for so old porcesor! don yu think? But FX 5200 is posterior to AMD Duron processor? I remember bought PC with Duron in 1999-2000-2001 not remember wel and my actual PC with AMD Sempron with FX 5200 in 2006.

How many ram do you have? I recommend you to update you r system,as I said, Im using a Sempron from 2006 and when Running Konqueror/Firefox with Kate,Dolphin and Ktorrent (cosnumes a lot of RAM! more than 456 MB!) my suystem slowds down and yesterady blocked so you with a Duron (very slow processor previous to Sempron)

But in your last post why you say Athlon? Don you have a Duron?
What means *L*?

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Gerard (gerard78) said : 		#7

I add total RAM cosnumption almost (more than a half Ktorrent!) 700 MB + 400 MB swap! Ive 1GB RAM instaled.

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Gerard (gerard78) said : 		#8

I realize and add again Why dont consume 1GB RAM + 100 MB swap instead of 700 MB + 400 MB? Ive two 512 DIMMs. Just curiosity...

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dogsolitude_uk (dogsolitude-uk) said : 		#9

Athlons and Durons are both from AMD, and they both have types that don't support SSE.

The Duron 800 is very old :) I built the PC from old parts I had lying around :)

*L* means the same as *LOL* :)

My main issue is trying to get drivers that will allow OpenGL. Whereas the 5200 is quite old, it should still be able to handle simple 3D games and the like.

The older nVidia drivers used to support non-SSE processors like the Duron 800, however the current drivers have effectively stopped me from being able to access the graphics card properly and use OpenGL. My system was limited to start off with, but now it's even more limited!

The Beta drivers aren't working, so I'm going to try and find some older ones...

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dogsolitude_uk (dogsolitude-uk) said : 		#10

Well, I'm really impressed with Ubuntu - all that messing about and I *still* haven't broken it.

I'll wait until the nVidia 173.14.15+ betas are properly sorted and ready for legitimate download using the Ubuntu installer before messing about any further. To be honest I can see why they stopped non-SSE support a while back, but I gather that they peeved a lot of folks in the process.

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Gerard (gerard78) said : 		#11

"Athlons and Durons are both from AMD, and they both have types that don't support SSE."

What? Athlons and Duron ARE THE TYPES of procesor arent? What types do you refer?

I think cause of hardware you have that you are a gamer isnt? If you want to play games in Linux I recommend you to rUSE Windows. I never used since las year Kubuntu for playing, when I want to play I restat on Windows. In fact I think that now since I discover Linux Kubuntu I use Windows for that, and for do printer maintenandce as I cant do it in Kubuntu. And for watching DVDs as Dragon Player native Player is a bit simple and in early stages. As you see only MULTIMEDIA. But Im glad you like it!

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Gerard (gerard78) said : 		#12

BTW my Sempron supports SSE ?
LOL OK, I supposed it...;)