Number of KDE-mini systems nVidia problems

[wedgetail]

My signature shows my nVidia Grahics card as nVidia GeForce 9600 GT which has run really well on all systems in the last 12 months. I have long ao had some doubts it was installed properly but after a number of configurations attempts from my point it was running well.

In the last few days I have been experimenting with building a new kernel from the kernel source tree downloaded to a couple of systems. A kernel-3.2.15-pclos1 system which I have been making smaller experiments with while following testers group on and off as time permitted.  The system started out from a ISO 2012.2, slightly customised, I don't remember however that I did anything to the graphics, it just ran.

Building the new kernel to my surprise went ok, except when booting with verbose on,  I noticed towards end a sudden change of the bootscreen font size and position on the screen, as well got a notice that the nouveau driver would be used. Clicking ok and continuing all appeared normal.  The system ran fine.

Looking into this further and using XFdrake or PCC a couple of times switching to different drivers I also had some more spectacular boot screen effect.  Just before the normal GUI screen  starts building the screen blanks, in the top half 3 smaller horizontal lines various colours and some vertical groups of colurs will flash for about 1 sec and then it is back to normal running.

Since I have not had this happening for a very long time, but I do think I have seen it very early on, I decided to look at a solution to this coloring at least.

As the problem seemed to appear right on the first kernel build, initially I thought the build was the culprit, but now I am not so sure. The problem,  colour bands, then almost immediately showed up in my programming/compiling system which is  kernel-2.6.38- xxx , which has nothing to do with the kernel-3.2.15-, apart from they run on the same machine and share the hard drive.

The solution I am using at present is to run XFdrake/PCC to configure, autodetection suggest  Graphic Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360 and then goes on to suggest a proprietary driver, which I thought I used to say ok.  If however I accept this I will get the boot problem.

If in stead I manually install the Xorg.nv driver the boot sequence seems normal no 'pyrotechnics' I feel better with this.  I have not noticed any penalty at this stage but I have not tested video replays etc yet.

My nVidia Server window of course I have not seen since this happened.

I have been searching in Forum and similar problem has been reported, for example

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,102695.0.html
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,98986.0.html

In an effort to try and trouble shoot my systems I will start by asking what drivers should I install

nVidia GeForce 9600 GT

For one of my systems (recognised in prompt line)

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lspci
.........................
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G94 [GeForce 9600 GT] (rev a1)
...............................
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lspci -vvn -s 01:00.0
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0622 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: 1019:10a9
......................................
..........................
       Kernel driver in use: this line simply is not here in this case
        Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau, nvidia173, nvidia-current, nvidia96xx  
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lsmod |grep -i nvidia*
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lsmod |grep -i nvid
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

When grepping on above system, no nVidia response, well that stopped me in my tracks  

At the moment some confusion reigns here about the failing grep response,    but as usual very intriguing and the system works fine.

[Just17]

I had a problem - which I mentioned in another thread - when I tried one of the later nvidia drivers, which was since pulled.

The 290.10 works fine here ....  not the same graphics card though.

Have you tried one of the older nvidia drivers to see what happens?

Which driver were you using that gave the described problem.

[wedgetail]

Just18
I have just confirmed  that I get the looping problem you refer to in 'another' thread. I used the two links I referred to above and decided to clean out and start again with

This set will give me the 'looping - text login problem'

dkms-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011

I get out of the loop by installing Xorg nv


This was my original set
dkms-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011

I have just completed removal of the 290 set of modules and re-built the 173 set from synaptic.

[AS]

Just18
I have just confirmed  that I get the looping problem you refer to in 'another' thread. I used the two links I referred to above and decided to clean out and start again with

This set will give me the 'looping - text login problem'

dkms-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011

I get out of the loop by installing Xorg nv


This was my original set
dkms-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011

I have just completed removal of the 290 set of modules and re-built the 173 set from synaptic.

dkms-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011 doesn't build properly on kernel 3.2.x
you need to update to dkms-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012 

AS

[wedgetail]

AS
That is handy to know, but sorry I am working the kernel-2.6.38 at he moment, not totally clear but I will get around to the 3.2.x

[gert@KDE-mini-Cprog ~]$ uname -r
2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs
[gert@KDE-mini-Cprog ~]$

I have just finished testing the nvidia-173.14.30 and I end up in the loop again and seems to get forced into using NV or Nouveau.

To get out of the loop I try use Old-Polack suggestion

init 3
pcc  select my display
init 5 && exit

This is from memory but it gets me going if I select nv driver, but 173 seems out of reach (Judged by I have no nVidia Server window).  

Anyone running nVidia card that can let me have a look at following, really just the two top lines and the two bottom lines.  This is a substantial section, please skip the meat in the middle.

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lspci -vvn -s 01:00
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0622 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: 1019:10a9
..........................
............................
        Capabilities: [600 v1] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=024 <?>
        Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau, nvidia173
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

ZZZzzz......

[Just17]

Running live 64bit presently & I got this (complete output)

Code: [Select]

[guest@localhost ~]$ lspci -vvn -s 01:00
01:00.0 0300: 10de:1244 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: 1458:351a
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
        Latency: 0
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at ea000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32M]
        Region 1: Memory at d8000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
        Region 3: Memory at e4000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
        Region 5: I/O ports at df00 [size=128]
        [virtual] Expansion ROM at e0000000 [disabled] [size=512K]
        Capabilities: <access denied>
        Kernel driver in use: nvidia
        Kernel modules: nvidia173, nvidia-current, nvidia96xx, nouveau, nvidiafb

01:00.1 0403: 10de:0bee (rev a1)
        Subsystem: 1458:351a
        Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
        Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at edffc000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
        Capabilities: <access denied>
        Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
        Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

[guest@localhost ~]$

[uggy]

Don't know how useful mine is, different card etc.

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost ~]# lspci -vvn -s 01:00
01:00.0 0300: 10de:10c3 (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: 196e:080a
 
        Capabilities: [128 v1] Power Budgeting <?>
        Capabilities: [600 v1] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=024 <?>
        Kernel driver in use: nvidia
        Kernel modules: nouveau, nvidiafb, nvidia-current, nvidia96xx, nvidia173

01:00.1 0403: 10de:0be3 (rev a1)
        Subsystem: 196e:080a
        Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
        Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 19
        Region 0: Memory at feb7c000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 NoSoftRst+ PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
        Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
                Address: 0000000000000000  Data: 0000
        Capabilities: [78] Express (v2) Endpoint, MSI 00
                DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <4us, L1 <64us
                        ExtTag+ AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE+ FLReset-
                DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
                        RlxdOrd- ExtTag+ PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop+
                        MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 512 bytes
                DevSta: CorrErr- UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq- AuxPwr- TransPend-
                LnkCap: Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x16, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <512ns, L1 <1us
                        ClockPM+ Surprise- LLActRep- BwNot-
                LnkCtl: ASPM L0s L1 Enabled; RCB 128 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk+
                        ExtSynch- ClockPM+ AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
                LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x16, TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
                DevCap2: Completion Timeout: Not Supported, TimeoutDis+
                DevCtl2: Completion Timeout: 50us to 50ms, TimeoutDis-
                LnkCtl2: Target Link Speed: 2.5GT/s, EnterCompliance- SpeedDis-, Selectable De-emphasis: -6dB
                         Transmit Margin: Normal Operating Range, EnterModifiedCompliance- ComplianceSOS-
                         Compliance De-emphasis: -6dB
                LnkSta2: Current De-emphasis Level: -6dB
        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
        Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

[root@localhost ~]#


[wedgetail]

Just18

No that is not the complete works, you ran it as user, try root (but I don't want to see it here)

Thanks that was what I was after

Kernel driver in use: nvidia
           Kernel modules: nvidia173, nvidia-current, nvidia96xx, nouveau, nvidiafb

According to my reckoning this should be working fine for you.  Notice that I can't get the second last line to show at all, I use that to tell me all is well.

I have just used your little program to recover one of my backups, and promptly forgot I can't select a drive partition higher than 9, fortunately I remembered when it did not work.  The backup is  back in February but works perfectly and I do have my nvidia driver there.

gert@localhost gert]$ lspci -vvn -s 01:00
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0622 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: 1019:10a9
       ....................
............................
        Kernel driver in use: nvidia
        Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau, nvidia173, nvidia-current

[gert@localhost gert]$

So it seems if I have the blue line above I should be right, aaaaarrrrrrhhh I should try and blacklist nouveau



uggy
Thanks, No the card does not matter I don't think in this case, it is the two lines here that I am interested in

 Kernel driver in use: nvidia
        Kernel modules: nouveau, nvidiafb, nvidia-current, nvidia96xx, nvidia173

Also quite interested to see the combination of modules  

[Just17]

When I had problems I uninstalled the nouveau drivers, IIRC.

[wedgetail]

Just18
My thinking too, I have done that but I have nv installed to make it run. Now I am clocking off. 

[uggy]

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost ~]# lsmod |grep -i nvidia*
nvidia              10911069  40
i2c_core               16526  4 it913x_fe,dvb_usb,i2c_piix4,nvidia
[root@localhost ~]# lsmod |grep -i nvid
nvidia              10911069  40
i2c_core               16526  4 it913x_fe,dvb_usb,i2c_piix4,nvidia
[root@localhost ~]#

Is this what you wanted to see?

I notice this advanced section - I don't belong

Any info you want from me - you have to tell me how to get it 

[wedgetail]

uggy
Yes, this is what I don't see, another pointer that I am in trouble. 

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lsmod |grep -i nvidia*
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

This empty search tells me that the nvidia module is not installed.

[wedgetail]

Accidental finding, I do not understand the implication at this stage.  I decided to run a livCD and the first I got my hand on was KDE-mini-Cprog, ie from the system I am working on.

The backup does have nvidia installed.

Looking through the result of a locate nvidia I decided to look closer at a file /etc/nvidia173/nvidia-settings.xinit, purely because of the mention of "settings", my finger slipped and I actually ran the file.  I have shown the content of the file first, and then repeated the run of the file.

root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# cat /etc/nvidia173/nvidia-settings.xinit
# to be sourced
#
# Do not modify this file; the changes will be overwritten.
# If you want to disable automatic configuration loading, create
# /etc/sysconfig/nvidia-settings with this line: LOAD_NVIDIA_SETTINGS="no"
#
LOAD_NVIDIA_SETTINGS="yes"
[ -f /etc/sysconfig/nvidia-settings ] && . /etc/sysconfig/nvidia-settings
[ "$LOAD_NVIDIA_SETTINGS" = "yes" ] && /usr/bin/nvidia-settings --load-config-only
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#  /etc/nvidia173/nvidia-settings.xinit
/etc/nvidia173/nvidia-settings.xinit: line 9: /usr/bin/nvidia-settings: No such file or directory
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

This missing file does exist on the backup

[root@localhost gert]# ls -l /union/usr/bin/nvidia-settings
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 33 Jan 24 03:59 /union/usr/bin/nvidia-settings -> /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings*
[root@localhost gert]#

The link points to a file(s) but on the problem system that does not exist either.

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# ls -l /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings*
ls: cannot access /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings*: No such file or directory
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

More head scratching, how could this file have disappeared?

[wedgetail]

Ok, I have beavered through collecting some facts, and I now have a nvidia install.  The nVidia Server appeared again in the menu.  Anyway it is a frustrating exercise.  

I am not sure I can explain what is going on.  To me it seems that something prevents 173.x or 290.x to install a driver to be used in kernel.  Presently I have following installed

Presently installed

libri-drivers-experimental-7.11.2-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nouveau-0.0.16-0.20110613-5pclos2011

x11-driver-video-nv-2.1.18-5pclos2011

dkms-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011

dkms-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011

For this to run acceptable in a fashion (some artifacts during boot that I was unhappy with, but will run) the nv driver installed in Synaptic. (Bothered me that it did not show in the lspci -vvn -s 01:00 ) but again the system runs apparently without problems.

In the problem system I discovered a missing file:

/usr/bin/nvidia-settings

I started up a backup liveCD I happened to have made about a months ago.

[root@localhost gert]# ls -l /union/usr/bin/nvidia-settings
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 33 Jan 24 03:59 /union/usr/bin/nvidia-settings -> /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings*
[root@localhost gert]#

[root@localhost gert]# /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings*  < --- www gert www ---- running this also brings up the nVidia X Server (what a surprise)
[root@localhost gert]#

[root@localhost gert]# ls -l /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings*
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 43 Apr 24 16:01 /etc/alternatives/nvidia_settings -> /usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin/nvidia-settings*
[root@localhost gert]#

[root@localhost gert]# ls -l /usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin/nvidia-settings*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1790732 Nov 24 08:57 /usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin/nvidia-settings*
[root@localhost gert]#

Now I finally have the file, not the symlinks. Running this file on the backup system brings up the missing nVidia Server on the problem OS.  Now I am getting somewhere.

Going back to the problem system (look at the prompt this shows different systems) and directly to the the file:

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# ls -l /usr/lib/nvidia-current/bin
total 2176
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root   15138 Nov 24 08:57 nvidia-bug-report.sh*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  167764 Nov 24 08:57 nvidia-debugdump*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1790732 Nov 24 08:57 nvidia-settings* < --- www gert www --- run this?
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root   89660 Nov 24 08:57 nvidia-smi*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  159460 Nov 24 08:57 nvidia-xconfig* < --- --- www www --- ---
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

Running the nvidia-settings* file brings up an empty nVidia Server window, but more important a small notice telling that nvidia is not installed, try and run nvidia-config

After running the nvidia-config a new shaky /etc/X11/xorg.conf appears.

1.. reboot system (forgot how to restart Xserver)
2.. land in text log in
3.. root konsole -> XFdrake (select vesa, just to get back to GUI)
4.. reboot and go directly to root konsole -> XFdrake again -> select suggested GeForce 61100 to GeForce 360
5.. accept choice of proprietary driver
6.. reboot this time to my amazement the nVidia X Server back

Grrrr but I still don't understand what is going on

Now repeating some of the usual checks:

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lspci -vvn -s 01:00
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0622 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: 1019:10a9
.............................................
............................

       Kernel driver in use: nvidia
        Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau, nvidia173, nvidia-current

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# dmesg |grep nvidia
nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.
nvidia 0000:01:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
nvidia 0000:01:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]# lsmod |grep nvidia
nvidia              10736981  30
i2c_core               16500  1 nvidia
[root@KDE-mini-Cprog gert]#

Section from /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "DPMS"
    Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
    Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals"
EndSection

The most informative I have found is in /var/log/messages

Apr 24 01:48:23 KDE-mini-Cprog synaptic: [RPM] x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011.i586 installed
Apr 24 01:48:24 KDE-mini-Cprog synaptic: [RPM] dkms-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011.i586 installed
Apr 24 01:49:10 KDE-mini-Cprog synaptic: [RPM] dkms-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011.i586 removed
Apr 24 01:49:10 KDE-mini-Cprog synaptic: [RPM] x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011.i586 removed
Apr 24 01:55:27 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3494]: Xconfig::card: Vendor|NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360 manually chosen
Apr 24 01:55:27 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3494]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  x11-driver-video-nvidia-current
Apr 24 01:55:27 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3494]: proprietary package x11-driver-video-nvidia-current not available
Apr 24 01:55:38 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3494]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia.conf
Apr 24 01:55:38 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3494]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia_legacy.conf
Apr 24 10:34:26 KDE-mini-Cprog synaptic: [RPM] x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011.i586 installed
Apr 24 10:34:27 KDE-mini-Cprog synaptic: [RPM] dkms-nvidia-current-290.10-1pclos2011.i586 installed
Apr 24 17:10:38 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3565]: Xconfig::card: Vendor|NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360 manually chosen
Apr 24 17:10:38 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3565]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  x11-driver-video-nvidia-current
Apr 24 17:10:38 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3565]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  dkms-nvidia-current nvidia-current-kernel-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs
Apr 24 17:10:38 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3565]: those kernel module packages can be installed: dkms-nvidia-current
Apr 24 17:11:01 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3565]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia.conf
Apr 24 17:11:01 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3565]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia_legacy.conf
Apr 24 17:16:28 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3562]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia.conf
Apr 24 17:16:28 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3562]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia_legacy.conf
Apr 24 17:21:28 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: Xconfig::card: Vendor|NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360 manually chosen
Apr 24 17:21:28 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  x11-driver-video-nvidia-current
Apr 24 17:21:28 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  dkms-nvidia-current nvidia-current-kernel-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs
Apr 24 17:21:28 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: those kernel module packages can be installed: dkms-nvidia-current
Apr 24 17:21:35 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: running: /bin/rpm -q --qf %{name}  x11-driver-video-nouveau x11-driver-video-nvidia-current dkms-nvidia-current
Apr 24 17:21:35 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: Using specific NVIDIA driver and GLX extensions
Apr 24 17:21:35 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia.conf
Apr 24 17:21:35 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: removed files/directories /etc/ld.so.conf.d/nvidia_legacy.conf
Apr 24 17:21:35 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: running: update-alternatives --set gl_conf /etc/nvidia-current/ld.so.conf
Apr 24 17:21:35 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: ldconfig will be run because the GL library was switched to /etc/nvidia-current/ld.so.conf
Apr 24 17:21:36 KDE-mini-Cprog XFdrake[3677]: workaround buggy fglrx/nvidia driver: make dm restart xserver (#29550, #38297)
Apr 24 17:23:01 KDE-mini-Cprog klogd: nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.
Apr 24 17:23:01 KDE-mini-Cprog klogd: nvidia 0000:01:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
Apr 24 17:23:01 KDE-mini-Cprog klogd: NVRM: loading NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module  290.10  Wed Nov 16 19:27:25 PST 2011

At this stage I am not sure what I actually have installed, since I now have nvidia showing where I could not find it before I am assuming that noveau and nv are not being usee, leaving the nvidia-173.x and nvidia-290.x as the two options.

Any comments on the data most welcome as I am still trying to figure out how many rpms needed for the nvidia card to run. I still have this feeling that there are some interactions.  I will take another break and ponder the next steps.

0.. Which of 173.x and 290.x is best for my card and what should be installed for the selected item
1.. Continue here with the  kernel-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs
2.. Tempted to embark on the kernel-3.2.15x

Aaaah, I will leave a question here, what is a dead easy way to tell which driver I have?  In the post there is enough information to answer this.   

[wedgetail]

The choice of next step became: kernel-3.2.15-pclos1 which has the nVidia problem.  I thought it might have been easy to knock over, turned out not to be the case.

I believe that nouveau is the problem, I thought I had a method to circumvent the nouveau driver to get in the way. Does not seem so.

libri-drivers-experimental-7.11.2-1pclos2011 www 3.x
x11-driver-video-nouveau-0.0.16-0.20110613.5pclos2011 www 3.x

x11-driver-video-nv-2.1.18-5pclos2011 www 3.x

dkms-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2011  www 3,x
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.30-1pclos2011

dkms-nvidia-current-295.40-1pclos2012  www 3.x
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-295.40-1pclos2011 www 3.x

Above is what I will end up with.  I start the process with removing the two red lines via synaptic and reboot.  I have recorded a number of attempts but I seem forced into accepting to have nouveau installed.

My last attempt was to blacklist nouveau as follows:

[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x gert]# cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
blacklist ssb
blacklist nouveau
[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x gert]#

title Installed Live HDD Testing of kernel 3.2.x on DELTA-14
kernel (hd1,13)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=Testing_Live_HDD_installed_vers root=LABEL=DELTA-14 nokmsboot acpi=on resume=LABEL=swap4000 splash=verbose rdblacklist=nouveau vga=791
initrd (hd1,13)/boot/initrd.img

From /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360"
    Driver "nouveau"
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

My question is how can I remove/restrain nouveau from action.  If I can then one of the two nvidia drivers from Synaptic will likely get installed.