No GLX etc. with Nvidia NV18 GeForce4 MX440 [SOLVED]

[kc6ufm]

I have LMDE10 running on my machine that contains an Nvidia NV18 GeForce4 MX440 card. Everything seems OK, but the inxi -F command shows the following in the Graphics section:

Card: Nvidia NV18 [GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8x]
X.org: 1.7.7
Res: 1024x768@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: N/A
GLX Version: N/A
Direct Rendering: N/A

Is this normal?

Also, in my working to fix this (assuming it is a problem) I tried to enter the Nvidia X Server tool. It told me I did not have the Nvidia drivers enabled and to run the nvidia-xconfig file. When I ran nvidia-xconfig I had some odd results. The command told me that there was no xorg.conf file, so it created one. I then rebooted the PC, and it would not start...the cursor sat at the top of the screen blinking rapidly after the various lines I normally see during boot. I restarted and went into recovery mode, deleted the xorg.conf file, and everything was back to normal.

Or at least as normal as the above.

Honestly, I have no clue what I'm doing, so I need help before I really break something!

Thanks!

[inktitan]

Open synaptic package manager and search for nvidia. You will get a bunch of things that are mostly irrelevant. Scroll down where you see the nvidia options(kernels mostly). Find the one that supports your card
This is what I use:

[richyrich]

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.p ... 20376.html

[inktitan]

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1620376.html

Great link!

[kc6ufm]

I tried both of the above, but no changes that I can see.

The GLX stuff is still marked as N/A and when I ran nvidia-xconfig and rebooted, no X at all. Deleting xorg.conf returned the system to operations. Running nvidia-settings tells me I don't have the drivers active and to run nvidia-xconfig. Then it all repeats.

[inktitan]

When it started with no X did you have a window with some options in it?

[kc6ufm]

No, just a black screen with a rapidly blinking cursor in the top left corner. Hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL flashed SENDING THE KILL...for a moment, then the PC rebooted. I've left it sitting like that for nearly an hour waiting for something to happen. No joy there.

[inktitan]

You said you are running Mint LMDE10. This is a bit confusing. Are you running Mint 10 Julia or Mint Debian. In Julia you can run jockey-gtk in the terminal. In Debian you can't/ jockey-gtk will help you find the drivers you need.

This link may be helpful. If not it at least proves you can get it to work.http://hardware4linux.info/module/nvidia/

[kc6ufm]

It's LMDE.

I tried the jockey-gtk command and got a command not found error.

Well, that at least tells me that it can work. Now I just need to learn how to make it work!

[richyrich]

Good question inktitan . . I also saw the 10 and assumed Julia . . . Mint Debian 10 is non-existant . . . oops.
There is NO jockey in LMDE yet. You will find driver assistance for LMDE in the link below. (sgfxi/smxi)

http://smxi.org/

[kc6ufm]

Maybe I misunderstood the installer and such.

I downloaded the LMDE, and the screen background says "LM-10".

I have no idea how to tell if it is Julia or not.

Or Betty for that matter!

[inktitan]

You probably do have the LMDE like you originally thought. inxi -S will show the truth. inxi -F is the full inxi list.

[inktitan]

Good question inktitan . . I also saw the 10 and assumed Julia . . . Mint Debian 10 is non-existant . . . oops.
There is NO jockey in LMDE yet. You will find driver assistance for LMDE in the link below. (sgfxi/smxi)

http://smxi.org/

Great Link!

@kc6ufm, you can press Ctrl+Alt+F1 then log in as root. run sgfxi and it appears to be a fairly straight forward process. "Press enter to install nvidia driver xxx.xxx.x or x+ enter to exit." I think this is what you are looking for. I recommend you read the the info at the link if you need further assistance on how to use sgfxi.

P.S. this tool was already on my system so you may not need to install it.

[richyrich]

No, the oops was aimed at ME . . . . I should have paid more attention, as you did state LMDE . . . hope sgfxi or smxi will help.

[kc6ufm]

You probably do have the LMDE like you originally thought. inxi -S will show the truth. inxi -F is the full inxi list.

OK, the inxi -S shows that I have LMDE.

[kc6ufm]

No, the oops was aimed at ME . . . . I should have paid more attention, as you did state LMDE . . . hope sgfxi or smxi will help.

I'll give that all a try later on today.

Thanks!

[kc6ufm]

Good question inktitan . . I also saw the 10 and assumed Julia . . . Mint Debian 10 is non-existant . . . oops.
There is NO jockey in LMDE yet. You will find driver assistance for LMDE in the link below. (sgfxi/smxi)

http://smxi.org/

Bingo!

The tools at the above link did the trick and all of the GLX and such is now working 100%!

The scripts made it all totally painless and super-simple to make things work.

I can not thank your folks enough for all of the help and for tolerating my complete lack of any clue of what I am doing.

You're the best!

[inktitan]

EDIT:this section deleted: .. Don't worry I wont tell anyone. It took me a while before I figured most of this stuff out at least you had the right idea. I would say "Don't hesitate to ask for help" but you should search first but I personally don't mind answering the same questions over and over. There is always something to be learned. And now that you have discovered this trick next time you are browsing the forums and see someone with the same problem you can help them. That's the fastest way to learn for me is to help/teach. I just now learned about the sgfxi which is awesome. I think even better than jockey

[kc6ufm]

I am glad it is all working for you but you should put the [solved] in your first post by clicking the edit button to show it to everyone.. Don't worry I wont tell anyone. It took me a while before I figured most of this stuff out at least you had the right idea. I would say "Don't hesitate to ask for help" but you should search first but I personally don't mind answering the same questions over and over. There is always something to be learned. And now that you have discovered this trick next time you are browsing the forums and see someone with the same problem you can help them. That's the fastest way to learn for me is to help/teach. I just now learned about the sgfxi which is awesome. I think even better than jockey

Ah! Just added the "Solved" to the first post. Tanks for the pointer there, too!

All I know is that the sgfxi was VERY easy to install and use. It went like clockwork. Granted, I don't really understand anything it actually did, but the end result is that it is working now.

Now that I have the immediate problem solved, I can start just browsing the messages here to see what else I can break.

Seriously, I appreciate all the info, and I love Linux Mint. Coming from a guy who started on an Atari 400, went to CP/M, then DOS, then Windows 3, 95, NT, 98, 2000, XP, and Vista, that's a heck of a change. And no, I don't remember much about CP/M, but some of the Linux command structure at least looks familiar.

Oh, and don't talk to me about the "Good Old Days"...they weren't all that good!

Thanks again!

[gosa]

Good question inktitan . . I also saw the 10 and assumed Julia . . . Mint Debian 10 is non-existant . . . oops.
There is NO jockey in LMDE yet. You will find driver assistance for LMDE in the link below. (sgfxi/smxi)

http://smxi.org/

That one is just wonderful... Thanks a lot!

But as inktitan wrote, it's important to do the ctrl+alt+F1-thing and log in as root to be able to run it.

I'd like to add http://techpatterns.com/forums/about933.html for anyone who's about to attempt the same - gives a bit more info on how/what to do.