Nvidia drivers will not install.

[drgreenthumb]

I`m a newbie :-)

The installation of the nvidia drivers failed:-

-> No precompled kernel interface was found to match your kernel

-> No matching recompiled kernel interface was found on the NVIDIA ftpsite, this means the installer will need to compile a kernel interface for your kernel.

ERROR: Unable to find the kernel header files for the currently running kernel.

ERROR: Installation has failed.

I am trying to install it on Debian (Woody).

How do I findout what kernel I have installed?
What kernel can i upgrade to, that is supported by the nvidia driver install so i can get a precompiled Kernel Interface? (The PC is connecting to the internet)
Are there any .deb packages that will do this in one easy step ie install the nvidia drivers for woody.

Please help I`m a newbie.

[pe1chl]

Install the kernel source package on your system, then it should be possible to compile the drivers.
(additionally you may need to install the C compiler, binutils and make)

[drgreenthumb]

Thanks I shall try that.

[drgreenthumb]

ok I want to recomplie the kernel to 2.4.21 the debian way and then install latest Nvidia drivers.


I want to know are these steps correct?

Recompiling the kernel

1. update source-list

2. apt-get install modutils kernel-package binutils bzip2 coreutils libc6-dev debhelper libcurses5 libcurses5-dev gcc

3. apt-get install kernel-source-2.4.21

4. apt-get install fakeroot

5. switch to root
cd /usr/src

6. tar --bizp -xvf kernel-source-2.4.21

7. cd /kernel-source-2.4.21

8. cp /boot/config-2.4.21-686.config

9. make menuconfig

10. Setup options in xconfig

11. make-kpkg clean

12. fakeroot make-kpkg --append_to_version -686 --initrd \ --revision=rev.01 kernel_image \ modules_image

13. cd..

14. dpkg -i kernel-image*.deb

15. Shutdown -r now

Then reboot

Install Nvidia drivers

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run

__________________
Dr.Greenthumb :-)

[pe1chl]

I have no specific experience with debian, I use SuSE.
But the steps to install the kernel packages look OK.
Only I would not use "make menuconfig" to create the config, but rather copy the config from some place where it is saved by the binary kernel package. Then you don't need to worry that your kernel config is different.
In SuSE it is saved as /boot/vmlinuz.config and the generated autoconf.h and version.h are also in /boot.
New kernels often have the config in /proc as /proc/config.gz

[drgreenthumb]

Hi,

I solved the problem.

I started again but this time bootup from the netinst cd for sarge.

It let me choose the latest kernel. This is not an option for everyone but my hardware problems where sorted.

I was about to destory my nvidia card :-).


Also I noticed the packages where installed from the stable version woody.

So latest kernel. Now I get into gdm fine no problems.

I would like to know how to switch off the x server so I get the terminal. I need to reduce my resolution. It seems it configures x for the highest res that was selected for default. I will need to edit the xf86config-4 file I guess.

Also during the setup I configured debconfig to control xfree86 functions so do I edit xf86config-4 or debconfig for x server settings.

I am using the default nv drivers for debian just now.

I will try and install the nvidia drivers at some point.

Also Is there a way to determine what services run when in the gui say KDE?

I installed apache at the begining but it does not show up as being loaded like if I run apache on windows (eg a feather in the system tray) how can I check it is running.

My gui defaults to gdm and then I switch to KDE is there a way to make KDE the default option it works but I dont think it is complete as it was not an option before.

Is there a way to ensure all KDE apps are installed at the latest version?

Also having selected the easy install method and selected x windows, desktop, file server, web server, sql database. How can I disable services that I do not need for example apple talk services is installed and I dont need it.


Thanks for your help

[pe1chl]

This is all debian-specific stuff.
I hope someone with debian experience reads along.