Help restoring display. (no video after update)

[Snapshot]

Recently I installed kernel 3.2.15 and used it for several weeks with no issues. I removed the older kernel because of this but forgot to remove the "testing" repo. A recent update included nVidia and dkms. After powering down overnight I turned my system on the next day and tried to login to my user account which failed. Instead I was redirected to single user mode with the command prompt. StartX and or Xorg didn't help and told me that I had a kernel conflict with nVidia kernel/driver. Since I can't copy and past the exact message into this post I can only try to paraphrase what I read. Is there any way to get my video back without a complete re-install? Could I copy(replace) the existing kernel and or nVidia drivers from a live cd? My monitor is VGA or DVI so I tried VGA on the motherboard but didn't get anything but a black screen. Thanks.

[T6]

if the system refuses to use the nvidia driver you can run XFdrake to reselect a video driver, for the moment maybe you can select nv or vesa just to recover gui

be sure to select the right resolution and color depth

this so you can get to gui, load synaptic and correct the repo and sections, also to reinstall old kernel or reinstall the video driver you have

[Snapshot]

Thanks for the info and help. Are you saying to run XFdrake at the command prompt?   I'll work on it tomorrow and then post back.

Thanks again for the response.

Bob

[T6]

yes and yes

[AS]

Recently I installed kernel 3.2.15 and used it for several weeks with no issues. I removed the older kernel because of this but forgot to remove the "testing" repo. A recent update included nVidia and dkms. After powering down overnight I turned my system on the next day and tried to login to my user account which failed. Instead I was redirected to single user mode with the command prompt. StartX and or Xorg didn't help and told me that I had a kernel conflict with nVidia kernel/driver. Since I can't copy and past the exact message into this post I can only try to paraphrase what I read. Is there any way to get my video back without a complete re-install? Could I copy(replace) the existing kernel and or nVidia drivers from a live cd? My monitor is VGA or DVI so I tried VGA on the motherboard but didn't get anything but a black screen. Thanks.

Please check dkms version, should be dkms-2.0.19-3, further info here:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,105186.0.html

AS

[Snapshot]

The display/gui login screen is restored but neither mouse nor keyboard is recognized. I'm using a Logitech wireless system and thought perhaps something wasn't right with that hardware so I connected an old wired keyboard but still not recognized. I looked the options on XFdrake but didn't see anything pertaining to mouse and keyboard except hardware acceleration on the mouse. I thought for sure I had the problem solved but maybe not. I chose the nv option for the monitor driver. Thanks.

[T6]

it could be that the xorg.conf is not right, the section of the keyboard and mouse is wrong

you could try deleting it and then on the gui you can run again XFdrake

also it could be helpful to install the old kernel, from the gui it can be done but i don't know the steps apt-get is the command but don't know more

[Snapshot]

Removing xorg.conf doesn't work. The system reaches a point in the boot process where it simply locks up. If I change nv to vesa I still get a gui for selecting the kernel I want to use but I get no visible cursor. With nv I get a cursor that won't respond and in both instances the keyboard is unrecognized. I tried copying etc from a live dvd to my root directory but that didn't work either, giving me the same lock up that I experience after removing xorg.conf. I noticed when using XFdrake there is no mouse or keyboard information nor is there any way to configure them. XFdrake can't be launched from the splash screen when selecting the kernel. Other than launching XFdrake from the prompt is there any other way? Thanks.

[T6]

too many errors with that kernel

you need the older kernel, when you have only cli, use apt-get install kernel-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs

the problem is that you have modified the synaptic sections of the repos

[Snapshot]

I removed "testing", won't that help? I'll try it and see then post back. Thanks.

[T6]

oh, i was sure you couldn't revert before this

[Snapshot]

I have reached a point with this problem that it's pointless to spend any more time on it. Although I am using a live dvd backup it is a year old and obviously out of date. Installing PCLOS from this backup is my best option but since it's so far outdated what is the best method of updating my system after installation?

Thank you.

Bob

[T6]

ok, yes, time is important here

i have done that, install from a old livecd, no problemhere, worth to try, if it breaks all you have to do is install from a new livecd

from the livecd you have there, what is important, configs?

you can copy and paste them to the disc after installed from a new livecd

[Snapshot]

Thanks for the advice. I'll proceed as planned.

[T6]

don't forget to backup your files before reinstall!