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GeForce 6600 Blank Screen system hang
http://forum.linhes.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6902		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  gamelyn31 [ Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  GeForce 6600 Blank Screen system hang
Since a completely functioning mythbox is not nearly as fun as tinkering with a partially functioning mythbox, I decided to add a GeForce 6600 graphics card. :D

As might be expected, I'm having problems. First off, here's the stats:
AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+
IDE HD
1G RAM
PVR-150 tuner
On board video chip set: ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 IGP

Ok, so I got KnoppMyth up and running fairly quickly on the original hardware (that is, with the on board video), although the video was, at times, a little choppy and the sound would often get out of synch... but that's another issue (I think).

I installed a GeForce 6600 and now right before the KnoppMyth screen comes up (the xterm manager, I guess it's called?)... boom... blank black screen. The system just locks up. Can't ctl-alt-F1 or anything.

Searching the forums, I found several threads on "blank screen" issues such as these. Most pointed to either modifying the lilo.conf file (which apparently may contain "bogus" entries) or modifying the XF86Config-4 file with the appropriate HorizSync and Vert values.

My lilo isn't the problem, as I can get into Myth just fine without the GeForce 6600. I've tried modifying the XF86Config-4 file to match my monitor's stats (which I know I have right because I actually have the manual!)... still no luck.

I even tried completely reinstalling KnoppMyth with the GeForce 6600 installed at install time, but alas same blank screen after reboot just before it goes into X mode. For no reason at all (other than I saw the value posted in these forums at one point) I modified my lilo.conf file by changing the vga=normal to vga=788. That actually got me partially into the X screen (the terminal window came up before everything froze) but I haven't been able to do it again (it just goes to blank screen all the time now). Must of just been a fluke, I guess.

Anyway, anybody have any ideas on this one? I'm thinking about just returning the GeForce and getting the ATI comparable one... but I'd like to get this one to work if I can.

As always, thanks in advance for any advice.
Author:  Xsecrets [ Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:15 am ]
Post subject: 
well not sure why you are having so many problems with the nvidia card. I haven't used the 6600, but my 5200 works just fine. I would strongly reccommend that you not get an ati card to use with linux of any sort, particularly anything tv related. ATI has just not put the effort into thier linux drivers that nvidia has and it shows.
Author:  gamelyn31 [ Sun Nov 13, 2005 8:26 am ]
Post subject: 
Humm... okay, I'll keep working with the nVidia GeForce 6600 for a while. One other question I had: the Pamphlet of KnoppMyth talks about installing nVidia drivers, but it seems as though my drivers are already installed. Does R5A22 do the driver install for you? I looked at the R5A22 changelog and didn't find anything specific about nVidia drivers.

Also, is there a configuration utility for the nVidia drivers? Something that I can, say, run from the linux command prompt? I know some stuff about linux, but my knowledge is very disjointed... sorry if this is a dumb question.
Author:  gamelyn31 [ Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:06 am ]
Post subject: 
One more thing - what's the difference between:
/etc/X11/XF86Config and
/etc/X11/XF86Config-4 ??

I've been editing the XF86Config-4. I'm assuming that's the "right" one.
Author:  tjc [ Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:35 am ]
Post subject: 
gamelyn31 wrote:
I've been editing the XF86Config-4. I'm assuming that's the "right" one.

Yes. That is the right one. The other one is a vestigial tail. ;-)

I've seen a number of reports here of folks having problems with the GeForce 6XXX PCI-e cards and I'm starting to suspect that there's probably a pattern. Since the Mythic Dragon and others use a 6200 based video card successfully I suspect it may be a BIOS setup issue. Go through the BIOS setup related to video cards and see if there is anything in the manual for the card about setting aside a memory window or the like.
Author:  gamelyn31 [ Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
SUCCESS!! (hopefully...)

After many hours of searching the internet and trying different things (including BIOS changes) I finally tried installing the older 6629 nVidia drivers. BINGO!

No more lockups, at least, not yet.

Watch TV seems to be running just fine on all my channels, and in crystal clarity (thanks to the GeForce 6600 ??? - I hope!)

Anyway, as far as installing the older drivers, all I did was actually run the install-nvidia-BLAHBLAH-6629-debian.sh file from the command prompt (after using the "boot with KnoppMyth CD and mount /dev/hda1" trick I found on these forums). The drivers installed and I rebooted. The Myth configuration screen came up and I was quickly up and running with Myth.

Anyway, hope this helps someone else one day. If any new problems come up, I'll keep this thread updated.

Thanks again tjc and Xsecrets, you're always quick to respond and that's much appreciated.

I do have one more question - if this belongs in a different forum I'll take it elsewhere, but it may be related to my 6600 since I didn't have this problem before (without the 6600 installed). Has anyone ever had choppiness/crackling sound problems that was fixed by simply "rewinding" live tv a couple seconds? I don't know if that's a video card problem or just an overloaded machine (though I doubt that, since my load average is in the 0.3 region.)
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