Problems with GeForce grafic cards and Promise UDMA100

Support knowledgebase (drahn_a7v_2mx)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Version 7.0
This article refers to an older version of SuSE Linux. Therefore some of the informations given in this article may be outdated or the article may contain stale links.

Kernel: Version 2.2.16
XFree86: Version 4.0

Symptom:

You are using an UDMA100 controller together with a GeForce grafic card. Although you handled our sdb articles your screen turns black.

Cause:

The EIDE kernel for the UDMA100 controller and the NVidia drivers are not compatible.

Solution:

Successful configuration of the grafic card only works with at least XFree86-4.0.1.
You can download it from
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/X/XFree86/XFree86-4.0.1-SuSE/suse70/
At least following files a required:
Best installation method for these packages is with YaST. Move to Choose/install packages --> Install packages
Change into the directory where your files are located and select those packages. Press F10 and start installation.

Please download the following files:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/X/XFree86/XFree86-4.0.1-SuSE/suse70/
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/people/drahn/k_eide.rpm
The file nvdriver.rpm mentioned in other sdb articles is not needed since this module is already included in k_eide.rpm

Please make a safety copy of the old kernel and the old modules:

mv /boot/vmlinuz /boot/vmlinuz.backup
mv /lib/modules/2.2.16 /lib/modules/2.2.16.backup
Now you may install the new kernel:
rpm -ihv --force --nodeps k_eide.rpm
mk_initrd
lilo -v
Now you should install package nv_glx.rpm
rpm -ihv --force --nodeps nv_glx.rpm
Please check file /etc/modules.conf for the following entry and add it, if necessary:
alias char-major-195      NVdriver

Reboot your system. Please type in at boot prompt (LILO:):

linux 2
The system is starting in "text mode", i.e. without X.
After login as root you can configure the X Server with SaX2:
sax2 -m 0=nvidia
Therewith you should make a working configuration.

Please note:
The procedure described above only works with kernel:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/people/drahn/k_eide.rpm

If you don't have installed the system up to now, you will find at:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/people/drahn/eide
a fitting image for a installation boot floppy and at:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/people/drahn/modules
an appropriate modules floppy.


Keywords: ASUS, A7V, NVIDIA, GEFORCE, MX, XFREE, PROMISE, UDMA, UDMA100, GTS

Categories: Graphic cards

SDB-drahn_a7v_2mx, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 09. Jan 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 09. Jan 2001 by dstark (sdb_gen 1.40.0)