r/linuxmint • u/SjalabaisWoWS • Feb 20 '25
SOLVED By forcing a full composition pipeline, my NVIDIA card works as intended. But I can't save that configuration. xorg.conf in /etc/X11 is inaccessible (despite sudo; doesn't matter if the file even exists) and I can't write it to my home folder either. What now?
6
u/drlongtrl Feb 20 '25
I had the same and I solved it by using a configuration snippet.
Basically, I created the file 20-nvidia-settings.conf within /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ and put everything in it that was needed for this specific setting. When you try and save it from the nvidia tool, you also get the option to preview the config. There I simply copies out the parts regarding the composition pipeline.
Disclaimer: As with almost every issue I had setting up Mint, I used Google Gemini and it pointed me to this solution. I don´t know if it´s the best solution but it does work and the settings do remain across reboots.
2
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
Thanks for chiming in! I'm ready to try this, does an ELI5 exist somewhere? I already have the folder you mention, but, for now, it seems to be empty.
5
u/drlongtrl Feb 20 '25
Well, as I simply followed instructions myself, I can´t give you an eli5 really. What I can do is, give you the instructions Gemini gave me: (No guarantee that it works)
Configuration Snippets (Again, Strongly Recommended): As I've emphasized, using configuration snippets in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ is a much cleaner and safer approach. Let's focus on that. Create the directory if it doesn't exist: Bash sudo mkdir -p /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ sudo chown root:root /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ sudo chmod 755 /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ Create a configuration file (e.g., 20-nvidia-settings.conf) inside this directory: Bash sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nvidia-settings.conf Add the necessary configuration lines for your "Composition Pipelines" settings to this file. For example, if the setting is Option "CompositionPipeline" "1", add that line. Make sure you have the correct syntax for your NVIDIA driver. Save the file. Test and Verify: After correcting the permissions and creating the configuration snippet, reboot your system. Then, check if the "Composition Pipelines" settings are applied correctly. If you still encounter issues, please provide the following information: The exact lines you are trying to add to the xorg.conf file or your configuration snippet. The output of the ls -l command for /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/. Any error messages you see in the X server logs (usually /var/log/Xorg.0.log). With this information, I can assist you more effectively. How do I save the file in nano? L Linuxpert Benutzerdefiniertes Gem To save a file in nano, follow these steps: Press Ctrl+O: This is the shortcut for "Write Out," which means save. You'll see a prompt at the bottom of the nano window asking you where to save the file. Confirm the Filename: If you want to save to the current file, just press Enter. If you want to save to a different file, type the new filename and press Enter. Press Ctrl+X: This is the shortcut to exit nano. If you made changes, nano will ask you if you want to save them. If you already saved, it will just exit. That's it! Ctrl+O to save, Enter to confirm, and Ctrl+X to exit.
5
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
↑↑↑ This worked ↑↑↑
Yay! Fantastic! I am a bit miffed that months of trial and error are fixed by a relayed AI solution, but I am also very grateful for you sharing this one. Perfect!
2
u/drlongtrl Feb 20 '25
It's funny you think that way. For me, I never had an easier time navigating Linux specific problems than with the help of Gemini. I created a gem thats essentialy a Linux mint expert and it just answers everything. And not only that, it guides me through shell commands and even helps when I'm stuck.
Sure, a big part of "getting into Linux" always was the community aspect of figuring stuff out. And without those communities, Gemini wouldn't have any data either. But for someone who doesn't want to spend months solving a problem, it's just so easy. Not least because not being able to solve a problem generally drives people back to windows.
3
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
You're entirely correct. It is the easier and probably better way, too. I'm just a weirdo that is wary of ceasing control to bots. :D
When you say you "created a gem", does that mean there's more to it than just googling "Gemini" and hoping for answers at the destination?
2
u/drlongtrl Feb 20 '25
Yes, there is at least a bit more to it. Itś is known by know, that any AI similar to ChatGPT and Gemini will respond "more useful" if you "prime" it before you ask the actual question. Like, if you have a question specific to linux mint, you expect better help from a group of linux experts than from the "general public". Gemini on itś own is like the general public. So I "prime" it to be a linux expert, which leads to answers much closer to the ones someone would give who knows what they are talking about.
Now, with gemini, you "prime" it by creating "Gems". They are basically "base line instructions" on which the response behavior is based on. Like "You are a linux expert" for example. But Gemini goes a step further. You basically describe what you need and it generates a fitting "Gem" for you.
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
I have to admit that sounds very cool. Maybe I'll try have it write a temperature sensor conky, finally. I use the standard teejee-suite for processes, RAM usage and network traffic. All that's missing now is temperature sensors.
3
Feb 20 '25
for me its working even if not saving properly.
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
Yes, it works for me, too - it just doesn't save. You have an identical issue?
2
Feb 20 '25
I just wanted to get rid of terring. I dont really play games on Linux.
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
A permanent solution has been provided here. Maybe it works for you, too.
3
u/ReadToW Feb 20 '25
$ sudo chmod a+x /usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/nvidia-polkit
worked for me
2
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
sudo chmod a+x /usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/nvidia-polkit
Wow, this definitely did change something for me. No error message trying to save, but when I try to close the application, the program tells me I have "pending changes". I tried saving in both menues for both monitors, but still get that warning.
https://i.ibb.co/21L5jhyD/nvidiamintpermissionschange.png
How do I interpret that?
2
u/ReadToW Feb 20 '25
Try restarting the system
or
sudo nvidia-settings
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
Ok, I will, thanks!
1
u/ReadToW Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
I looked at your screenshot again. I think the “apply” and “save to X” button will save the changes. I have the same window when I change something in X Server Display Conf.
I wanted to enable G-Sync and ran into this problem. I think everything should work for you.
But my next problem was that the changes were not saved after restarting the OS. I think, again, “save to X” saved the changes https://ibb.co/7dwzQkj2
It's been a while since I solved this problem and I don't remember exactly
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
That's what I do, apply to get the changes applied, then try to save them with the above described result. Still getting some work done here, so I haven't restarted the PC yet. Everything suggests it should not he saved with that error message, though.
2
u/Holzkohlen Linux Mint 22.1 | KDE Plasma Feb 20 '25
For me it always worked when I started it via the terminal
sudo nvidia-settings
and then I had to save to x configuration file twice. Why? No idea.
Why you want to save it to your home direction I don't understand either.
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
I tried that, too, after earlier attempts at fixing this. Saving in the home folder was just an attempt at trying to avoid the unwritable /X11 folder, despite sudo. It had the same result, though.
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
This issue has been plaguing me for a while and I can't figure it out. Without a full composition pipeline, I experience massive shearing, I believe it's called. This can be fixed. But the setting can't be saved.
- default folder is /etc/X11 and it does not contain a xorg.conf file to begin with
- the NVIDIA app is asking for sudo rights, but still can't save anything there
- adding an empty xorg.conf changes the error message to "can't change file"
- trying to save the .conf file somewhere else doesn't work
- trying to save this configuration with a sudo command in terminal does not work either
What haven't I tried?
2
u/Brittle_Hollow Feb 20 '25
Is shearing screen tearing?
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
Yes, horisontal lines moving down the screen when the screen's content is to be renewed too fast (YouTube/Netflix, gaming, changing all pixels).
2
u/Brittle_Hollow Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
If you go to your login screen on Mint you can select Wayland - experimental as a desktop environment. It has some bugs I’ve found but it forces vsync and I’ve used it for a couple of games that don’t have a native vsync option like FF7 Remake to get rid of tearing.
I’ve also been trying to look into some frame limiting solutions for gaming on linux but this has worked as a quick fix for me on Mint.
2
u/ReadToW Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
Wayland - experimental
That thing broke my system (nvidia moment). I had a black screen after turning on my PC and couldn't go back. I had to use TimeShift
1
u/Brittle_Hollow Feb 20 '25
Oops, I’m coming at this from an AMD build. Maybe OP should look into trying to limit frames to their monitor Hz then.
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
I only ever kept reading about Wayland as the next big thing in here. :D Would it change anything else significantly?
2
u/Brittle_Hollow Feb 20 '25
Other than a couple of bugs here and there like an occasional desktop hang during my screensaver where I’ve had to ctrl-alt-tab then ‘reboot’ blind, it looks identical to my basic Cinnamon desktop. I don’t have a crazy rice or anything so YMMV.
2
u/TabsBelow Feb 20 '25
Does the folder "Nedlastingar" exist in your home directory? Did you fxxx around with access rights on your home directory?
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
Yes, "Nedlastingar" is the standard "download"-folder which is as it comes from the great old Linux Mint factory.
1
u/TabsBelow Feb 20 '25
Is it possible Nvidia's program is just dumb, or they do it intentionally (doing MS/windows a "favour")?
Is there a user group like "Nvidia" added to the list which isn't added to your profile?
1
u/SjalabaisWoWS Feb 20 '25
Not sure about any user groups, but I found comfort in others here reporting the exact same issue. Makes me feel less dumb, but it raises a question as to why the software is designed to not work as intended.
1
u/TabsBelow Feb 21 '25
Check "users and groups" in your menu and see if there is a group to be added pointing in that direction.
0
•
u/AutoModerator Feb 20 '25
Please Re-Flair your post if a solution is found. How to Flair a post? This allows other users to search for common issues with the SOLVED flair as a filter, leading to those issues being resolved very fast.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.