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

askfor
Member
Registered: 2024-12-19
Posts: 3  

NVidia issues

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.

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

delgado
Member
Registered: 2022-07-14
Posts: 217  

Re: NVidia issues

"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).

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

askfor
Member
Registered: 2024-12-19
Posts: 3  

Re: NVidia issues

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 smile. Debian distros without Systemd. Peppermint OS is next on my list, version based on Devuan.

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

greenjeans
Member
Registered: 2017-04-07
Posts: 654  
Website

Re: NVidia issues

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.


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

GlennW
Member
From: Brisbane, Australia
Registered: 2019-07-18
Posts: 653  

Re: NVidia issues

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)


pic from 1993, new guitar day.

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#6 Yesterday 17:21:21

askfor
Member
Registered: 2024-12-19
Posts: 3  

Re: NVidia issues

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 smile. So, next week I am going to reinstall Devuan and see if I can get graphics to work properly.

Last edited by askfor (Yesterday 20:24:42)

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