DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

help needed- installing linux drivers for gfx 5200

11 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/help-needed-installing-linux-drivers-for-gfx-5200.11332/

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premrajeev Original post #1
Jun 14, 2005 at 5:49 PM
hey i am good in windows but absolute novice in linux. Just installed mandrake linux 10.1 on my athlon system, Now i wanted to install drivers for my geforce fx 5200 agp drivers. someone pls help. i have downloaded linux drives from nvidia website. tried to install it, but it says u must install from root..no idea how to go to root.plz help.
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ujjwal #2
Jun 14, 2005 at 6:11 PM
Type "su" in the terminal window, and give the root password. Now install the drivers as per the instructions at nVidia's site (*www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-7664.html for x86 processors).

Edit - this is the wrong section. You should have posted in the software or the open source section.
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Jun 15, 2005 at 12:18 PM
Yes! Join the club!!!

Its such a pain to install the nvidia drivers.

Chances are, that if you're using the Community verison, you will need to make sure your kernel and kernel source are the same.
Check the version of your kernel-source package with 'rpm -q kernel-source'. Check the version of all installed kernels with 'rpm -qa | grep kernel'. Check your running kernel with 'uname -r'.

This site should help if you need updates :

*www.mandrivausers.org/easyurpmi/

You'll also need to edit the XF86Config file. (as root, of course)

since u are a newbie to UNIX/Linux, like me, here's some tips i can give you (thanks to the UNIX book i preserved in a glass jar).

To edit files from the console, type vi <filename> and press enter.

This will give you a nice colorful screen of the config file.
To begin editing, press "I" and the status will show that you are in "insert" mode. Edit away to glory and if you want to save your changes and exit, press ESC, then ":wq". If you want to quite without saving, press "ESC", then ":q!".

It's a real pain man...i'm still trying to figure out how its done.
P
Jun 24, 2005 at 12:41 PM
I have tried the sh command and was succesful, tried to install it on root, then it says "u must close x windows or x server first. dont know how to start/stop x windows..it just boots into gui.I'm using KDE.Pls assist........
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ujjwal #5
Jun 24, 2005 at 1:20 PM
You can type CTRL+ALT+F2 to open another virtual terminal, and run the shell script there. If it still doesn't work, you can also kill the X server by running "killall X", and then starting the script.
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Jun 25, 2005 at 1:56 PM
thanx ujwal..will try it and let u know..
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e-freak #7
Jun 25, 2005 at 7:13 PM
Installing NVidia drivers is the easiest thing on Linux. Just press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to go the console mode. Use the su command and give the root password. Then type init 3 to kill the X-server. Then run the NVidia driver package specified by Ujjwal in the second post. Follow the instructions given by the installer. Once done, type exit to return to the normal user mode. Type startx to restart the X-server. On SuSE, I get the NVidia screen on successful installation of the driver. I dunno bout Mandrake, but this procedure should get the OpenGL support enabled.
P
Jun 27, 2005 at 11:56 AM
ow..that was a simple one. will try this tonight..well are u sure this works for mandrake ???

THANX
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e-freak #9
Jun 27, 2005 at 5:44 PM
premrajeev said:
ow..that was a simple one. will try this tonight..well are u sure this works for mandrake ???

THANX

Well, shud work!
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Arachnid #10
Jun 29, 2005 at 7:51 PM
Does not work man :-(

I've tried EVERYTHING i possibly could...even reinstalling! It just wont budge :-(
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e-freak #11
Jun 29, 2005 at 10:57 PM
Maybe u didnt get what i was trying to explain. That was the best i could tell u. Now its upto u.