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Thread: Another post about non-working graphics driver - Nvidia 8600M GT

  1. #1
    Join Date
    2019-Nov
    Posts
    169

    Question Another post about non-working graphics driver - Nvidia 8600M GT

    Hello,

    I've tried with both Nouveau drivers and Nvidia proprietary. Neither seems to be able to give me a working X11 desktop. Live doesn't work, and neither does a full install.

    Let me know if I need to attach any other logs of any config files. Note that my entire "lspci -vv" output is 32k, and too big to attach. My "lsusb -vv" is likewise 64k. The following is with a fresh install of 2019.3, before updates. I will update and post new logs.

    Xorg.0.log.txt

    lspci excerpt:
    Code:
    01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G84M [GeForce 8600M GT] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])	Subsystem: Apple Inc. G84M [GeForce 8600M GT]
    	Physical Slot: 1
    	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
    	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
    	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 0
    	Region 0: Memory at d2000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
    	Region 1: Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
    	Region 3: Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32M]
    	Region 5: I/O ports at 5000 [disabled] [size=128]
    	Expansion ROM at d3000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
    	Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
    		Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
    		Status: D0 NoSoftRst- PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
    	Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
    		Address: 0000000000000000  Data: 0000
    	Capabilities: [78] Express (v1) Endpoint, MSI 00
    		DevCap:	MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <512ns, L1 <4us
    			ExtTag+ AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE+ FLReset- SlotPowerLimit 75.000W
    		DevCtl:	CorrErr- NonFatalErr- FatalErr- UnsupReq-
    			RlxdOrd+ ExtTag+ PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop+
    			MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 512 bytes
    		DevSta:	CorrErr- NonFatalErr- FatalErr- UnsupReq- AuxPwr- TransPend-
    		LnkCap:	Port #0, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x16, ASPM L0s L1, Exit Latency L0s <512ns, L1 <4us
    			ClockPM- Surprise- LLActRep- BwNot- ASPMOptComp-
    		LnkCtl:	ASPM L0s L1 Enabled; RCB 128 bytes Disabled- CommClk+
    			ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
    		LnkSta:	Speed 2.5GT/s (ok), Width x16 (ok)
    			TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
    	Capabilities: [100 v1] Virtual Channel
    		Caps:	LPEVC=0 RefClk=100ns PATEntryBits=1
    		Arb:	Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128-
    		Ctrl:	ArbSelect=Fixed
    		Status:	InProgress-
    		VC0:	Caps:	PATOffset=00 MaxTimeSlots=1 RejSnoopTrans-
    			Arb:	Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128- TWRR128- WRR256-
    			Ctrl:	Enable+ ID=0 ArbSelect=Fixed TC/VC=01
    			Status:	NegoPending- InProgress-
    	Capabilities: [128 v1] Power Budgeting <?>
    	Capabilities: [600 v1] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=024 <?>
    	Kernel modules: nvidia

  2. #2
    Join Date
    2016-Dec
    Posts
    806
    look up about adding nouveau.modeset or nomodeset when booting.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    2019-Nov
    Posts
    169
    Thank you, Mister_X. I had tried nouveau.modeset=1 and =0, but neither one gives me a working desktop. I hadn't heard of nomodeset parameter, but I tried it recently, both alone, and with each of the nouveau.modeset parameters in turn. No dice. I do indeed know where to add those commands. For whatever reason, if I understand the logs correctly, it seems to initialize the graphics chip correctly, but can't find a resolution that works with my screen.

    I think I am going to see about getting a Late 2008 model MacBook Pro 15". That is the last model that has the ExpressCard34 slot, that I require to add my USB 3.0 ports for the Alpha USB 3 card that I bought with the 8812au chipset. I can switch out my HDD and WiFi adapter (My current unit has a 750 GB SATA drive - I upgraded it, and an Atheros WiFi card).

  4. #4
    Join Date
    2019-Nov
    Posts
    169
    lspci.txt
    Xorg.0.nouveau.txt
    Xorg.0.nvidia340.txt

    Ok, I got two old MacBooks from a friend. They were both similar to mine, but in better condition.

    I upgraded the newer of the two to 4 GB RAM. Still unable to get Xorg to come up.

    lshw snippet:

    Code:
        description: Computer    product: MacBookPro4,1 (System SKU#)
        vendor: Apple Inc.
        version: 1.0
        serial: W883306UYJZ
        width: 64 bits
        capabilities: smbios-2.4 dmi-2.4 smp vsyscall32
        configuration: boot=normal family=MacBook Pro sku=System SKU# uuid=26A96EAC-CD73-7A49-8B7C-2DA8F466D971
      *-core
           description: Motherboard
           product: Mac-F42C89C8
           vendor: Apple Inc.
           physical id: 0
           version: PVT
           serial: 1
           slot: Part Component
         *-cpu:0
              description: CPU
              product: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T8300  @ 2.40GHz
              vendor: Intel Corp.
              physical id: 0
              bus info: cpu@0
              version: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T8300  @ 2.40GHz
              slot: U2E1
              size: 1575MHz
              capacity: 2400MHz
              width: 64 bits
              clock: 200MHz
              capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht tm pbe syscall nx x86-64 constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl cpuid aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 lahf_lm pti tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority dtherm cpufreq
            *-cache
                 description: L1 cache
                 physical id: 2
                 slot: Unknown
                 size: 32KiB
                 capacity: 32KiB
                 capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back data
                 configuration: level=1
         *-cache:0
              description: L1 cache
              physical id: 1
              slot: Unknown
              size: 32KiB
              capacity: 32KiB
              capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back instruction
              configuration: level=1
         *-cpu:1
              description: CPU
              vendor: Intel(R) Corporation
              physical id: 3
              bus info: cpu@1
              version: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T8300  @ 2.40GHz
              slot: U2E1
              size: 1380MHz
              capacity: 2400MHz
              clock: 200MHz
              capabilities: cpufreq
            *-cache
                 description: L1 cache
                 physical id: 5
                 slot: Unknown
                 size: 32KiB
                 capacity: 32KiB
                 capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back data
                 configuration: level=1
         *-cache:1
              description: L1 cache
              physical id: 4
              slot: Unknown
              size: 32KiB
              capacity: 32KiB
              capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back instruction
              configuration: level=1
         *-memory
              description: System Memory
              physical id: 6
              slot: System board or motherboard
              size: 4GiB
            *-bank:0
                 description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous 533 MHz (1.9 ns)
                 product: 16HTF25664HY-53EE1
                 vendor: Micron Technology
                 physical id: 0
                 serial: 0xDD4331B1
                 slot: DIMM0
                 size: 2GiB
                 width: 64 bits
                 clock: 533MHz (1.9ns)
            *-bank:1
                 description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous 533 MHz (1.9 ns)
                 product: 16HTF25664HY-53EE1
                 vendor: Micron Technology
                 physical id: 1
                 serial: 0xDD4331B1
                 slot: DIMM1
                 size: 2GiB
                 width: 64 bits
                 clock: 533MHz (1.9ns)
         *-firmware
              description: BIOS
              vendor: Apple Inc.
              physical id: e
              version: MBP41.88Z.00C1.B03.0802271651
              date: 02/27/08
              size: 1MiB
              capacity: 2MiB
              capabilities: pci upgrade shadowing cdboot bootselect acpi ieee1394boot smartbattery netboot
         *-pci
              description: Host bridge
              product: Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub
              vendor: Intel Corporation
              physical id: 100
              bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
              version: 03
              width: 32 bits
              clock: 33MHz
            *-pci:0
                 description: PCI bridge
                 product: Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 PCI Express Root Port
                 vendor: Intel Corporation
                 physical id: 1
                 bus info: pci@0000:00:01.0
                 version: 03
                 width: 32 bits
                 clock: 33MHz
                 capabilities: pci pm msi pciexpress normal_decode bus_master cap_list
                 configuration: driver=pcieport
                 resources: irq:24 ioport:7000(size=4096) memory:d0000000-d30fffff ioport:c0000000(size=268435456)
               *-display
                    description: VGA compatible controller
                    product: G84M [GeForce 8600M GT]
                    vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
                    physical id: 0
                    bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
                    version: a1
                    width: 64 bits
                    clock: 33MHz
                    capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
                    configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0
                    resources: irq:16 memory:d2000000-d2ffffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d0000000-d1ffffff ioport:7000(size=128) memory:d3000000-d301ffff

  5. #5
    Join Date
    2019-Nov
    Posts
    169
    Anyone have an idea what else I can try to get Xorg going?
    I have tried using both nouveau.modeset=0 and nomodeset kernel parameters, but to no avail.
    On a positive note: I did notice that when using the nouveau driver, lshw showed the card as "unclaimed", whereas with the Nvidia legacy driver, it did not. lshw excerpt above is with Nvidia driver, FWIW.

    Kali is installed directly to a clean HDD now. I am not dual-booting with macOS or anything like that.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    2019-Nov
    Posts
    169

    Cool Success!!

    Got it working!!!

    Apparently when installing with the GPT/EFI bootloader, there are issues on that model of Mac when booting Linux. The key to unraveling the mystery was in dmesg, which said something about an error copying the vbios to RAM. When I install in MBR/BIOS mode, it works great!!

    It took me about a week of sleuthing, but patience, persistence, and perseverance pays!

    I didn't even realize I could boot that old MAChine in BIOS Mode without dual-booting. Now, I just need to get a battery or two that work. I wonder how much has changed with Kismet in the last 15 years or so? The last time I went wardriving, the only WiFi protocol was B, however G was just about to be released. Now, there is A, B, G, N150, N300, N600, AC1200.

    Last time, there was WEP and WPA, now there is WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 has apparently been released.

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