Newbie+Linux+Geforce4=?

09-03-02, 04:58 AM

Hello Im a complete newbie to the linux community and have just purchased a copy of red hat 7.3
After reading many readmes and how-tos on the internet I came to realise that using red hat with a Geforce4 mx440 would be quite difficult to install and configure. I was wondering If I could have a few pointers and directions of what I should do. Im planning on running a dual boot system with red hat 7.3 and windows me. I have already downloaded the nvidia drivers for linux and am currently running windows me on my system, amd 1200 athlon.
thankyou

Klaus-P · 09-03-02, 10:19 AM

You don't need any nvidia drivers for a first installation
of linux. Well you will get standard VGA or your install
program chooses the nv driver. For the
first installation steps this should be sufficient.
WARNING: If you are planning to install linux on the same harddrive, keep in mind that this is a bit risky, if something is going wrong, you can loose your installed Windows.

09-04-02, 06:34 PM

thanks for the help, so when i install x windows I should pick a standard vga card from the list and then configure the geforce 4 later or should i just skip the x windows installation and do it later. which is the best option.

Klaus-P · 09-05-02, 06:58 AM

If you have no experience with Linux and X window i would skip it.
Then you don't have to worry about any graphics drivers, graphics cards,
monitor datas, resolutions, and refresh rates at all.
Install the midnight commander (mc-package), it is a very usefull
text-mode based file manager. It looks a bit like the old
Norton DOS commander. You can read rpm, tgz files, etc, copy files,
etc,... make sure that you have installed the rpm package manager, and the
tar program, though an ordinary installation (also without X)
of Linux should do it for you automatically.
Read the README in the nvidia GLX-package very carefully. Especially about
the methods to generate the XF86Config file !!
If you have mc installed, move the beam on the package file and just
press Enter. The README should be located in .../usr/share/doc/ , press F3.
And do also read the X Window and window manager related stuff
in your Redhat manual.

In the next step install the X stuff (including windowmanager)
for a standard VGA card, 16 colors and 640 lines resolution (60 Hz refresh).
This should work with your card and monitor as well.

Reboot your computer and login as normal user. If startx comes up with
your selected windowmanager just finish X by Ctrl-Alt-Back.
logout and login as root.

Install nvidia packages according to the README and generate the XF86Config
with a good utility program.

The last steps are tests and fine tune, do also take a look
at your monitor user manual.

09-03-02, 04:58 AM	#1
swaffa Guest Posts: n/a	Newbie+Linux+Geforce4=? Hello Im a complete newbie to the linux community and have just purchased a copy of red hat 7.3 After reading many readmes and how-tos on the internet I came to realise that using red hat with a Geforce4 mx440 would be quite difficult to install and configure. I was wondering If I could have a few pointers and directions of what I should do. Im planning on running a dual boot system with red hat 7.3 and windows me. I have already downloaded the nvidia drivers for linux and am currently running windows me on my system, amd 1200 athlon. thankyou

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09-03-02, 10:19 AM	#2
Klaus-P Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 134	You don't need any nvidia drivers for a first installation of linux. Well you will get standard VGA or your install program chooses the nv driver. For the first installation steps this should be sufficient. WARNING: If you are planning to install linux on the same harddrive, keep in mind that this is a bit risky, if something is going wrong, you can loose your installed Windows.

09-04-02, 06:34 PM	#3
swaffa Guest Posts: n/a	thanks for the help, so when i install x windows I should pick a standard vga card from the list and then configure the geforce 4 later or should i just skip the x windows installation and do it later. which is the best option.

09-05-02, 06:58 AM	#4
Klaus-P Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 134	If you have no experience with Linux and X window i would skip it. Then you don't have to worry about any graphics drivers, graphics cards, monitor datas, resolutions, and refresh rates at all. Install the midnight commander (mc-package), it is a very usefull text-mode based file manager. It looks a bit like the old Norton DOS commander. You can read rpm, tgz files, etc, copy files, etc,... make sure that you have installed the rpm package manager, and the tar program, though an ordinary installation (also without X) of Linux should do it for you automatically. Read the README in the nvidia GLX-package very carefully. Especially about the methods to generate the XF86Config file !! If you have mc installed, move the beam on the package file and just press Enter. The README should be located in .../usr/share/doc/ , press F3. And do also read the X Window and window manager related stuff in your Redhat manual. In the next step install the X stuff (including windowmanager) for a standard VGA card, 16 colors and 640 lines resolution (60 Hz refresh). This should work with your card and monitor as well. Reboot your computer and login as normal user. If startx comes up with your selected windowmanager just finish X by Ctrl-Alt-Back. logout and login as root. Install nvidia packages according to the README and generate the XF86Config with a good utility program. The last steps are tests and fine tune, do also take a look at your monitor user manual.