Get your ATI Radeon 9xxx to work on nForce2 motherboard

[exalted]

Hey Washe, Can you better describe what you did to get it to work?

I've tried numorous configurations.

At first following the midnight instructions and files I got X up but everything was oversaturated Big time. Then, after trying and retrying it finally worked until I rebooted. then back to the crappy oversaturation. Then I tried using the 3.0.2-3 schneider-digital drivers and they look great but no 3d. So I went back to the previous version using the --force command and everything worked, X looked great, 3d worked. I was playing RTCW. After a few reboots, it was back to its bad saturation problem. I did nothing to change the configuration so I have no idea how it would change. I was under the impression that Linux as a whole didn't change it self like winblows seems to. any ideas?

[Washe]

1 Get the nvidia patch for kernel 2.4.21 (the one on the nvidia site is 2.4.20) Forum Post (I found it on this post, if its not there, look for this patch on other posts), get the firegl drivers from the schneider digital site.

2. Install Mandrake 9.1

3. After install completes and you are in linux again, install the kernel sources, they are on cd3.

4. copy 2.4.21 patch to usr/src/linux-2.4.21-0.13mdk, and type the follwoing under usr/src/linux-2.4.21-013mdk

patch -p1 < linux-2.4.21-agpgart.diff

5. After the patch is installed we need to configure the support, type

make Xconfig, here under processor choose Athlon, look for character devices (/dev/agpgart) search for Nvidia Chipset Support, choose yes.

6. Go to console mode, log as root and build the kernel type the following in this order.

make dep
make clean
make bzImage
make modules
make modules_install
make install

After all of this finishes around 30-40 minutes depends on machine speed.

7. Reboot and choose 2421-13mdkcustom on the boot screen.

8. log as root and type the following.
/sbin/insmod agpgart (this will load the agpgart module)

9. Install the Schneider driver type
rpm -i --force fglrx-glc22-4.3.0-3.2.0.i586.rpm

10 Follow the directions on the error file to go to the build_mod directory and type.

./make.sh
./make_install.sh

11 Run fglrxconfig put your config when it asks for agpgart support say "YES".

12. Type /sbin/insmod fglrx

13. log any user and type startx.

then you are all set, the only thing left is to make the modules for agpgart and fglrx load at boot time, but that i havent done yet, everytime i boot the computer, I type as root
/sbin/insmod agpgart
/sbin/insmod fglrx

Hope it helps.....

added "make xconfig" on step 5

[exalted]

Gawd I hate asking stupid questions but how do I run the patch?

I'm stuck on this part of the instructions

4. copy 2.4.21 patch to usr/src/linux-2.4.21-0.13mdk, and type the follwoing under usr/src/linux-2.4.21-013mdk

patch -p1 < linux-2.4.21-agpgart.diff

is patch a command? i get a bash error. I tried typing the above exactly.

I need the "Installing a patch for dummies" version. I hope someone will be kind enough to do a little hand holding.

I'm running Mandrake 9.1

[Washe]

Exalted no question is stupid..... patch is a command, try to log as root, some commands cannot be used until you are root I don't know if the command patch applies to root user only, but I guess it is because it makes a modification to the kernel.

Did you intalled the kernel sources?

[exalted]

Well I figured out the patch thing, I download and install the prog from gnu.org. I don't know if Mandrake comes with it installed, but it didn't work and now it does. Now The only part of the instructions I don't grasp is the load the new kernel part. How would I add that to my lilo.conf? Also would it be better to just try for the new 2.4.22 kernel and skip this patch?

[Washe]

Follow step 6 and make it on that order, they are depend on each other.

after it finishes, to be sure the new config is there write in bash "lilo", it will show you what you are getting when you boot your computer, you will see 2421-13mdk custom.

Actually on step 6, on "make install" you actually write down the new configuration and make the new item on lilo so it should work with out writing lilo, to be complety sure you can check if i remember well "/etc/lilo.conf", you can open it with any editor or vi, and 2421-13mdk should be at the bottom.

Remember to have backup of your stuff on other partition, just in case somethig goes wrong and you have to reinstall linux.... It happened to me twice...

[exalted]

I've tried typing Xconfig and it does nothing. gives be a bash error. I'm logged in as root. I've tried Xconfig and xconfig. Is there something on the CD i should've installed and I didn't? I didn't have the patch command intil I d/l'd it seperatly, and now I don't have the Xconfig. Is this a Mandrake thing or something I over looked?

[xcript]

As root:

cd /usr/src/linux
make xconfig

[exalted]

Geez, I need to make this forum my home page. Anyway. Heres where I am. I finished all the instructions up to 6. When I reboot my lilo doesn't show a custom kernel, just the same entries I had before. so I went to /etc/lilo.conf and opened it in vi. The settings in it are not being used. Just for fun I went ahead and added an entry for the custom kernel. rebooted. Still nothing. I loaded up X and went into the Mandrake config and looked at my boot loader. It was Lilo with graphical interface, i changed it to lilo with text and check its settings. It clearly had the entry for custom that the install created AND the entry I created. Where is my lilo pulling its config from? is it in the MBR? should I rebuild that? I hope not too much potential to screw everything up. is there another .conf that lilo uses?

[Washe]

in bash write:

lilo

check if the new entry custom kernel enter appears...

Just a questions when the kernel was compiled you didnt had any errors?

[exalted]

Thanks I'll try typing lilo when I get home. To answer your other question it did say something but I forgot to write it down. It mentioned I might have to check my lilo configuration. I checked in my /boot and it has a 2.4.21-0.13mdkcustom kernel in it. And my lilo.conf has something about it also, but my lilo isn't using the /etc/lilo.conf. my lilo.conf says the default os is windows when it boots linux as default, it only list windows once but my bootloader has a selection for:

Linux
Linux Non FB
Failsafe
Windows
Windows1
Windows2
Windows3

only "Windows" works the others were generated from my other HD's (I have 3 hard drives, one with 2 partitions). I've tried to remove all the other entries but they still show up. I've edited my lilo.conf through vi and also through the mandrake configuration tool.

Would you recommend I reinstall lilo or mandrake? I hope to avoid it but whatever works.

[Washe]

when you edited lilo.conf with vi, did you log in a root, because if you didnt then you cant save the changes, actually I removed once from lilo.conf some entries but I was with root priviledges, when I get home I will post my lilo.conf maybe it helps you out, to solve your problem.

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
default="linux"
keytable=/boot/us.klt
prompt
nowarn
timeout=100
message=/boot/message
menu-scheme=wb:bw:wb:bw
disk=/dev/hdd bios=0x81
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="linux"
root=/dev/hdd1
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount acpi=off quiet"
vga=788
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="linux-nonfb"
root=/dev/hdd1
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount acpi=off"
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="failsafe"
root=/dev/hdd1
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=nomount acpi=off failsafe"
read-only
other=/dev/hda1
label="windows"
table=/dev/hda

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.21-0.13mdkcustom
label=2421-13custom
root=/dev/hdd1
read-only
optional
vga=788
append=" devfs=mount acpi=off quiet"
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.21-0.13mdkcustom.img

[exalted]

When I type lilo in bash I get
Added Linux
Fatal: not a number: "/dev/hda6"

[Washe]

mmmm, that its out of my linux knowledge.....

my best bet is that you begin with a fresh install of linux it wont hurt much unless you have important data...

[exalted]

I figured I might be to that point. I was hoping to avoid it, feels a little like giving up. I'll try posting a lilo question in the main forum and see if that gets me somewhere. Thanks for all you help.

[grigi]

OK, hopefully I can help here.
the "/dev/hda6" means:
partition 6 on IDE drive A (primary master)

probably you don't have a partition 6 or, there is some small typo in your /etc/lilo.conf

if it comes to that, you could always run mandrake's control center and let it set you lilo for you. and then you only modify the lilo it provides?

[Pachino]

A huge thanks to you Washe...have spent 2 weeks trying to get my 9800 Pro to work using Schneider-Digital drivers....came across your post...gave it a shot...and it worked like a charm !!

Originally posted by Washe
1 Get the nvidia patch for kernel 2.4.21 (the one on the nvidia site is 2.4.20) Forum Post (I found it on this post, if its not there, look for this patch on other posts), get the firegl drivers from the schneider digital site.

2. Install Mandrake 9.1

3. After install completes and you are in linux again, install the kernel sources, they are on cd3.

4. copy 2.4.21 patch to usr/src/linux-2.4.21-0.13mdk, and type the follwoing under usr/src/linux-2.4.21-013mdk

patch -p1 < linux-2.4.21-agpgart.diff

5. After the patch is installed we need to configure the support, type

make Xconfig, here under processor choose Athlon, look for character devices (/dev/agpgart) search for Nvidia Chipset Support, choose yes.

6. Go to console mode, log as root and build the kernel type the following in this order.

make dep
make clean
make bzImage
make modules
make modules_install
make install

After all of this finishes around 30-40 minutes depends on machine speed.

7. Reboot and choose 2421-13mdkcustom on the boot screen.

8. log as root and type the following.
/sbin/insmod agpgart (this will load the agpgart module)

9. Install the Schneider driver type
rpm -i --force fglrx-glc22-4.3.0-3.2.0.i586.rpm

10 Follow the directions on the error file to go to the build_mod directory and type.

./make.sh
./make_install.sh

11 Run fglrxconfig put your config when it asks for agpgart support say "YES".

12. Type /sbin/insmod fglrx

13. log any user and type startx.

then you are all set, the only thing left is to make the modules for agpgart and fglrx load at boot time, but that i havent done yet, everytime i boot the computer, I type as root
/sbin/insmod agpgart
/sbin/insmod fglrx

Hope it helps.....

added "make xconfig" on step 5

[Washe]

Pachino, excellent, good to heard that my small guide get your 3d working...

It's was a pain I had to do a lot of research at least 2 or 3 week to get the agpgart module working properly...

[Pachino]

...Well, Washe....I and many others will forever be thankful that you spent the time researching this "project".....It is this willingness amongst the Linux community that makes Linux "work".
I always enjoy my own "research" to improve my Linux machines (or others)...and like the challenge that is forever present in the world of Linux.

Originally posted by Washe
Pachino, excellent, good to heard that my small guide get your 3d working...

It's was a pain I had to do a lot of research at least 2 or 3 week to get the agpgart module working properly...

[darktyco]

I'm a Linux novice that started out with RedHat and have been using Slackware for the past half year. I just recently upgraded most of my PC with one of the upgrades being a new NForce2 motherboard. I decided to check this forum out before putting Slackware on the new box and I came across this thread.

Is there some kind of problem with ATI cards and NForce2 motherboards in Linux? Am I going to need to compile this NVidia patch for my Slackware install in order to get the Schneider drivers running now? Sorry if these are redundant questions but I wasn't able to get an answer with a search.