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vdu flicker - system unusable
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Brian
Jan 13, 2012, 6:20:00 AM1/13/12
to
I have just installed Slackware 13.37 but with x-window showing the
screen flickers so much that the system is unusable.
The symptoms are as follows.
I boot into Slackware and get the dos prompt.
I run startx and x-windows opens showing the desk top with a steady
background.
I move the mouse and click in the bottom left-hand corner and get a short
menu.
I choose an item, say file manager, from the menu whereupon the chosen
items appears to be displayed momentarily only to be almost immediately
overwritten by the desktop background. This behaviour, i.e. the
momentary showing of the item chosen following by its being overwritten
by the background, for a while continues, and then, sometimes the item
chosen is displayed steadily. However, clicking on any entry within the
item chosen causes a further sequence of momentary displays and
overwritings.
My theory is that the NVIDIA GeForce drivers which I believe are included
for the first time in Slackware, cannot handle my graphics card which,
although being an NVIDIA GeForce card, is very old. To be precise it is
a GeForce MX 4000 card, which the NVIDIA web-site classifies as "legacy".
I therefore have three questions, and I would be very grateful for any
help or suggestions.
(1) Is it likely that my theory above is correct?
(2) Is it possible to stop the NVIDIA drivers being loaded?
(3) How do I install the correct driver (which I already have, it is
called NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run) for my graphics card?
Kind regards
Brian
PS Possibly I should say that x windows runs perfectly on my equipment
under Slackware 12.2 except that I am limited to a screen resolution
having a 4x3 ratio, whereas my vdu is 5x4.
screen flickers so much that the system is unusable.
The symptoms are as follows.
I boot into Slackware and get the dos prompt.
I run startx and x-windows opens showing the desk top with a steady
background.
I move the mouse and click in the bottom left-hand corner and get a short
menu.
I choose an item, say file manager, from the menu whereupon the chosen
items appears to be displayed momentarily only to be almost immediately
overwritten by the desktop background. This behaviour, i.e. the
momentary showing of the item chosen following by its being overwritten
by the background, for a while continues, and then, sometimes the item
chosen is displayed steadily. However, clicking on any entry within the
item chosen causes a further sequence of momentary displays and
overwritings.
My theory is that the NVIDIA GeForce drivers which I believe are included
for the first time in Slackware, cannot handle my graphics card which,
although being an NVIDIA GeForce card, is very old. To be precise it is
a GeForce MX 4000 card, which the NVIDIA web-site classifies as "legacy".
I therefore have three questions, and I would be very grateful for any
help or suggestions.
(1) Is it likely that my theory above is correct?
(2) Is it possible to stop the NVIDIA drivers being loaded?
(3) How do I install the correct driver (which I already have, it is
called NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run) for my graphics card?
Kind regards
Brian
PS Possibly I should say that x windows runs perfectly on my equipment
under Slackware 12.2 except that I am limited to a screen resolution
having a 4x3 ratio, whereas my vdu is 5x4.
Glyn Millington
Jan 13, 2012, 6:32:35 AM1/13/12
to
Over at www.slackbuilds.org they have slackbuilds for a suitable legacy
driver and kernel modules for your card, along with instructions.
To stop wrong driver being loaded the xf86-video-nouveau-blacklist
package in /extra might do the trick! Or you can do it manually, by addng
a file
BLACKLIST-nouveau.conf to the /etc/modprobe.d which contains the single
line
blacklist nouveau
assuming your system IS loading the nouveau module at the moment of course!
atb
Glyn
--
RTFM http://www.tldp.org/index.html
GAFC http://slackbook.org/ The Official Source :-)
STFW http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=alt.os.linux.slackware
JFGI http://jfgi.us/
Kees Theunissen
Jan 13, 2012, 7:14:30 AM1/13/12
to
Brian wrote:
> I have just installed Slackware 13.37 but with x-window showing the
> screen flickers so much that the system is unusable.
>
> The symptoms are as follows.
>
> I boot into Slackware and get the dos prompt.
It's called a prompt. Never say dos prompt again unless you're working
> I have just installed Slackware 13.37 but with x-window showing the
> screen flickers so much that the system is unusable.
>
> The symptoms are as follows.
>
> I boot into Slackware and get the dos prompt.
on a dos/win system. ;-)
[ ... snip ... ]
> (3) How do I install the correct driver (which I already have, it is
> called NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run) for my graphics card?
I installed that version a few weeks ago when I ungraded my system
from slackware 13.1 to 13.37.
I don't know about NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run but the latest
version will disable the currently used video kernel module.
Don't start X. Just run NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.20-pkg1.run as root from
the prompt to install the driver.
Regards,
Kees
--
Kees Theunissen.
Brian
Jan 13, 2012, 1:16:00 PM1/13/12
to
In article <4f102026$0$6933$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl>,
theu...@rijnh.nl (Kees Theunissen) wrote:
> *From:* Kees Theunissen <theu...@rijnh.nl>
> *Date:* Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:14:30 +0100
Thank you Kees for correcting my terminology. Although I spent many
years, before I retired many years ago, writing code for dos, and then
for windows, as you have probably realised I am a complete novice with
linux.
Thank you also for your advice. My problem is that I do not know how to
install the driver you refer to. I do not know what the command line
should be, and, possibly more important, I do not know - given that
x-windows is effectively not working - how to introduce a new driver to
the system.
Any further guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Brian
theu...@rijnh.nl (Kees Theunissen) wrote:
> *From:* Kees Theunissen <theu...@rijnh.nl>
> *Date:* Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:14:30 +0100
years, before I retired many years ago, writing code for dos, and then
for windows, as you have probably realised I am a complete novice with
linux.
Thank you also for your advice. My problem is that I do not know how to
install the driver you refer to. I do not know what the command line
should be, and, possibly more important, I do not know - given that
x-windows is effectively not working - how to introduce a new driver to
the system.
Any further guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Brian
Brian
Jan 13, 2012, 1:16:00 PM1/13/12
to
In article <87r4z3v...@nowhere.org>, glyn.mi...@gmail.com (Glyn
Millington) wrote:
> *From:* Glyn Millington <glyn.mi...@gmail.com>
> *Date:* Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:32:35 +0000
Thanks Glyn.
Two points.
Firstly, I could not find the "xf86-video-nouveau-blacklist" package.
Indeed, I could not find a directory entitled, or ending with, "/extra"
anywhere.
Secondly, I added an additional file, as you said, to the
"/etc/modprobe.d" directory, the file be entitled "Blacklist-nouveau.conf"
and containing the single line "blacklist nouveau", but it had no effect.
After rebooting the x windows screen flickered as before. I note,
though, that you added "assuming [that my system] is loading the nouveau
module", but I was unable to check this.
I also checked with www.slackbuilds.org but I was unable to find any
driver for my NVIDIA graphics card. However, the site did contain a
package for installing a program called "inkscape" which I had been
looking for. I think this would be called an unintended bonus!
Any further guidance would be appreciated, but please note Kees's post.
Kind regards
Brian
Millington) wrote:
> *From:* Glyn Millington <glyn.mi...@gmail.com>
> *Date:* Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:32:35 +0000
Two points.
Firstly, I could not find the "xf86-video-nouveau-blacklist" package.
Indeed, I could not find a directory entitled, or ending with, "/extra"
anywhere.
Secondly, I added an additional file, as you said, to the
"/etc/modprobe.d" directory, the file be entitled "Blacklist-nouveau.conf"
and containing the single line "blacklist nouveau", but it had no effect.
After rebooting the x windows screen flickered as before. I note,
though, that you added "assuming [that my system] is loading the nouveau
module", but I was unable to check this.
I also checked with www.slackbuilds.org but I was unable to find any
driver for my NVIDIA graphics card. However, the site did contain a
package for installing a program called "inkscape" which I had been
looking for. I think this would be called an unintended bonus!
Any further guidance would be appreciated, but please note Kees's post.
Kind regards
Brian
Martin
Jan 13, 2012, 4:13:41 PM1/13/12
to
Brian wrote:
> I do not know what the command line
> should be
Log in as root and type "sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run". Once X is
> I do not know what the command line
> should be
up and running, search the web for the Slack book and a bash tutorial. You
probably have some reading to do because we are talking basics here. ;)
Glyn Millington
Jan 13, 2012, 5:30:57 PM1/13/12
to
> Thanks Glyn.
>
> Two points.
>
> Firstly, I could not find the "xf86-video-nouveau-blacklist" package.
> Indeed, I could not find a directory entitled, or ending with,
> "/extra" anywhere.
Well, if you follow Kees route you don't need it, but just for reference
>
> Two points.
>
> Firstly, I could not find the "xf86-video-nouveau-blacklist" package.
> Indeed, I could not find a directory entitled, or ending with,
> "/extra" anywhere.
if you are running 32 bit then it is here:-
http://slackware.org.uk/slackware/slackware-13.37/extra/
and if you are running 64bit try here:-
http://slackware.org.uk/slackware/slackware64-13.37/extra/
> Secondly, I added an additional file, as you said, to the
> "/etc/modprobe.d" directory, the file be entitled
> "Blacklist-nouveau.conf" and containing the single line "blacklist
> nouveau", but it had no effect. After rebooting the x windows screen
> flickered as before. I note, though, that you added "assuming [that
> my system] is loading the nouveau module", but I was unable to check
> this.
And did you call the file BLACKLIST-nouveau.conf or
Blacklist-nouveau.conf? I don't know if case matters on this one but it
probably does!
To check which kernel modules are currently loaded, run the command
lsmod as root.
> I also checked with www.slackbuilds.org but I was unable to find any
> driver for my NVIDIA graphics card.
do the business for you if you care to use them, but see below.
> However, the site did contain a package for installing a program called
> "inkscape" which I had been looking for. I think this would be called
> an unintended bonus!
> Any further guidance would be appreciated, but please note Kees's
> post.
work. I suggest you try that and let us know how you get on.
Brian
Jan 14, 2012, 1:20:00 PM1/14/12
to
In article <memo.2012011...@doricnet.btinternet.com>,
dori...@btinternet.com (Brian) wrote:
> *From:* dori...@btinternet.com (Brian)
> *Date:* Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:20 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
Thanks everyone for your advice and patience.
I ran "sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run" as Martin suggested.
(This actually took longer than I thought it would, because, being a
novice, I took Martin's instruction literally, whereas I had to locate,
and to log into, the directory of NVIDIA..... I should add that this is
not a criticism of Martin, rather it is a consequence of my ignorance.)
However, eventually I installed the driver, and during the installation
process it loaded a file -
"/etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf"
to disable an existing driver, and it also correctly identified my
graphics card.
At this point everything looked fine.
I then rebooted and ran "startx", but unfortunately this concluded with
the messages "Failed to allocate/map the primary surface", and "Fatal
server error".
As recommended by the system, I then looked in the log file. This file
was several screen-full's of data, including near the end the correct
identification of the native resolution of my monitor, and ending with
the entry "Add Screen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0".
I tried re-installing the driver, and rebooting, but nothing changed.
Thus, although I have learnt quite a bit about some of the basic
command-line processes of linux, I am still unable to run slackware
13.37.
Incidentally, since I do have a dvd of slackware 12.2, I installed that
version and installed into it the graphics card driver. The driver
appeared to load correctly, but when I ran X-windows its resolution was
1024x768 and could not be changed, whereas my monitor is 1280x1024. In
other words the driver appeared to have no effect at all.
Obviously, any further suggestions would be very welcome.
Kind regards
Brian
dori...@btinternet.com (Brian) wrote:
> *From:* dori...@btinternet.com (Brian)
> *Date:* Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:20 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
I ran "sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.19-pkg1.run" as Martin suggested.
(This actually took longer than I thought it would, because, being a
novice, I took Martin's instruction literally, whereas I had to locate,
and to log into, the directory of NVIDIA..... I should add that this is
not a criticism of Martin, rather it is a consequence of my ignorance.)
However, eventually I installed the driver, and during the installation
process it loaded a file -
"/etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf"
to disable an existing driver, and it also correctly identified my
graphics card.
At this point everything looked fine.
I then rebooted and ran "startx", but unfortunately this concluded with
the messages "Failed to allocate/map the primary surface", and "Fatal
server error".
As recommended by the system, I then looked in the log file. This file
was several screen-full's of data, including near the end the correct
identification of the native resolution of my monitor, and ending with
the entry "Add Screen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0".
I tried re-installing the driver, and rebooting, but nothing changed.
Thus, although I have learnt quite a bit about some of the basic
command-line processes of linux, I am still unable to run slackware
13.37.
Incidentally, since I do have a dvd of slackware 12.2, I installed that
version and installed into it the graphics card driver. The driver
appeared to load correctly, but when I ran X-windows its resolution was
1024x768 and could not be changed, whereas my monitor is 1280x1024. In
other words the driver appeared to have no effect at all.
Obviously, any further suggestions would be very welcome.
Kind regards
Brian
Martin
Jan 15, 2012, 12:18:25 PM1/15/12
to
Brian wrote:
> Obviously, any further suggestions would be very welcome.
can you post the /var/log/Xorg.0.log after a failed startx? That should give
> Obviously, any further suggestions would be very welcome.
us some idea.
Martin
Brian
Jan 16, 2012, 11:27:13 AM1/16/12
to
I re-installed slackware doing everything as last time, but this time
x-windows opened properly. In other words the error that I reported
in a previous post did not occur, and all is not working.
I now have to work on the network, but at the very least Samba is well
documented.
Thanks for your help
Kind regards
Brian
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