(Need help) NVIDIA drivers >177

**TheDesertDragon** · April 13th, 2009

Heya folks!

I've been here once before, and despite the many issues I've had with Ubuntu (most of them being down to my own stupidity) I still prefer it to Windows. I got graphics to work, I got sound to work (God, it was pain. I don't even remember what I did. X-Fi user here) and I have managed to set up my system in such a way that I can never go back to Windows again.

Anyway, I'm having trouble again, and this time it's the NVIDIA display drivers (and Wine merging the wheel tilts to the side buttons on the mouse but I'll save that for another time).

Basically, installing any driver version above >177 will cause the X-server to not work and it will need to boot on tty9 in some special safe-mode that disables desktop effects. The error returned is long and confusing, but it's written in English and it basically says, that the driver is just missing. It's just gone.

Installing an older driver says the driver is there, but the X-server won't detect it and the NVIDIA X-server configuration tool is not seeing the driver either. I cannot enable any other drivers through the hardware configuration interface and overall I ... just can't do anything, really. I can downgrade to version and that seems to work, but I have heard of nearly double performance going from 177 to 185 (if not even more than that) so I am rather interested in upgrading.

I am using Ubuntu 8.10 with all the latest updates installed from the update manager. The graphics card is NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB from Inno3D and the mainboard is ASUS P5K (if it's of any relevance)

I am a rather decent Windows programmer, but I am a total nub at Linux, so I'd appreciate responses not being *too* Linux-technical.

Thanks for reading and (hopefully) helping.

EDIT: Just tried again using some new instructions. Still no luck. Got this stuff out of the fires:
:0.log

5693 5415
xinit /etc/gdm/failsafeXinit /etc/X11/xorg.conf.failsafe with-gdm -- /usr/bin/X :0 -auth /var/lib/gdm/:0.Xauth -nolisten tcp vt7 -br -once -config /etc/X11/xorg.conf.failsafe -logfile /var/log/Xorg.failsafe.log

X: warning; process set to priority -1 instead of requested priority 0

X.Org X Server 1.5.2
Release Date: 10 October 2008
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-19-server i686 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux christian-linux 2.6.27-11-generic #1 SMP Wed Apr 1 20:57:48 UTC 2009 i686
Build Date: 09 March 2009 10:48:54AM
xorg-server 2:1.5.2-2ubuntu3.1 (buildd@rothera.buildd)
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(++) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.failsafe.log", Time: Mon Apr 13 17:28:14 2009
(++) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.failsafe"
error setting MTRR (base = 0xf5000000, size = 0x00e00000, type = 1) Invalid argument (22)
(EE) Failed to initialize GLX extension (Compatible NVIDIA X driver not found)
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:
> Warning: Type "ONE_LEVEL" has 1 levels, but <RALT> has 2 symbols
> Ignoring extra symbols
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:
> Warning: Type "ONE_LEVEL" has 1 levels, but <RALT> has 2 symbols
> Ignoring extra symbols
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:
> Warning: Type "ONE_LEVEL" has 1 levels, but <RALT> has 2 symbols
> Ignoring extra symbols
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server
(EE) PreInit returned NULL for "Logitech Logitech RumblePad 2 USB"
(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed
5693 5415

Xorg.0.log

X.Org X Server 1.5.2
Release Date: 10 October 2008
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-19-server i686 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux christian-linux 2.6.27-11-generic #1 SMP Wed Apr 1 20:57:48 UTC 2009 i686
Build Date: 09 March 2009 10:48:54AM
xorg-server 2:1.5.2-2ubuntu3.1 (buildd@rothera.buildd)
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Apr 13 17:28:12 2009
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) ServerLayout "Layout0"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
(**) | |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
(**) | |-->Device "Device0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
(==) Automatically adding devices
(==) Automatically enabling devices
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
(II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
(II) Loader magic: 0x81d9a40
(II) Module ABI versions:
X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
X.Org Video Driver: 4.1
X.Org XInput driver : 2.1
X.Org Server Extension : 1.1
X.Org Font Renderer : 0.6
(II) Loader running on linux
(++) using VT number 7

(--) PCI:*(0@1:0:0) nVidia Corporation GeForce 8800 GT rev 162, Mem @ 0xf6000000/0, 0xd0000000/0, 0xf4000000/0, I/O @ 0x0000cc00/0, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072
(II) System resource ranges:
[0] -1 0 0xffffffff - 0xffffffff (0x1) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[2] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[5] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x00000000 (0x1) IX[B]
(II) "extmod" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "dbe" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "glx" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "freetype" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "record" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri" will be loaded by default.
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdbe.so
(II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 1.1
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libextmod.so
(II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 1.1
(II) Loading extension SHAPE
(II) Loading extension MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
(II) Loading extension BIG-REQUESTS
(II) Loading extension SYNC
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XC-MISC
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-Misc
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension TOG-CUP
(II) Loading extension Extended-Visual-Information
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) Loading extension X-Resource
(II) LoadModule: "type1"

(WW) Warning, couldn't open module type1
(II) UnloadModule: "type1"
(EE) Failed to load module "type1" (module does not exist, 0)
(II) LoadModule: "freetype"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//fonts/libfreetype.so
(II) Module freetype: vendor="X.Org Foundation & the After X-TT Project"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 2.1.0
Module class: X.Org Font Renderer
ABI class: X.Org Font Renderer, version 0.6
(II) Loading font FreeType
(II) LoadModule: "glx"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libglx.so
(II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
(II) NVIDIA GLX Module 185.19 Fri Apr 3 12:55:43 PST 2009
(II) Loading extension GLX
(II) LoadModule: "record"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//librecord.so
(II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 1.13.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 1.1
(II) Loading extension RECORD
(II) LoadModule: "dri"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdri.so
(II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 1.1
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
(II) LoadModule: "nvidia"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so
(II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Video Driver
(II) LoadModule: "kbd"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input//kbd_drv.so
(II) Module kbd: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.4.99.905, module version = 1.3.1
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 2.1
(II) LoadModule: "mouse"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input//mouse_drv.so
(II) Module mouse: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.4.99.905, module version = 1.3.0
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 2.1
(II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 185.19 Fri Apr 3 12:30:48 PST 2009
(II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 01@00:00:0
(II) Loading sub module "fb"
(II) LoadModule: "fb"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//libfb.so
(II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
(II) Loading sub module "wfb"
(II) LoadModule: "wfb"

(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//libwfb.so
(II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.5.2, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
(II) Loading sub module "ramdac"
(II) LoadModule: "ramdac"
(II) Module "ramdac" already built-in
(II) resource ranges after probing:
[0] -1 0 0xffffffff - 0xffffffff (0x1) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[2] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[5] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x00000000 (0x1) IX[B]
(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(II) NVIDIA(0): enabled.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module. Please see the
(EE) NVIDIA(0): system's kernel log for additional error messages and
(EE) NVIDIA(0): consult the NVIDIA README for details.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(II) UnloadModule: "wfb"
(II) UnloadModule: "fb"
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

**sdennie** · April 13th, 2009

Ubuntu does some odd things with the nvidia driver and if you try to install an external driver, it won't work unless you uninstall what Ubuntu is using. There are many guides available for doing this. It's very easy to do this. Google will give you more but, this one looks good: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=5086971

**TheDesertDragon** · April 13th, 2009

I see. I'll try that. Thanks!

EDIT: It didn't work. It looks exactly the same as before.

Well, it's worse. Before I just had low graphics settings. Now I have low graphics settings with the upper 1/10 of the screen displaying random colors and a screen cut over at about 2/5th's in. (Moving the cursor to the end of the screen makes it appear on the other side, and the mouse stops at the middle of the screen from both sides. Bad screen wrap)

Consider it a wonder I could even reach the Firefox icon! xD

EDIT2: Going into the System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers menu still reveals 3 drivers, even after using

sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia*
sudo rm /lib/restricted-modules/.nvidia* (<--- Actually, I already did this beforehand with the Synaptics package handler)

EDIT3: (God, this is getting old) However, going in there while the desktop is bugged reveals that there are no propriety drivers present on the system.

Wut?

**TheDesertDragon** · April 13th, 2009

Bump

**sdennie** · April 13th, 2009

Based on your log, the problem is still exactly what I'm describing. You've either not built the drivers correctly or you've built them and they are being overridden by Ubuntu default drivers.

**TheDesertDragon** · April 13th, 2009

Originally Posted by sdennie

Based on your log, the problem is still exactly what I'm describing. You've either not built the drivers correctly or you've built them and they are being overridden by Ubuntu default drivers.

Your explanation sounds absolutely reasonable and plausable. It just still won't work... :/ I'm going to try downloading the 180.44 and try those instead of 185.19 but I doubt it'll be any different.