Arch guys (HELP ME)

So far I love Arch. It's lightweight and let's me choose my apps and ways of doing things. Just from the past week of using it I've gotten waay more comfortable in text only usage. There lies my problem. I cannot get any sort of GUI running.

nvidia drivers in the pacman repo do not support my card.

AUR beta drivers kernal panic. My GUI stuff starts to load and then disappears leaving me on a black screen unable to do anything. I had to mash the power button to reboot.

180.22 from the nvidia site do the exact same thing.

I tried starting over, removed all of the xorg, nvidia, etc packages and any config file I could find and started over. I'm getting the same results. I then booted into mint and installed the 180.22 and it worked PERFECTLY. Where am I going wrong? Is it possible that some files may still be laying around corrupting my install of the newer nvidia drivers? I wouldn't even know where to look for anything else. I even tried renaming my xorg and letting the nvidia-xconfig create a new one for me (as suggested on another forum) but the same. I have even side by side compared everything from mint to arch and it all looks the same. I cannot for the life of me figure out what is going wrong.

Did I mention

 

Can you post up any /var/log/Xorg.* logs? That would give us a better idea of what is going wrong.

 

Ok, what's your video card? Did you follow the beginner's guide to a dot?

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention.

There are no errors mentioned in my xorg log. There is mention of a ACPI warning though.

Code:

(WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)

and

Code:

(WW) NVIDIA(0): ACPI: AC power state information is not available under
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     /sys/class/power_supply/ , nor under
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     /proc/acpi/ac_adapter/

and for some reason

Code:

(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/TTF" does not exist.
        Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/Type1" does not exist.

Even though I commented out the type 1 section.

That is the extent of my xorg.0.log. Everything appears to execute perfectly.

I have followed the wiki to a T. When installing I had another computer on with that page and followed it exactly as it says.

Vid card is a 9800m GTS which has worked fine on various other distros using 177 and up. I don't really want to, but I may try a fresh install. Perhaps I screwed something up at some point.

 

WW are just warnings. It's not telling you what went wrong. You need to;

Code:

sudo grep EE /var/log/Xorg.0.log

to let you know what errors happened after trying to run the X server.
While you're at it, you might as well post the output of

Code:

sudo lspci |grep -i nvidia

Code:

sudo lsmod |grep -i nvidia

and most importantly, the last xorg.conf you used.

Good Luck..

 

Do what jas said. Other than that, I don't think I can provide additional advice. Just remember though that the gurus of arch reside in the arch forums, so you might do well to post there if you haven't already. Arch always pushes to have the latest drivers and kernels, and sometimes issues pop up that need to be brought to the attention of the devs.

 

There's a new xserver in testing, so you could try enabling that in your /etc/pacman.conf and doing an -Syu

But, you should try to fix it before resorting to that, there's some weird stuff that happens with testing packages. I'd like to see your entire xorg.0.log and xorg.conf

Here's mine for reference, your font paths should be the same, and pay attention to the serverflags section if you don't want to use HAL or whatever to find input devices. That caused me some problems, but I can't remember if HAL is supported in the version of xorg in extra.

Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double buffer extension
SubSection "extmod"
Option "omit xfree86-dga" # don't initialise the DGA extension
EndSubSection
# Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
# Load "xtt"
Load "glx"
Load "dri"
EndSection

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType/"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/freefont/"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowEmptyInput" "False"
Option "AutoAddDevices" "False"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "kbd"
Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Auto" # Auto detect
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "X61s_LCD"
HorizSync 31.5 - 48.5
VertRefresh 60
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "X3100"
Driver "intel"
Option "TripleBuffer" "True"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "X3100"
Monitor "X61s_LCD"
DefaultDepth 24

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Simple Layout"
Screen "Screen 1"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

 

There were no errors to grep out sir. If you read my post, there are no errors. Only those warnings.

 

this is very weird.. has arch linux forums given you a reply?

did you reboot after updating a new kernel? I guess the .xinitrc xterm test didn't work?

 

I did read your first two posts in this thread, and the information you posted was not very useful for debugging this problem. At least a poster over in the Archlinux forums when posting about a similar problem, had the courtesy of posting their entire X server log file, which others in this thread have asked to see. X server log file Warnings are especially useless for debugging problems, as they don't inhibit an X server from starting. So as long as you're not going to post additional useful information, and instead lecture to me for trying to help you, I'll just point you to excellent point that archer7 makes in his post;

Not only that, but the first Google search I did turned up this thread and this thread from the Archlinux forums, where someone is describing a problem very similar to yours. Maybe it's not the same, but it would strike me that they would be better able to help since they are running the same distro and attempting to get the same nvidia driver to load. Sounds like there's a problem specific to Arch and the 180.22 nvidia drivers here, and the one users' solution to downgrade drivers isn't a great one, so hopefully the devs are working on this. (BTW, if it's you posting to those threads, then good for you. I hope you get an answer to your problem soon.)

Good Luck..

 

Sorry, wasn't trying to lecture you. It was just that I can read the error log, generally, and there are no errors. From reading my xorg log, it should be working. I had actually just read a few threads about the newer kernal. I think I'm going to try the 177 with the patch mentioned on the arch forums.

 

try that, and update us if that's any better

 

So I used 177 and patched it and tried again same problem. I then on a whim switched out my config to simply start xterm and it worked. I had previously been trying xterm only, but at some point I threw in my compiz options I had been testing in mint. I figured I knew it worked and xterm was locking up with the faulty drivers anyways. Apparently I didn't install something on arch or something, causing my system to lock when I tried my commands. Now I have working video. I'm just gonna install gnome for now. After playing with compiz standalone, I've decided I really just want "gnome lite" aka, I'm just gonna do a custom gnome session. Or something...I dunno.

 

Glad you have it down under control. You might want to consider going the "Arch way" with a lightweight wm and a few nice apps. Here's my favorite starter app list:

Openbox (with obconf and obmenu)
Pypanel
Mirage (image viewer)
Nitrogen (wallpaper manager)
Nautilus (start it with the --no-desktop option)
Firefox
Lxappearance (to change gtk themes and icons)
Lxtask (task manager)
Lxrandr
Gnome-bake (CD burner)
Sakura (terminal)
rtorrent (with dtach and a custom arch daemon script)

 

I am going the arch way. I just can't do openbox/fluxbox. I just don't like them. I think what I shall end up doing isssssss.....

some sort of panel (possibly gnome with the gnome network monitor app)
nautilus
compiz

and some random gnome apps I like. I tried compiz standalone, but I found I eventually find a reason to want a panel.

 

You could use a dock. I highly recommend avant-window-navigator. Get the -bzr version. Cairo-dock isn't as good, I feel.

Either way, I think getting a panel is good. The systray just looks weird on awn.

And, welcome to the United Republic of Arch

 

Maybe I'll try that out. I feel like no panel is missing something, but full on panel galor is overkill.

Thank you for the welcome. This land has much beauty.

 

Technically, the Arch way is to do it YOUR way, right?

 

Have you used the network manager app? I saw that it's "experimental" so I didn't know how buggy it was. Do you use it? (or any you would suggest)

 

I use wicd for my wireless. It handles ethernet as well, and it's independent of DE, so can be used with Gnome, KDE, xfce or neither

 

I use wicd as well. A nice trick if you don't want to see the systray icon is to not call up wicd-client. Instead, use ccsm to create a keybinding for

Code:

/usr/lib/wicd/gui.py

wicd runs in a daemonized form and is independent of the systray applet, unlike nm.

 

No love for network-profiles here?

 

I'm sorry, but for things like wifi, I do not want to touch a terminal, config file, or anything of the nature. When on campus I frequently bounce from access point to access point. Sitting and running a thousand configs would start to make me irate. I want something to do it for me.

 

I have a handful of access points I'm usually at, I like that it loads fairly early in init rather than having to wait for X to load and me to log in like network manager and, iirc, wicd. When I am at a different access point, I really don't have a problem with:

ifconfig wlan0 up
iwlist wlan0 scan
iwconfig wlan0 essid 'essid'
dhcpcd wlan0

If it's something more complex, that needs encryption, it's probably something I'll connect to quite often and can have a profile setup.

 

When I don't have x up I just use iwconfig anyways. I just don't want to type a lot to get wifi working. I like to keep it simple. No typing, just click and set to auto connect if I use it often.

 

I'd like to install Arch in turn of my current Xubuntu and I'd like to know if there is the possibility to format only boot and root partition leaving 'as is' my /home partition.
Currently I have these separated logical partitions: /boot, /, /home, 2 swap

 

Yes amazing-boy, you have the option to leave /home unformatted 'as is'.

Unless that was a typo for SWAP, why do you have 2 SWAP partitions?
You only need one.

 

Because when I've formatted (Using gparted) I've read on a guide that swap partition should be twice of ram.
So, having 1 gb of system ram, I've created two swap partitions, each one of 1 gb.

Do You think it's better use only one partition of 2 gb ?

 

One partition of 2GB would be better. The 2x system RAM is for successful hibernating.

 

Which is the difference among one 2gb partition and two patitions of 1 gb ?

 

For successful hibernating you need 1/2 of RAM.

The swap partition/pagefile needing to be twice RAM is an old wives tale that really doesn't make any sense anymore. Once upon a time, RAM was really expensive and nobody had nearly enough. These days, it's relatively cheap and most people really don't need swap space at all, besides for hibernation. If you do, you probably don't need all that much.

There's no reason to have more than one swap partition, unless you're spreading it across multiple drives.

 

Mostly true, but its for that just in case you happen to be using 100% RAM and paging, and want to hibernate. Personally I don't even bother with swap space. I never used over 1GB of 6GB of RAM, and never suspend/hibernate.

One partition is better than two, because it is continuous space, and easier to fit stuff into.

 

During the installation is it possible, to create an unique partition, merging the two current swap partitions ?

I'm about to "replace" xubuntu with arch...

 

Are the two SWAP partitions next to each other?
If so just delete them both and create one SWAP partition in lieu.

 

While we're on the topic of swap, does anyone know if Intel's turbo memory shows up as a normal block device? It would be nice to be able to use that for hibernation, though I don't know if it would be worth the price.

 

Ethyriel, I do not believe turbo memory is supported in Linux. I don't even think it is supported in XP.

 

I guess it would have made too much sense to just put it on the USB or SATA bus.

 

It should be, but you need to have mtd enabled in the kernel.

 

I was basing my opinion on this:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/312380

Charr, do you have a link which could provide more information on the matter?

 

This post was made in Arch with a compiz standalone setup.

Still working out wifi connections.

 

Yes.
This is my current situation:

Code:

/dev/sda1               1          31      248976   83  Linux [B]boot[/B]
/dev/sda2   *          32        2556    20282062+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3            2557       14593    96687202+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5            2557        2683     1020096   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6            2684        2810     1020096   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7            2811        4085    10241406   83  Linux [B]root[/B]
/dev/sda8            4086        6628    20426616   83  Linux [B]usr[/B]
/dev/sda9            6629        9815    25599546   83  Linux [B]home[/B]
/dev/sda10           9816       13002    25599546    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda11          13003       14593    12779676    7  HPFS/NTFS

Can I merge the two partitions by fdisk ?

 

You could easily merge them during install.

Just delete both, make new partition as swap. Simple as that.

 

hi anyone can help me to fix my laptop. averatec 3200 series i think i installed all the drivers but still no sound. and when i go to device manager, there is a "mass storage controller" need driver please help me. thanks your help will be appreciated

 

Yeah, they're contiguous, so you can just run cfdisk as root, delete both, make a new one in it's place. Adjust your fstab, and you're set.

Oh, you'll want to run the swapoff command, before you delete them.

 

Can I do this "directly" from a shell under xubuntu ?

 

Tentative answer, yes. Xubuntu is going to be mounting at least one of them, though, so you'll still have to run 'swapoff'. You shouldn't have any problems, but you never know with Ubuntu and its derivatives.

You'll need to edit the fstab for every OS that uses that swap partition. If you don't want to reboot one right away, you can run 'swapon'

 

What do You mean wih this ?

 

In short, Ubuntu is different. That is, Ubuntu tries to auto-configure the system for the user. So, for a *nix power user accustomed to more "stupid" systems like Gentoo, Arch, or Slackware, Ubuntu and its derivatives can be very difficult to predict.

 

++

character limits...

 

I was assuming it would be a standard bus attached flash drive, but it's not. MTD drivers won't work, and Intel doesn't look like they care of supporting it.