Nvidia HELL (no boot screen or GUI)

**Culito** · November 7th, 2012

So I had to do the whole

Code:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-current linux-headers-$(uname -r)

again after a kernel upgrade by the Update Manager.
Is there any way for this to happen automagically?

**BicyclerBoy** · November 7th, 2012

Install the meta-package that always points to the installed kernel matching package:
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic

The jockey install method should be triggering the headers package update & building nvidia kernel interface & loading by dkms.

I suspect your problems are caused by the jockey install not working & this is a consequence of having used the nvidia installer script.
The nvidia install script does have an "un-install" option.

**Yougo** · November 7th, 2012

I ran into this problem aswell, and did

Code:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic
sudo apt-get install --reinstall nvidia-expirimental-304

i understand that the second command wasn't necessary?

i also thought i had installed linux-headers-generic before, but am not sure, i might have installed the specific kernel headers back then. meh. no way to check now.

so, to be clear:
with linux-headers-generic installed, i will not run into this again at next kernel update?

---------------
a tip for those running into this empty desktop stuff:

-if you have another DE or shell installed, and Lightdm/gdm/else loads into and odd resolution, load into a non-unity session, like gnome classic or xfce
-when you do load a not-working-unity session, pressing CTRL+ALT+T should give you a terminal, in which you could type

Code:

sudo apt-get install gnome-panel
gnome-panel

to get some gui even if it's just for logging out, or press CTRL+ALT+F1(to 6) to get to a VT and do your fixing from there

**Culito** · November 8th, 2012

Good to know.
On my last install, I had a choice on which GUI (unity, unity2d, etc) now those choices aren't there. Do I have to install those separately?

**Yougo** · November 8th, 2012

Unity now only has 3d mode, with some special addition that sends the rendering through your CPU if your graphics card isn't up for the task. how well that works is up for debate.

unity 2d is not available anymore.

if you want a 2d experience, i do believe Gnome Shell has it's fallback mode

Code:

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

the fallback mode is selectable at login (gnome classic), and loads if gnome-shell detects low graphics. the fallback mode will be gone at some point in the (near?) future, so for a long term solution, you might want to look at something else.
another option is to install another DE like lubuntu/lxde or xubuntu/xfce

Code:

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop
or
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

and finally, you could resort to DE's from other distro's like Mate, Cinnamon, etc, but that requires adding repo's or even switching distro's

**Culito** · December 8th, 2012

Well, I'm back after more battling with nvidia drivers. My computer came off of screen saver, only to randomly reset to 640x480.

I followed all the directions that worked before, to no avail.

jockey-text -l lists nvidia_current enabled, but not in use. (I'm aware that this may be incorrect. Xorg.conf lists "nvidia" as the display driver.)
I also tried re-installing nvidia-common.
The Displays dialog only lists 640x480 as an option, and the nvidia-xconfig doesn't list any options either.
The unity launcher still works, it's just huge...
I'm wondering if I just have some failing hardware here.