12.04, UEFI and NVIDIA cards

[iissmart]

I'm trying to install 12.04 Desktop x64 on a new HTPC - Intel DH77DF board with an NVIDIA GT430 - but I keep getting a black screen. I've narrowed down the working scenarios to this:

1) Boot to CD using UEFI mode with the NVIDIA card removed and using Intel's integrated graphics - works
2) Boot to CD using BIOS mode with the NVIDIA card connected and Intel's integrated graphics disabled - works

Ideally I'd like to boot using UEFI *and* the NVIDIA card. Any tips?

[msammels]

What hardware are you installing this on? A desktop, or a Mac Pro?

[iissmart]

It's a desktop - Intel DH77DF board with an NVIDIA GT430

[msammels]

Right. The only reason I ask is that there are graphic issues on MacBook Airs (4,2), and they all use UEFI. I'll scour and see if I can find the link for the tutorial. It might help you, but I can't guarantee it, since you're not on Apple hardware.

[oldfred]

I have older nVidia and BIOS and have had to use nomodeset to boot installer and first boot after install. Then Ubuntu suggests to install the proprietary driver and it just works.

I do not think it should be different with UEFI, but I do not know how you add the nomodeset parameter with UEFI.

I actually add nomodeset to the command line in the USB installer, but boot ISO directly and edit grub.

How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

USB will have two sets of boot files, one is the old BIOS and the other the new UEFI. With UEFI not sure what you may have to edit.
If booting from USB it just may be easier to edit syslinux with whatever boot parameters you need like this but using nomodeset:
Ubuntu 12.04 has been officially released and, with minor adjustments, the intel gma500 video card is working out of the box.
http://blog.bodhizazen.net/linux/ubuntu-12-04-gma500-poulsbo-boot-options/ (http://blog.bodhizazen.net/)
simply edit “syslinux.cfg”