Where is my log file?

[Frink]

I am running Mandrake 8.2 with a GeForce 4 ti4200. I have installed the two rpm's (kernel and GLX). I looked in /var/log/ but there is no XFree86.0.log file there. I don't know which XF86Config file, if any, it loads on startup so I don't know which one to edit. Could anyone help me out here?

[bwkaz]

X looks for its config file in a fairly standard set of places. man XF86Config should give you the list, but basically, it's this:

1) If /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 exists, use it.

2) Otherwise, use /etc/X11/XF86Config.

You won't have a log if you haven't tried to startx yet; is this the case?

[Frink]

I'm in KDE right now. I have both the XF86Config and XF86Config-4 files in /etc/X11/ but neither one has a line that says 'Driver "nv"' or "vesa". Load "gri and Load "GLcore" aren't in there either. What is wrong here?

[Andy Mecham]

Did you select XFree86 4.2.0 or 3.3.6 (with experimental 3D accel. support) when you installed?

Thanks!

--andy

[Frink]

It didn't ask me which version of XF86 to install. Should it have asked me?

[bwkaz]

XFree86 -version should tell you which version of X you're running.

[Frink]

When I type 'XFree86 -version' in the console it tells me "command not found". How can I tell which XF86Config file is being used if I don't have a log file for it? Thanks.

[bwkaz]

How about /usr/X11R6/bin/XFree86 -version? Or X -version perhaps?

[Frink]

X -version works and says I have version 3.3.6 of XFree86. Where do I go from here? Does that mean I have to install 4.2.0 now?

[z28Power]

It wasn't that hard to install 4.2.0 of X. I wasn't sure if that was my problem so I went ahead and upgraded anyway, the longest part was downloading the files! from there you just run a xinstall.sh file and it does the rest for you! www.Xfree86.org has the files. I don't know what you should do if you're in 3.3.6 of it. By the way, did you run xf86config yet?
If you haven't, That's the file that installs the nvidia drivers and configures your system for X. There are a couple of options that ask you what you want to set up (You might want to have your monitor specs handy as it likes to know your horizontal sync rate and vertical as well) and then choose Nvidia GeForce from the video card options. From that point, when you edit the xf86config file the "nv" options will be there. Just my thoughts from one newb who's been coping himself!

[bwkaz]

From the nVidia driver readme:

___________________________________________

(app-b) APPENDIX B: MINIMUM SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
___________________________________________

  o linux kernel     2.2.12   # cat /proc/version
  o XFree86          4.0.1    # XFree86 -version
  o Kernel modutils  2.1.121  # insmod -V

So in short, yes, you should upgrade from 3.3.6. I'd go with the newest, which is 4.2.1, but 4.2.0 should work too.

[Frink]

Ok I installed XFree86 4.2.0 but now I can't get back into KDE or any other x window manager. I see the nvidia logo, then the login screen comes up. I login but it sends me to a screen with a couple console screens. If I type startx it says "Fatal server error: Serveris already active for dsiplay 0". Did my installation of 4.2.0 go bad? I am able to run program from these consoles, like AIM and Opera (web browser) but I can't get back to my x window environment. Anyone got any clues as to what I should do?