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mm vr · 5th Jan 2008, 09:18

I recently got DSL (Damn Small Linux) installed on an old computer and swapped the graphics card to an Nvidia Riva TNT2 M64 PCI 32MB ETC ETC...

I installed the drivers on Windows already (works great) but I'm struggling with the Linux drivers install. The problem is that it starts the installation, but gives an error message about me not having the 'binutils' package installed. I actually installed the binutils thing right away after I got the error message but no luck.

So my main question is: "Is it worth it to install the dedicated drivers (on Linux) and what kinda differences does it make?". If it is worth it, I'd gladly hear how to install them succesfully.

Thanks in advance, mm_vr.

TomH · 5th Jan 2008, 13:59

If you want to do anything with 3D, yes it matters. Otherwise, probably not. I would have thought the open-source 2D stuff for the TNT2 was stable enough by now.

It begs the question; are you ever gonna want to do anything 3D on a TNT2? Probably not, these days!

Edit: Ignore the below, just realised 'DSL' doesn't stand for 'Digital Subscriber Line' in this case

As for the compile errors though - if you're running Ubuntu (?) then run 'sudo apt-get install build-essential' and try the driver install again. Though I'd only bother with it all if you've got performance/compatibility problems.

Glider · 5th Jan 2008, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomH

It begs the question; are you ever gonna want to do anything 3D on a TNT2? Probably not, these days!

Edit: Ignore the below, just realised 'DSL' doesn't stand for 'Digital Subscriber Line' in this case

As for the compile errors though - if you're running Ubuntu (?) then run 'sudo apt-get install build-essential' and try the driver install again. Though I'd only bother with it all if you've got performance/compatibility problems.

DSL == Damn Small Linux... So I doubt he's using Ubuntu...

DougEdey · 5th Jan 2008, 15:07

DSL is pants unless you have NO other option.

steveo_mcg · 5th Jan 2008, 15:09

DSL is great in the right situation, for a full desktop, perhaps not. For a p1 laptop with a few megs of ram its a god send!

mm vr · 6th Jan 2008, 08:37

Thanks for the replies.

I am propably going to run some light games (like LieroX etc...) so I'm now going to install the drivers.

IMO the computer we're talking about isn't a 'full desktop', as it has an AMD K6-2 @ 500MHz, 128MB of RAM, a 3GB HDD and the Riva TNT2 I mentioned earlier.

It hardly runs WinXP.

mm vr · 6th Jan 2008, 09:57

AAHH sh*t...

Noticed that I've only downloaded (and unpacked) the binutils package. Tried to install it the way the readme file says, but it doesn't work! It gives an error message like this:

Code:

Configuring for a i586-pc-linux-gnuoldld host.
Created  "Makefile" in /binutils-2.9.1
./configure: line 7: gcc: command not found
**** The command 'gcc -o conftest -g   conftest.c' failed.
**** You must set the enviroment variable CC to a working compiler.

What to try? I've already tried to install it with the sudo command but no luck.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

Glider · 6th Jan 2008, 10:04

You need to install GCC too...

But, is this worth it? I'd look into a distro that's a bit more adaptable if I were you...

mm vr · 6th Jan 2008, 10:08

Yea, about the distro: Tried installing Xubuntu first but the install failed (and corrupted the MBR) and I were really out disk space. (3GB just isn't enough.)

That's how I went to DSL. Anyways, it's good enough for me as I'm dual-booting between DSL and WinXP.

Thanks for the help anyway.

Fophillips · 14th Jan 2008, 15:39

Read man ipkg (I think DSL uses ipkg) and find out how to install GCC.

5th Jan 2008, 09:18	#1
mm vr The cheesecake is a lie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 2,968	Is it good to have dedicated graphics drivers on Linux? I recently got DSL (Damn Small Linux) installed on an old computer and swapped the graphics card to an Nvidia Riva TNT2 M64 PCI 32MB ETC ETC... I installed the drivers on Windows already (works great) but I'm struggling with the Linux drivers install. The problem is that it starts the installation, but gives an error message about me not having the 'binutils' package installed. I actually installed the binutils thing right away after I got the error message but no luck. So my main question is: "Is it worth it to install the dedicated drivers (on Linux) and what kinda differences does it make?". If it is worth it, I'd gladly hear how to install them succesfully. Thanks in advance, mm_vr. Last edited by mm vr; 6th Jan 2008 at 08:38. Reason: DSL = Damn Small Linux

5th Jan 2008, 15:07	#4
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	DSL is pants unless you have NO other option. __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

5th Jan 2008, 15:09	#5
steveo_mcg STILL ALIVE Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5,742	DSL is great in the right situation, for a full desktop, perhaps not. For a p1 laptop with a few megs of ram its a god send! __________________ ook

6th Jan 2008, 09:57	#7
mm vr The cheesecake is a lie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 2,968	AAHH sht... Noticed that I've only downloaded* (and unpacked) the binutils package. Tried to install it the way the readme file says, but it doesn't work! It gives an error message like this: Code: Configuring for a i586-pc-linux-gnuoldld host. Created "Makefile" in /binutils-2.9.1 ./configure: line 7: gcc: command not found ** The command 'gcc -o conftest -g conftest.c' failed. ** You must set the enviroment variable CC to a working compiler. What to try? I've already tried to install it with the sudo command but no luck. Do you guys have any suggestions? Last edited by mm vr; 6th Jan 2008 at 10:02.

6th Jan 2008, 10:04	#8
Glider /dev/null Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 4,173	You need to install GCC too... But, is this worth it? I'd look into a distro that's a bit more adaptable if I were you... __________________ There Are 10 Types Of People, Those Who Know Binary and Those Who Don't

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5th Jan 2008, 13:59	#2
TomH Bwahahahahaha Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Manchester Posts: 751	If you want to do anything with 3D, yes it matters. Otherwise, probably not. I would have thought the open-source 2D stuff for the TNT2 was stable enough by now. It begs the question; are you ever gonna want to do anything 3D on a TNT2? Probably not, these days! Edit: Ignore the below, just realised 'DSL' doesn't stand for 'Digital Subscriber Line' in this case As for the compile errors though - if you're running Ubuntu (?) then run 'sudo apt-get install build-essential' and try the driver install again. Though I'd only bother with it all if you've got performance/compatibility problems.

6th Jan 2008, 08:37	#6
mm vr The cheesecake is a lie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 2,968	Thanks for the replies. I am propably going to run some light games (like LieroX etc...) so I'm now going to install the drivers. IMO the computer we're talking about isn't a 'full desktop', as it has an AMD K6-2 @ 500MHz, 128MB of RAM, a 3GB HDD and the Riva TNT2 I mentioned earlier. It hardly runs WinXP.

6th Jan 2008, 10:08	#9
mm vr The cheesecake is a lie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 2,968	Yea, about the distro: Tried installing Xubuntu first but the install failed (and corrupted the MBR) and I were really out disk space. (3GB just isn't enough.) That's how I went to DSL. Anyways, it's good enough for me as I'm dual-booting between DSL and WinXP. Thanks for the help anyway.

14th Jan 2008, 15:39	#10
Fophillips Hypermodder Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Great Britain Posts: 948	Read man ipkg (I think DSL uses ipkg) and find out how to install GCC. Last edited by Fophillips; 14th Jan 2008 at 16:09. Reason: Typo