Complete workaround to Black Screen and OpenGL issues for Nvidia Cards
I own the BFG NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OC 512MB AGP Card (
http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr76512gsoc.aspx) and therefore this workaround definitely works for this card but I see no reason why it wouldn’t work for other Nvidia cards as well. Also, I own a Dell 1702FP Monitor with Dual VGA and DVI outputs.
If you have an Nvidia card this workaround will allow you to install the latest drivers and utilize Open GL with alpha blending (UI2) mode. Note: At this moment the only video hardware we have confirmed UI2 works with are the nVidia 6xxx and 7xxx series; preferably a 7xxx with at least 128MB RAM (
http://plutohome.com/wiki/index.php/UI)
After installing LinuxMCE if you receive a black screen follow these step by step instructions.
Black Screen Bypass
Note: This is a hybrid solution from el_ricardo’s post (
http://www.techsupportforum.com/alternative-computing/linux-support/107839-ubuntu-loads-then-goes-blank-screen-bahhh.html)
Reboot the PC (Hard Reset if you must)
Hit Escape when you see the GRUB loading, please wait instruction
Select Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
When at the dcerouter prompt
Type: dpkg --configure –a and hit Enter
Type: dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg and hit Enter
This will bring you to the Configuring xserver-xorg screen
Select No when asked to autodetect video hardware
Select vesa as the X server driver and Tab down to Ok and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter (Video card’s bus identifier)
Hit Tab and hit Enter (Dedicated Memory)
Select No when prompt to Use kernel framebuffer device interface
Select Yes to Autodetect keyboard layout
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Enter (To select Ok)
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Enter (To select Ok)
Select /dev/input/mice
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Select Yes (Emulate 3 button mouse)
Select Yes (Write default Files section to configuration file)
Select Yes (Attempt Monitor detection)
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Select the appropriate resolution for your monitor (Look up the specifications to see what you monitor can handle)
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Select Ok
Select Medium (Method for selecting the monitor characteristics)
Select the appropriate Monitor’s best video mode (Look up the specifications to see what you monitor can handle)
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Select Yes and Hit Enter
Select 24
Hit Tab and hit Enter
Whew now that section is complete. Hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete to Reboot. This will allow you to see the AV Wizard
AV Wizard
Step 0 – Click Continue
Step 1 – Select the appropriate input, resolution, and refresh rate and click Ok (My configuration: DVI/HDMI – 1280x1024 – 60 Hz)
Click Continue to confirm resolution settings
Step 2 – Select Static images, no overlay (lightweight) and Click Ok - Note: You MUST select this setting initially
Step 4 – Make sure image size is correct and click Ok
Step 5 – Select the appropriate audio output connector (My configuration: Analog Stereo)
Step 6 – Make sure you hear audio and adjust the volume then click Ok
Step 9 – Click I agree
Installing new Nvidia Drivers
Note: This is a hybrid fix using the info from
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Display_Drivershttp://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=57368Download the latest Nvidia Drivers to your KDE Desktop
Run AV Wizard again (Your computer will reboot; upon restart select all the same options EXCEPT select Open GL with alpha blending during Step 2)
Wait for the AV Wizard options to load and you should receive the Orbiter failed to setup the transparency error
Hit Ctrl+Alt+F1
Hit Enter
Login with your username (linuxmce) and password (if required)
Type: sudo rm /etc/init.d/nvidia-glx and hit Enter
Type: sudo apt-get install gcc and hit Enter (just in case)
Type: sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop and hit Enter (Type password if prompted)
Type: sudo – s and hit Enter
Type: telinit 1 and hit Enter
CD “directory where you have the nvidia installer”
Type: sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-<version>-pkg1.run and hit Enter (Note file name will be different for 64 bit operating systems)
If prompted with the runlevel 1 warning screen; select No and Hit Enter
Accept the License Agreement
Select No and Hit Enter (No precompiled kernel interface screen)
Select Yes and Hit Enter (Would you like to run the nvidia-xconfig utility to automatically update your X configuration file)
Select Ok
Type: sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start (Type password if necessary)
If all goes well LinuxMCE will boot right up and you will have full video capabilities (Open GL with alpha blending) with the latest nVidia drivers!!!
Now to tackle my audio issues.
