NVidia issues

askfor · 2024-12-19 22:42:15

I have an older PC with NVidia GT 1030 card. I am running Slackware 15 and Windows on the same machine. Recently installed Devuan 5 64 bit on empty partition and setup multi-boot.

There seems to be a problem with nouveau driver. System starts and I am getting lightdm prompt. However, resolution is limited to 1024x768. Also, I am unable to switch to virtual consoles (like Alt+Ctrl+F2). There is a blank screen with cursor when I try that. Also noticed that during booting the screen output stops after line "Waiting udevd to be populated".

Blacklisting nouveau solved the problem with consoles and I am now seeing all of the output during boot. However, I am still limited to 1024x768.

So I tried proprietary driver. The problem is that installer can't find kernel source. I installed linux-source and linux-headers- amd64-[version], where [version] was kernel version as reported by uname -r. No dice.

I must say that I am not a Debian man, but rather a Slackware man. I do have some experience maintaining existing Debian server on my previous job, but nothing like hardware or multimedia. Also, far as I can say, non-free repositories are enabled, but NVidia drive does not show.

So, I am trying to get familiar with Devuan. I'd like to know both, if there is a way to fix nouveau and what do I need to compile proprietary driver. Thanks.

delgado · 2024-12-19 23:42:51

"Blacklisting nouveau" and "no proprietary nvidia driver installed" means the system uses a generic VESA or VGA drive (1024x768).

To install the proprieatary nvidia driver - as far as I remember:

apt-get install firmware-nvidia-graphics nvidia-driver linux-image-amd64 linux-headers-amd64

The full kernel source is not needed to compile the nvidia driver, headers are sufficient. If you want kernel updates, install "linux-image-amd64", not a specific version.
It needs a "xorg.conf" to function (create one with e.g. "nvidia-xconfig"; maybe to install additionally).

Just to mention:
In my cases, the nouveau driver just worked without any config (no acceleration of course).
And my computer spends some seconds with "Waiting udevd to be populated" too (no idea why).

askfor · 2024-12-20 13:41:09

Thanks, I am going to try that. I tried MX Linux, which is based on Debian Bookworm. Latter corresponds to Devuan Daedalus, if I am not mistaken. Nouveau worked without problem. I think I have got, at least, some acceleration. Most video players and browsers use acceleration today, and I watched some videos without visible performance penalty.

I am, kind of, exploring "Debian landscape", lately . Debian distros without Systemd. Peppermint OS is next on my list, version based on Devuan.

greenjeans · 2024-12-20 15:24:12

The nouveau driver has gotten a lot better in my experience, I used to hate it like the plague. But now it works pretty good, at least the last time I tried it, ran a desktop computer I have that was connected to a 50" TV and picture was great.

GlennW · 2024-12-20 22:00:57

Hi,

If you want to install the nVidia blob from nVidia, install these packages...

libglvnd-dev
pkg-config
linux-headers (common and amd64)
gcc
build-essential

and remove any nvidia .deb packages...

to adjust your screen resolution add vga=794 to linux line, it has /boot/vmlinuz- (version) root=UUID= single ro (for instance)

ref. https://pendrivelinux.com/vga-boot-mode … esolution/

generally I change it after the nvidia install to include

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="vga=794 modeset.nouveau=0"

just add it somewhere on that line within the quotes"" (I usually change ro to rw, but ymmv)

you may search for a driver/module here... https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/

to install the nVidia blob, I generally do this with the "recovery" boot, to limit the boot init to just a screen and not much else, for this install and config process.

you can try this at boot using the 'e' key to edit the config boot line...

then press ctrl-x or F10 to boot

You should get to a prompt asking you to type the root password or enter to proceed booting to safemode...

Type in the root password to undertake maintenance

Later you can edit the /etc/default/grub file before running update for grub if you want the changes to stick.

change to the directory where you downloaded the blob and run the installer

sh /path/to/the/nvidia/blob.run

hopefully your preparations have paid off and the installer will succeed. reboot

Search these pages on this devuan forum to see other posts with similar instructions.
here's one... https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?pid=37221#p37221

It's not uncommon to have to reboot after setting modeset.nouveau=0

I hope this helps...

Last edited by GlennW (2024-12-20 22:02:29)

askfor · 2024-12-22 17:21:21

As part of my little research of Debian based distributions, I have installed PeppermintOS, version based on Devuan 5. Nouveau driver is installed and works without a problem. I have high resolution and good performance. It is definitely curios.

Distribution is very professionally done and so much polished that makes one feel guilty to tinker about it . So, next week I am going to reinstall Devuan and see if I can get graphics to work properly.

Last edited by askfor (2024-12-22 20:24:42)

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · 2024-12-23 10:58:01

remember to create and save all the usual documents/files/outputs/etc while still on PeppermintOS so that you can compare when you go back to investigating your previous issues with Devuan. dmesg and Xorg.log and such. good luck and keep us posted.

askfor · 2024-12-23 14:39:29

I am back on Devuan. Reainstalled the OS, problem persists. However, I've tried boot with "advanced/recovery" option from GRUB menu. My problem might actually be with sound.

NVidia card has sound chip on board. (a monitor has no built-in loudspeakers)
Motherboard has another (REALTEK) chip.

Judging by recovery boot screen output, NVidia sound chip gets initialized first. Then REALTEK gets initialized, too. After that boot hangs.

I also tried boot in text mode console. BTW, that is the way Slackware boots, to run level 3. It is up to user to log in and execute startx. If they feel like running a graphical desktop, I mean. That is why Slackware is Slackware, never assume anything about the users. If I wanted to compare operating systems to the rifles, Slackware would be AK-47.

In order to that, I disabled lightdm at run level 2. The machine does not boot any more. It happens regardless of nouveau, it might be blacklisted or not.

I can always recover from installation media, but that's not the point. Why can't I do simple and straightforward thing like booting into text mode ?

Last edited by askfor (2024-12-23 20:16:48)

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#1 2024-12-19 22:42:15

NVidia issues

#2 2024-12-19 23:42:51

Re: NVidia issues

#3 2024-12-20 13:41:09

Re: NVidia issues

#4 2024-12-20 15:24:12

Re: NVidia issues

#5 2024-12-20 22:00:57

Re: NVidia issues

#6 2024-12-22 17:21:21

Re: NVidia issues

#7 2024-12-23 10:58:01

Re: NVidia issues

#8 2024-12-23 14:39:29

Re: NVidia issues

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