Can't start x after installing nvidia drivers

[brunnhilde]

I just installed LMDE 64bit on a new Dell desktop (dual boot with W7). Except for the fact that I have to add "i915.modeset=0" at boot time to avoid getting a black screen, the installation went fine. There is a resolution problem, however. I'm only getting 1280x1024 when Windows 7 gives me 1920x1080. The desktop comes with an integrated Intel card and an nvidia GeForce GT 525M. First I looked for /etc/X11/xorg.conf to try and add the correct resolution but the file wasn't there by default. So I tried installing nvidia drivers per this post's instructions: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=191&t=82424 up until blacklisting the nouveau driver, but after restarting I can no longer see the graphic desktop, only console mode. From here I tried modifying some options in the new xorg.conf but nothing seemed to work. The only way I could see X again was to remove/rename the xorg.conf file. I tried removing the nouveau driver completely but I got the same result.

I also tried this post: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 71&start=0 but at

Code: Select all

sudo Xorg -configure

I get "Fatal server error: server is already active for display" and I don't know where to go from there.

In case it's worth mentioning, after installation I updated to Update Pack 3 from Pack 2. I followed the steps above in both scenarios (both Pack 2 and 3, same result). And I have kernel 2.6.39-2-amd64. Also, I just came across this post: http://www.grputland.com/2011/12/ubuntu ... ridge.html. It refers to Ubuntu and the problem seems to have no immediate solution.

I still look forward to someone who may have overcome a similar issue, hopefully. Other than guessing, I'm out of options to try. Like the last post says, maybe I'll just have to wait with a new desktop I can't fully use at the moment.

Thanks!

[kc1di]

Hi brunnhilde,

Sorry your having problems.

The best way to install Nvidia drivers in LM is to use the additional drivers tool found in the System section of the menu.

for your card you should install nvidia current driver.
After you have the driver installed reboot. Then if you want to change the resolution you will find a Nvidia tool to do it in the menu.

Good Luck ,
Dave

[brunnhilde]

Mint Debian does not have the Additional Drivers option. I don't know if there's an equivalent, though, but it's probably a manual install -the hard way- like I did

[Gerd50]

You could try sgfxi in order to get the correct nvidia proprietary driver for your system:

http://smxi.org/site/install.htm

Once understood, the script is easy to handle and will offer a useable xorg.conf to you. I had the same problem with an
XFCE installation. The only way to solve it was sgfxi.

[brunnhilde]

@Gerd50

Thank you for your suggestion, it didn't work. I installed sgfxi and ran "sgfxi -d" to install nvidia drivers, it created xorg.conf and I added Modes "1920x1080" under the first Section "Screen" (there are 5), like this:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 1
Modes "1920x1080"
End SubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 4
Modes "1920x1080"
End SubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 8
Modes "1920x1080"
End SubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 15
Modes "1920x1080"
End SubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 16
Modes "1920x1080"
End SubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1920x1080"
End SubSection
End Section

But the resolution stays the same, 1280x1024. I also tried adding "Virtual 1920 1024" under Modes like someone else suggested but nothing changed.

[claudecat]

Not sure if this will help, but sometimes nouveau gets embedded in your intrd, so that even after uninstalling it, it tries to load. Try update-initramfs -u and see what happens... maybe run nvidia-xconfig after that to generate a fresh xorg.conf.

[brunnhilde]

@ claudecat

No luck following your suggestion. I got locked out of X and had to restore values in console mode to get back in. Thank you anyway

[Gerd50]

I don't think, you can get the same resolution as in windows with your GeForce GT 525M. For my nvidia GT 9600 the best
resolution i can get with driver 290.10-1 is 1680x1050 pixels. I think the 290 driver was installed by sgfxi on your system?

I don't have windows, so i don't know which resolution i could have with it. I'm fine with what i have with linux.

[brunnhilde]

Thanks Gerd50, you're probably right. Nothing has worked so far so I better get used to it. I'm not happy about it since I'm a designer and I work with a lot of graphic programs, so the resolution problem is not irrelevant. Hopefully with upcoming releases I'll be able to solve it.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help

[Monsta]

If X does actually start, I suggest you change this topic's name.

As for the resolution problem, look into /var/log/Xorg.0.log file and see if there are any errors reported.
Especially EDID ones (run cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i edid in the terminal to filter these ones).

[grputland]

With much help from others (especially Gustavo Spadari), I have a solution that works for the base-model Dell Vostro 360 with Intel graphics. I'm keen to know whether it's applicable in your case. It uses the boot parameters "drm_kms_helper.poll=0 acpi_osi=Linux acpi_backlight=vendor" - or maybe "legacy" instead of "vendor", depending on your graphics card. I've written it up at http://www.grputland.com/2012/05/linux- ... 0-use.html .