"unresolved symbol" error message during kernel module install

This information applies to the ATI Proprietary Linux Driver.

The following error message may appear while trying to install the fglrx kernel module:

: unresolved symbol

This error (or similar) occurs when the kernel source code is not installed properly or does not match the currently installed kernel.

In some cases, the kernel source is the correct version, but the necessary dependencies are missing. In this case, it may be possible to workaround the error as follows (you must become root first):

1. cd /usr/src/linux

2. Copy your existing kernel options into the source tree as follows:
   cp /boot/config-`uname -r` /usr/src/linux/.config

3. Generate the kernel Makefiles using these settings as follows:
   make oldconfig

4. Generate dependencies as follows:

   • For kernel 2.4: make dep
   • For kernel 2.6: make

5. restart the system

6. rebuild and reinstall the kernel module

Note any errors that occur during this process. Also note the use of back quotes in step 2 for command substitution - these are not single quotes.

INFO-BASE#4481