Win 98 vs VL on old HP Pavilian, its not good? Success!

[caitlyn]

If this was a distribution that didn't include the driver you'd have to get it from the NVidia website.  In the case of Vector Linux it actually is included in both the iso and the repositories.  The package you want to install via either gslapt or slapt-get is called vlnvidia.

Since this is a seriously older model you may not even need that.  There is support built into the kernel for old NVidia cards.  I'd simply change the card, boot into run level 2 (text mode), do a startx and see what works and what doesn't.  If everything doesn't work properly then you worry about changing drivers.  It may just work.

[phreon]

Thanks again Caitlyn,

I started in text mode, started x, and tried FF again. It may be a little faster but not sure. When I restarted normally it is still pegging the CPU. This must just be a slow machine for VL.

Thanks to all for your patient help.
P

[phreon]

OK I got it!
The CPU was always pegged with anything requiring graphics. Utube, Yahoo Mail, games, and DVD's,
I swapped out my old NVidia 8 MB card with an old 32 MB card and reinstalled VL. This time during install I chose to use the proprietary NVidia drivers that are part of VL. Much better! FF is faster, DVD's play great, Life is Good.

Thanks again to all who assisted. Your pointers really are helping me understand VL.

Now, where can I find more cool apps to install...

P

[stretchedthin]

I have a couple suggestions.
Vector has the ability to set-up your nvidia driver during installation.  Since you are still working from a new install you would not be losing much if you simply reinstall Vector and let it do the driver set up for you.  You would simply skip the partitioning part of the install since you have finally got that where you want to. Also since you have chosen a home partition during your original set up just make sure you do not format it the second time around and it will be left unchanged.

2nd option
I think you can run the autosetup hardware function of VASM.
log out.
Instead of logging in normally click System and choose Console login.
at the login prompt type root
enter your root password
vasm
(VASM application will launch)
Choose autosetup and follow the prompts.


Third option
Go to this page http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
and use the drop down menu to select the driver right for you.
Download that driver to your home directory.
log out.
Instead of logging in normally click System and choose Console login.
at the login prompt type root
enter your root password
cd //home/yourusername
sh NV  (hit the tab key. The NVIDIA file name should automatically fill in. When it does hit the enter key.)
Then just follow the nvidia installation prompts. Say ok to everything.

[stretchedthin]

Feeling a little silly now. I was answering your question on the bottom of page 1. Never thought to look if there even was a page 2.  Glad to here you got it all working right. Happy Vectoring.