Unable to change MTRR in the bios? More Nvidia Problems

[Bween]

So, I just finaly got thought the gentoo install expericence and here im back with more headaches.

I was reading this tut
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml
and when ever I startx or /etc/init.d/xdm start my screen just goes black and I cant get to any terminals. In the tutorial at the bottom for troubleshooting it says

"If you are having troubles with the nVidia 2D acceleration it is likely that you are unable to set up a write-combining range with MTRR. To verify, check the contents of /proc/mtrr:

Code Listing 3.1: Checking if you have write-combining enabled

# cat /proc/mtrr

Every line should contain "write-back" or "write-combining". If you see a line with "uncachable" in it you will need to change a BIOS setting to fix this.

Reboot and enter the BIOS, then find the MTRR settings (probably under "CPU Settings"). Change the setting from "continuous" to "discrete" and boot back into Linux. You will now find out that there is no "uncachable" entry anymore and 2D acceleration now works without any glitches. "

now when I enter this command I oviously need to complete the bios change, but BAM i have no option in my bios to edit the MTRR. . . Now what do I do?

[NeddySeagoon]

Bween,

Do

Code: Select all

grep MTRR /usr/src/linux/.config

you should get CONFIG_MTRR=y which confirms you have support in your kernel. A few odd CPUs do not support MTRR, What CPU do you have.

[Bween]

its a Pentium 4, and the result of that command is CONFIG_MTRR=y

laptop specs:
Dell Inspiron 2650
Intel Pentium 4-M
The bios is PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility V A03
Nvidia Geforce2 Go
lspci = nVidia Corporation NV11 [GeForce2 GO] (rev b2)

[NeddySeagoon]

Bween,

They are both ok. P4 does MTRR and the kernel is set right.

Your BIOS may use the MTRR name in full, which I don't remember - its Memory T... R... Registers

[Bween]

"Memory Type Range Register" Ill take a look, but the bios is pretty ghetto.

my bios goes like this

Main >
System Time: [14.11.06]
System Date [09/08/2005]
CPU Type: Pentium(r) 4-M 1.6/1.2GHz ----(uneditable)

Floppy Dirve 1.44 3 1/2----(uneditable)
hard disk IBM 20004MB----(uneditable)
s/n CSL204DMEAGMWA----(uneditable)
atapi cd-rom HL-DT-STCD-RW/DVD-ROM-(SM)----(uneditable)

Quiet boot [enabled]
Video Display Device [LCD Mode}
system memory 256MB----(uneditable)
video Memory 16MB----(uneditable)
L2 Cache 512KB----(uneditable)
Service Tag Number JM0JT11----(uneditable)

system Devices >

Internel Touchpad [Enabled]
Sticky Fn Function [ disabled]
Parallel port [Customized]
mode: [ECP]
Base I/O address: [378]
Interrupt [IRQ 7]
DMA Channel [DMA 1]

Security
boot
exit

So there is nothing to do with MTRR or "Memory Type Range Register" in the bios. . .

[NeddySeagoon]

Bween,

Hmm. Do you have BIOS extensions or a setup program hidden on the HDD ?

[Bween]

How would i look for something like that. all that I know I have on the HDD is what I have installed with gentoo

[NeddySeagoon]

Bween,

Compaq have done this for years - even theuir 286 PCs only had half a BIOS, the rest was on floppy.
Other have followed suit. These days the hard drive Host Protected Area is used for storing thes BIOS extensions.
How to get at it (if its there) will be in the handbook that came with th PC.

If you have a host protected area on your HDD, it will show in dmesg, unless you removed it during the install.
Essentially the drive lies anoy its size. There is a area off the end of the reported size that is 'protected'.

[sonny@galnet.dk]

Hi

did you solve it?
I seem have the the exact same problem.
my kernel is configured with mtrr
if there is an extended bios on hd how would one enter it?

My PC:
HP Pavilion a1128.dk
amd64
nvidia geeforce 6800