HOWTO: Latest NVIDIA drivers

[tseliot]

If you want to install Nvidia driver with the nvidia installer (I've tried v.7667) and you use a kernel from Ubuntu Hoary or you compiled it from Hoary sources (or kernel.org sources), then just try this HOWTO.
If you have a kernel from Ubuntu Breezy then try this HOWTO:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=52924 OR just look at point 2 of the problems section of THIS guide.

Make sure you graphic card is not among the ones which are NOT SUPPORTED by looking at the list you will find in the NOTES SECTION *

You need 7676 version only if you have Geforce 7800, otherwise is useless (and it has some bugs). If you haven't got this graphic card PLEASE try 7667, it's more stable.

Download the installer from this page according to your architecture (32bit or 64bit)
http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html

Before you start you have to make sure the following things are installed (see points "a","b","c"). If not, you can install them following these steps:

Open either Terminal or Konsole and type:

uname -r (this will tell you the name and version of the kernel you are using)

Open either Synaptic or Kynaptic

a) press the "Search" button and put "header" in the search field

you will see a list of files, find "linux-headers-the name you got from uname -r"

for example if your kernel is "2.6.10-5-386", the headers will be "linux-headers-2.6.10-5-386"

click on the files and select "Mark for installation"

b) press the "Search" button and put "linux-source" in the search field

you will see a list of files, find "linux-source-the name you got from uname -r"

click on the file and select "Mark for installation"

c) press the "Search" button and put "build-essential" in the search field

click on the file and select "Mark for installation"


d) Press the "Apply" button.

You can close Synaptic (or Kynaptic) after it has finished installing the headers.


Ok, now let's begin:

1) uninstall nvidia-glx (if you don't have it just go to step 2)

2) remove the file manually:
sudo rm /etc/init.d/nvidia-glx

3) sudo apt-get install gcc (just in case)

ctl-alt-f1 (so as to get to the command line, not a windowed terminal, but out of the graphical interface GUI)

login with your username and password (if required)

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop (or "kdm stop" if you use KDE)

cd “directory where you have the nvidia installer”

If you have Ubuntu 64bit type: **
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7667-pkg2.run

Otherwise if you have Ubuntu 32 bit type:
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7667-pkg2.run

If you have Ubuntu 64bit you can't install OpenGL32bit compatibility libraries, so when the installer asks whether to install it just answer no OR you may want to try a workaround which Draugen found but which I haven't tried myself (look at the PROBLEMS SECTION at the end of the guide: point 5).

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
scroll the file down until you find the line with “Modules” and comment out (by putting a "#" before the line) the 2 lines I put in blue and add Load "glx". It should look like the example below:


Section "Module"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
#Load "dri"
#Load “GLcore”
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"

Then find the section Device and make sure the word I put in red is “nvidia”:

Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV40 [GeForce 6200 TurboCache]"
Driver "nvidia"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"


CTRL+O to save (yes, use the same name and overwrite the file)
CTRL+X to exit

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start (or "kdm start" if you use KDE)

Now you have installed the new nvidia driver.

If you want a "control panel" which shows the settings of your card you might want to install "Nvidia-settings" (this part of the guide has been taken from the Unofficial Ubuntu Starter Guide) although they driver works fine also without it (the choice it's up to you).

Open Terminal or Konsole and type

sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings

sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop (you can use "kate" instead of "gedit" in KDE)

Insert the following lines into the new file:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=NVIDIA Settings
Comment=NVIDIA Settings
Exec=nvidia-settings
Icon=
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;


Save the file and exit.

Restart your computer

You will be able to see "Nvidia settings" in the menu (the one from which you launch all the applications)

Enjoy!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES SECTION

* Below are the legacy GPUs that are no longer supported in the unified driver.
These GPUs will continue to be maintained through the special legacy NVIDIA
GPU driver releases.

NVIDIA chip name Device PCI ID
------------------------------- -------------------------------
RIVA TNT 0x0020
RIVA TNT2/TNT2 Pro 0x0028
RIVA TNT2 Ultra 0x0029
Vanta/Vanta LT 0x002C
RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro 0x002D
Aladdin TNT2 0x00A0
GeForce 256 0x0100
GeForce DDR 0x0101
Quadro 0x0103
GeForce2 GTS/GeForce2 Pro 0x0150
GeForce2 Ti 0x0151
GeForce2 Ultra 0x0152
Quadro2 Pro 0x0153
----------------------------------------------------------------


** the name of the installer may vary:
e.g. it could be NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7667-pkg1.run.

So just put the name of the installer you've downloaded from Nvidia website.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROBLEMS SECTION

1) If the installer reports that the “Framebuffer” kernel module conflicts with the drivers you will have to recompile your kernel and disable this function
Here's a HOWTO for kernel compilation for newbies
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthre...5&page=1&pp=10

2) If the installer complains in this way (this is an example of part of the error):
...
nvidia: version magic '2.6.10-5-386 preempt 386 gcc-3.4' should be
'2.6.10-5-386 preempt 386 gcc-3.3'
ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see the file
'/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details.
...

This means the installer tries to use gcc-3.4 instead of gcc-3.3(the right one).Type this before launching NVIDIA installer:

CC=gcc-3.3
export CC

The number of the version of gcc has to be the same as the 2nd one reported in the error by nvidia installer (i.e. the word I put in red instead of the one I put in blue)

then run nvidia installer again.

3) If the installer complains in this way:
...
ERROR: Unable to find the development tool `cc` in your path; please make sure
that you have the package 'gcc' installed. If gcc is installed on your
system, then please check that `cc` is in your PATH.

The user Reid has suggested this solution:

To find out where 'gcc' is located I did:
Code:

which gcc


which returned:
Code:

/usr/bin/gcc


then I made a symbolic link to gcc called cc so programs trying to use 'cc' would get gcc, with this code:
Code:

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/gcc /usr/bin/cc

Then try the installer again.

4) If you have an AGP graphic card and your system freezes but you can still move the mouse pointer you will have to do this:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Add the lines in red at this section of the file:

Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV40 [GeForce 6200 TurboCache]"
Driver "nvidia"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "NvAGP" "0"
Option "RenderAccel" "Off"
Option "IgnoreDisplayDevices" "DFP,TV"
Option "NoRenderExtension" "Off"
Option "Accel" "Off"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" “Off”

EndSection


This will either disable 3d acceleration or make it slower (sorry but I haven't got an AGP card so I haven't tried them myself)

If this doesn't work for you try asking at this Forum and you might be talking to some of the developers of the NVIDIA drivers (there's a Linux section) (it's very useful)
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=14

5) If you have Ubuntu 64bit you will have some problems when trying to install OpenGL32bit compatibility libraries, so yuomay want to try a workaround suggested by Draugen but which I haven't tried myself

type:

sudo mkdir /emul
sudo mkdir /emul/ia32-linux
sudo mkdir /emul/ia32-linux/usr

sudo ln -s /usr/lib32 /emul/ia32-linux/usr/lib


if /usr/lib32 does not exist, you need to do this

Type:

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs lib32gcc1 lib32stdc++6

without which the opengl compat libs probably won't be much use anyway

there are more 32bit libs as well. check synaptic.


Alberto

[cutOff]

Option "RenderAccel" "On"

It's not sure. At least for me.

Anyway thanks for the howto.

[tseliot]

You're right, thanks it was a mistake. Fixed.

[Kyral]

What if I'm in Breezy but I'm using the Hoary kernel?

[earobinson]

dident work for me got a kernel error

[tseliot]

Originally Posted by earobinson dident work for me got a kernel error

1) Have you installed the kernel headers of your current kernel?

2) Are you using Ubuntu Hoary or Breezy?

3) What's the output of the error (what does the installer say?)?

[tseliot]

Originally Posted by Kyral What if I'm in Breezy but I'm using the Hoary kernel?

Before running NVIDIA installer, type:

CC=gcc-3.4 (here you have to put the number of the gcc you used to compile your kernel, which is 3.4 in my case*)

export CC


When I wanted to compile the modules for a Breezy kernel in Hoary I had to use gcc 3.4. If you want to compile them for a Hoary kernel in Breezy you should use the gcc with which Hoary kernel are usually compiled.

I'm not sure if it is gcc 3.3 (try with this one first).

If this gcc doesn't work you should try different versions of gcc until you find the right one (and the module will compile).

Have a look at this:

Originally Posted by haddog This works great. Getting the corect version of gcc is the key. When you run the Nvidia installer, if it fails because of your version of gcc, it will tell you what version of gcc you need based on what your kernel is compiled with. Make sure to get gcc-X.X and not just gcc-X.X- base.

This was in my other thread about installing NVIDIA drivers with a Breezy kernel. That's how things work.

[donyfrosman]

When I wanted to compile the modules for a Breezy kernel in Hoary I had to use gcc 3.4. If you want to compile them for a Hoary kernel in Breezy you should use the gcc with which Hoary kernel are usually compiled.

How do we know which version that kernel are usually compiled

[izmaelis]

What are big improvements in this new nVidia driver if there are any? If there are no, why should any user bother installing/upgrading them?

[tseliot]

Originally Posted by izmaelis What are big improvements in this new nVidia driver if there are any? If there are no, why should any user bother installing/upgrading them?

Well, the main reason is COMPATIBILITY. Without driver 7664-7667 I could never have 3d acceleration or a screen without any corruption with my Geforce 6200 PCI-E. Latest Nvidia graphic cards might not work with Ubuntu's nvidia drivers. I don't play games under Linux (I have an Xbox for that) but: in my case "nv" drivers= screen corruption, nvidia drivers (the ones you can install following Ubuntu Starter Guide) =black screen, no Xorg. If you want to know about the changes in the latest release (7676 I think) you shoul go to nvidia forum, Linux section.