failed to initialize kernel module

[bengiswex]

warning: im somewhat of a newbie to linux.

i downloaded the newest nvidia drivers so i could run games that need opengl/glx stuff. the install script ran fine and i changed the xf8config-4 file, but when i try and start my xserver i get:
"(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module!
(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found
" and the xserver wont load. If i change my xf86 config settings back, it returns to loading normally.

Background info:
Video card: riva tnt2
Computer: Dell Dimension 8100 1.3ghz, 256 MB RAM.
NVIDIA driver installation file: NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4363.run

I have included my xf86 error log and my xf86ocnfig-4 file in the attached file

Does anyone know what the deal is here?

Thanks a million.

James Wexler

[LordMorgul]

------------------------------------------
Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic VGA"
Driver "vga"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "RIVA TNT2"
VendorName "Unknown"
BoardName "Unknown"
#Driver "nv"
Driver "nvidia"
# VideoRam 32768
# Clock lines

-------------------------------------------

remove the first "Device" above and define only one video device here, the X server is failing to start when it attempts to load a generic vga driver and attach it to your card already being controlled by the nvidia driver. Two drivers, one card.

If you have two cards and intended to do this, its not configured properly. :D

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by bengiswex
"(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module!
(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting *** Yay, this error again! :p

First, check to see that the "nvidia" kernel module is loaded, with an /sbin/lsmod. If you don't see nvidia listed, then /sbin/modprobe nvidia as root, and try X again (but don't reboot before trying X again; just startx as your normal user).

If it still does that after modprobe'ing nvidia, or if the nvidia module is loaded to begin with, then check the last bit of the output of dmesg. Most of the time, the problem is described there. And most of the time, the problem is your BIOS settings -- PnP OS should be off, and Assign IRQ to VGA should be on.

[bengiswex]

woohoo, the modprobing worked! thanks for the help. so now how do i get nvidia to load automattically on startup instead of having to modprobe every time i restart?? thanks again!

james

[bwkaz]

Depends on the distro. What did you say you were using, again?

Also, which files out of /etc/modules, /etc/rc.modules, and /etc/modules.conf exist on your system? You'll probably have to change one of those files.

And last, what does [ -c /dev/.devfsd ] ; echo $? print, 1 or 0?

[bengiswex]

im running mandrake 8.2.
/etc/modules and /etc/modules.conf exist on my system. here are their contents:

/etc/modules:
scsi_hostadapter

/etc/modules.conf:
alias usb-interface usb-uhci
alias sound-slot-0 emu10k1
probeall scsi_hostadapter ide-scsi
alias eth0 3c59x
alias char-major-195 nvidia

Im not sure what exactly the first command of your last question is, but echo $? returns a 0.

thanks again.

james

[Soul-Crusher]

Add nvidia to your /etc/modules file on a new line under scsi_hostadapter. Reboot and do lsmod (Or /sbin/lsmod) and see if the nvidia module is inserted.

It's sort of confusing as some distros do it differently. Gentoo, for example, uses /etc/modules.autoload instead.

[bwkaz]

^
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Do what he said. ;)