HOWTO: Latest NVIDIA drivers on Ubuntu Breezy

[tseliot]

NOTE: this guide works ONLY on Ubuntu BREEZY 5.10

Here is the guide which will guide you through the installation of the Nvidia Driver:
http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Latest_Nvidia_Breezy

If, after installing the driver, you would like to squeeze every drop of power from your card you might want to enable AGP FastWrites and Side Band Addressing (WARNING: it's potentially unstable):
HOWTO: Nvidia Driver AGP FastWrites and Side Band Addressing[/b]

DAPPER USERS, please use this guide:
HOWTO: Latest Nvidia Drivers- Testers needed

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Script to make Method 2 faster

NOTE: this can be dangerous and buggy

NOTE: my scripts REMOVE your RESTRICTED MODULES. Therefore if you need the restricted modules for a hardware device of yours (e.g. for your wireless card) DO NOT use my scripts.

This script will download the Nvidia installer (and all the files the installer needs) and set the driver for you.

Get to the following website:
http://www.albertomilone.eu/europeo/..._scripts1.html

And follow the instructions you will find there.

[angrykeyboarder]

Originally Posted by tseliot [This guide has been adapted to work on Ubuntu Breezy (I had written one for Ubuntu Hoary). I've done only few changes in order to make it work on Breezy.] If you want to install Nvidia driver with the nvidia installer (I've tried v.7667) and you use a kernel from Ubuntu Breezy or you compiled it from Breezy sources (or kernel.org sources), then just try this HOWTO......

I don't get it. Why would I want to go to all this trouble? There are Ubuntu nVidia packages in the repository. apt-get does the trick...

[tseliot]

Originally Posted by angrykeyboarder I don't get it. Why would I want to go to all this trouble? There are Ubuntu nVidia packages in the repository. apt-get does the trick...

If you need to install any version of the nvidia drivers (7174, or 7676 or older or newer) because of compatibility problems (e.g. if you have an old card - see the list of cards which are not supported by 7667- you might want to use 7174) or because you just want to live at the bleeding edge, you have to use the nvidia installer.

[Shabba]

If you use an nvidia GeForce FX 5200 GPU then there's no need for the above!

Simply open terminal and follow this ...

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx
sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
sudo nvidia-glx-config-enable
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop

copy this into the file you just created

[Desktop Entry]
Name=NVIDIA Settings
Comment=Change various aspects of your NVIDIA Graphics
Exec=nvidia-settings
Icon=
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Applications;System;

(then select save)

Now, hold down Ctrl+Alt+F1 and type in your username +password

Type the following

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

Scroll down to the label "Modules" then comment out using # the following lines

Load "Dri"
Load "GLcore"

(if either or neither can be found then don't worry)

Scroll down and find the section called "Device". Make sure Driver="nvidia" and not Driver="nv"

Directly after you see the line BusID "PCI;1:0:0" add the following

Option "RenderAccel" "On"
Option "IgnoreDisplayDevices" "DFP,TV"
Option "NoRenderExtension" "On"
Option "Accel" "On"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "Off"

Press down Ctrl+o then press the enter key
Press down Ctrl+X

type..

sudo reboot

This method will of course render your tv out useless but in the 12 months i've owned the card, i've never had the need to use it!

Try it with all NVidia cards so that tseliot can add the results to his post

[tseliot]

Originally Posted by Shabba If you use an nvidia GeForce FX 5200 GPU then there's no need for the above! Simply open terminal and follow this ... sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.cong /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup sudo nvidia-glx-config-enable sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop copy this into the file you just created [Desktop Entry] Name=NVIDIA Settings Comment=Change various aspects of your NVIDIA Graphics Exec=nvidia-settings Icon= Terminal=false Type=Application Categories=Applications;System; (then select save) Now, hold down Ctrl+Alt+F1 and type in your username +password Type the following sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf Scroll down to the label "Modules" then comment out using # the following lines Load "Dri" Load "GLcore" (if either on neither can be found then don't worry) Scroll down and find the section called "Device". Make sure Driver="nvidia" and not Driver="nv" Directly after you see the line BusID "PCI;1:0:0" add the following Option "RenderAccel" "On" Option "IgnoreDisplayDevices" "DFP,TV" Option "NoRenderExtension" "On" Option "Accel" "On" Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "Off" Press down Ctrl+o then press the enter key Press down Ctrl+X type.. sudo reboot This method will of course render your tv out useless but in the 12 months i've owned the card, i've never had the need to use it! Try it with all NVidia cards so that tseliot can add the results to his post

It depends on your card. Most cards should work with the method described in Hoary Starter guide (which also works in Breezy) but if it doesn't then you (all the users) might try my guide.

[Shabba]

I can assure users that the instructions in my post will work (after trying your faq without much success, open gl screensavers and the game billard-gl work 100%) if they are using the same graphics card.

A simple tweaking of the NVidia settings is much more favourable than compiling the kernel.

[tseliot]

Originally Posted by Shabba I can assure users that the instructions in my post will work (after trying your faq without much success, open gl screensavers and the game billard-gl work 100%) if they are using the same graphics card. A simple tweaking of the NVidia settings is much more favourable than compiling the kernel.

I meant no offense, I've never said that your method doesn't work. I mean that you can't give a universal solution to these kind of problems. I invite you to have a look at all the 35 pages in the thread of my previous guide. The users who posted there had different problems that needed different solutions (and I admit that I can't understand why).

I thank you for posting your method and I'm sure it is very useful (expecially your xorg.conf) to many users. However the purpose of my guide was to help also people using different (manually compiled) kernels (etc.) which for example don't have the restricted modules (which are available for Ubuntu kernels) which are required in order to follow your method (and the Starter's guide one).

[BLTicklemonster]

Originally Posted by Shabba If you use an nvidia GeForce FX 5200 GPU then there's no need for the above! Simply open terminal and follow this ... sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup sudo nvidia-glx-config-enable sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop copy this into the file you just created [Desktop Entry] Name=NVIDIA Settings Comment=Change various aspects of your NVIDIA Graphics Exec=nvidia-settings Icon= Terminal=false Type=Application Categories=Applications;System; (then select save) Now, hold down Ctrl+Alt+F1 and type in your username +password Type the following sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf Scroll down to the label "Modules" then comment out using # the following lines Load "Dri" Load "GLcore" (if either or neither can be found then don't worry) Scroll down and find the section called "Device". Make sure Driver="nvidia" and not Driver="nv" Directly after you see the line BusID "PCI;1:0:0" add the following Option "RenderAccel" "On" Option "IgnoreDisplayDevices" "DFP,TV" Option "NoRenderExtension" "On" Option "Accel" "On" Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "Off" Press down Ctrl+o then press the enter key Press down Ctrl+X type.. sudo reboot This method will of course render your tv out useless but in the 12 months i've owned the card, i've never had the need to use it! Try it with all NVidia cards so that tseliot can add the results to his post

Woot woot, that's my card! Thanks

[kidcharles]

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

I did this after hitting Ctrl-Alt-F1 and logging in, but when I try to run the installer it still says that X is running. If I do "ps -e" I can see the xorg process still running. How can I completely stop X? I even killed the xorg process, it just dutifully starts up again automatically.

[PiIsExactly3]

I am getting errors starting X server out of nowhere all of a sudden. I had already installed the NVIDIA drivers per your guide, and modified my xorg.conf so I could do 75Hz refresh rates, then bam! I reboot today and now X server won't start unless I revert back to the backup of my original xorg.conf after my install of Ubuntu. At first I thought it was a problem with my refresh rate settings and made a post here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=75582

However, after trying their suggestions, none of that worked so I decided to start putting everything back together from my original xorg.conf. However, now if I even just make the modifications that are in tseliot's guide from here on:

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:

X server fails after that now and will only run on the original xorg.conf. Here is my original:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following commands:
#
#   cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.custom
#   sudo sh -c 'md5sum /etc/X11/xorg.conf >/var/lib/xfree86/xorg.conf.md5sum'
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/CID"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        # paths to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load	"GLcore"
	Load	"i2c"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"NVIDIA Corporation NV40 [GeForce 6800 GT]"
	Driver		"nv"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Generic Monitor"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	28-96
	VertRefresh	43-60
	Modeline	"1280x800@60" 83.91 1280 1312 1624 1656 800 816 824 841
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"NVIDIA Corporation NV40 [GeForce 6800 GT]"
	Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

Even just making these changes makes it fail:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following commands:
#
#   cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.custom
#   sudo sh -c 'md5sum /etc/X11/xorg.conf >/var/lib/xfree86/xorg.conf.md5sum'
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/CID"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        # paths to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	#Load	"GLcore"
	Load	"i2c"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"ddc"
	#Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"NVIDIA Corporation NV40 [GeForce 6800 GT]"
	Driver		"nvidia"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Generic Monitor"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	28-96
	VertRefresh	43-60
	Modeline	"1280x800@60" 83.91 1280 1312 1624 1656 800 816 824 841
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"NVIDIA Corporation NV40 [GeForce 6800 GT]"
	Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1920x1440" "1920x1200" "1856x1392" "1792x1344" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x854" "1280x800" "1280x768" "1200x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

I am completely stumped.