I am new to Mythtv but managed to finaly get it up and running except for TV out.

I have two PRV-350 (new version) and was able to get them working for input just fine after reading some of the help here.

I was not able to get either of them up as an TV output device.

After reading many threads about TV out I found that the prefered method was via the S-Video or Composit out on the Nvidia FX-440 cards. Since I had one of them in the system I decided to try to get it working.

1st I tried editing "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4" file using the stock "nv" drivers and that worked at boot, but did not use the correct scan rates and the TV out was scrambled as soon as xwindows started.

2nd I also found many references to downloading and compiling the current driver from NVIDIA. I downloaded "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6629-pkg1.run" and tried to install it but I get an error "Unable to find the kernel source tree for the currently running kernel" then it quits with "Installation has failed".

3rd in R5A10 i can not find the Nvidia sample version of the "XF86Config-4" file but I as able to find many references to whats needed inside. They all seem to say the driver should be "nvidia" not "nv" so I seem to be at a brick wall with many books out trying to figure out what I am doing wrong.

I admit I am a wimp in linux but I willing to try, try, and try again until I figure it out.

_________________
Doug Laing
doug@laingelectronics.com
Hotmail/Trillian (doug-laing@hotmail.com)

I attempted an upgrade over the weekend and found the kernel source was in a zipped tar file in /usr/src. Extract it and you should be able to get the nvidia stuff installed.

Unpacking the kernel source is right in the directions for installing the nvidia drivers with R5A* ...

I followed the instructions for unpacking the kernel source and installing the NVidia driver and I have now hit a major snag. Now whenever my box tries to start up it comes up with the error "I cannot start the X Server". When I get further details it says "Failed to initialize the NVidia graphics device!"

I'm a noob at this Linux stuff and am unable to divine a solution.

ECS K7S5A
Athlon XP1800+
Geforce2 MX400
LifeView Flyvideo Prime34

you could try
install<tab><tab>
there should be nvidia drivers in there included with the install

or you could try setting your refresh rates which has been your problem all along, and is in most all of the copies of the install instructions that I've seen.

it's in XF86Config-4
horzontal 30-50
vertical 60

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

Are you sure this is still necessary? I've installed 2 alphas now with only a PAL TV connected to the COMPOSITE-Out and it has worked without any tweeks to XF86Config-4 and without using the tv-out example. The install-nvidia<tab> seems much improvided over R4.

Maybe I just got lucky....

Allen

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ASUS AT3N7A-I (Atom 330)
TBS 8922 PCI (DVB-S2)

well the examples are not in the preview releases at this time. that's why they are preview releases, and I'm not sure it's still necessary, but in my experience pretty much any time you connect to a tv and get a whacky screen it's because you don't have a 60hz vert refresh.

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

I'm curious now if anyone has had a wacky screen after a clean install-nvidia? It would really simplify the install instructions if the XF86Config-4 black magic could be removed

I think douglaing's problems will be solved by unpacking the kernal source as described above.

RobW ("Failed to initialize the NVidia graphics device!"): I got this error if I ran nvidia-setup too early in the install. It had to come after the install step where you install the 586/686 modules. If that isn't it, you'll have to look in /var/log/XF86Config<tab> to find the error. Probably a modeline mismatch (do you have an old monitor connected?).

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ASUS AT3N7A-I (Atom 330)
TBS 8922 PCI (DVB-S2)

well it's not really black magic in the XF86Config-4, and the problem with removing it is that we have no idea what you are trying to display to. With monitors this is not such a big deal as X can query them to find out what they support, whereas TV's you cannot, and if X was set to 60hz vert refresh rate for everything to be safe it would tear peoples eyes up on a monitor with that low of refresh rate. I suppose at some point this could become part of the install as a question will you be displaying on a TV and adjust the XF86Config-4 file appropriately if so, but this is alpha software, and a new installer is on the way, so I really don't think anyone wants to put too much into the current installer if it is just getting replaced.

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

My point is that (for me), the latest drivers display correctly on a TV without setting the refresh. Is it still necessary to set them?

Now that I think of it, this might be because I have no monitor plugged in and the drivers are finally picking something reasonable when no monitor is there. If this is the case, setting the refresh manually is necessary in case a monitor is ever plugged in.

I may have been a little harsh with the "black magic" comment, but XF86Config changes are one of the (very) few things left in a Tier 1 install that fails my "Dad Test": Dad, buy this HW, stick this CD in it and answer the questions.

Allen

_________________
ASUS AT3N7A-I (Atom 330)
TBS 8922 PCI (DVB-S2)

I have a Geforce2 MX400 and I have never bothered to install the nvidia drivers. The generic nv drivers seem to work fine for me, tv out and all.