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Thread: I need nVidia driver update help please.

  1. #1
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    Question I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Hi all,


    I have some questions about updating my nVidia driver.

    1) Do I need to uninstall the current video driver and related files before installing a new one?

    Files currently installed from the Ubuntu repository:

    nvidia-glx-new | version: 169.12+2.6.24.18-25.2
    nvidia-kernel-common | version: 200511028+ubuntu8
    nvidia-new-kernel-source | version: 169.12+2.6.24.18-25.2
    nvidia-settings | version: 1.0+20080304-0ubuntu.1

    2) Should I install only from an Ubuntu repository, or is the nVidia download site driver just as safe/compatible for Ubuntu distro's?

    Current video card and driver:

    GRAPHIC CARD
    VGA controller
    nVidia Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
    Subsystem: Chaintech Computer Co. Ltd Unknown device 1942

    NVIDIA GRAPHIC CARD INFORMATION
    Model name: GeForce FX 5200
    Card Type: AGP 8x
    Video RAM: 256 MB
    GPU Frequency: 250 MHz
    Driver version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module 169.12 Thu Feb 14 17:53:07 PST 2008 (from Ubuntu restricted repository)

    ---------
    lspci -v Output relative to my video card.

    01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
    Subsystem: Chaintech Computer Co. Ltd Unknown device 1942
    Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 248, IRQ 21
    Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
    Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
    [virtual] Expansion ROM at f1000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
    Capabilities: <access denied>

    3) Should I use the recommended driver from nVidia?

    Recommended driver from nVidia's site:

    Version: 173.14.20
    Release Date: 2009.07.01
    Operating System: Linux
    Language: English (U.S.)
    File Size: 19.20 MB

    4) Or should I add this repository to my sources list in Synaptic and use the driver from there?

    Ubuntu nVidia driver repository:

    http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/poo...s-drivers-173/

    5) What if any difference is there between the nVidia download site driver(s) and the driver(s) in the Ubuntu repositories?

    6) If I use the driver from nVidia's download site will it break after a new kernel update?

    7) Will the driver from the repository be automatically updated via Synaptic as new higher version recommended drivers are added to the repository?

    If someone can answer my questions and offer any advice about this I'd be very grateful.


    Thank you,
    Visible Spirit
    Attached Files Attached Files
    "Not everything that can be counted counts, ... and not everything that counts can be counted."
    1879 ~Albert Einstein~ 1955

    Ubuntu user #23155 ______________ Linux user #475466

  2. #2
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    Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    I always use the NVIDIA driver from the site. Sometimes with certain kernel updates you have to reinstall it, but it is fairly easy.

    It seems like the drivers in Synaptic are a few releases behind.

    It is always better to use the latest drivers, unless they are beta or pre-release.

    To install new NVIDIA drivers:

    CTRL+ALT+F1

    login and password

    Code:
    sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
    cd Desktop (or wherever you downloaded the driver package to)

    Code:
    sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.42-pkg2.run
    ...of course you would put the name of the driver after the sudo sh command...

    Select yes on the install questions, also installing the 32 bit set. After you click thru and have the nvidia installer update x, at command line type:

    Code:
    sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
    You should return to the login screen.

  3. #3
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    Question Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Hi AmbientOcclusion,


    Thanks very much for your reply. Short and to the point. But I'm still left with a couple questions not answered that concern me. Redundancy is a MS-Windows trait I want to avoid here if possible, although on a MS-Windows system it is required to remove old video-card hardware drivers prior to installing new ones. Unlearning MS-Windows brainwashing doesn't happen over night, and so I ask these questions to better understand Linux systems in general. Some things Linux I understand very well, others I'm still learning. I suppose there isn't one person alone that has all the answers, but together we learn and that's what makes the Linux community unique to others IMO. Anyway, here we go....

    I'm assuming there's no difference between nVidia's website dwnldd driver file(s) vs the driver file(s) on the repository, other than the repository versions are generally behind a version or more-(which I've noticed quite often on many counts, not just video drivers)? In other words, do the maintainers of Ubuntu's video-card drivers tweak them in any way specific to Ubuntu's various flavors?

    Another question not clear for me is whether or not the old/previous driver(s) should be removed first, or is this accomplished when the new driver(s) are installed?

    Should I keep the old driver as backup in case the new one doesn't perform properly, and if so, how would I go about switching from one to the other if necessary?

    If the old driver(s) need to be removed first, then I'll need some guidance in the procedure(s) to do so please. I'm learning to use the terminal more and more little by little, but I'm no whiz when it comes to command-line operations, or more specifically, the bash code/syntax used to do so. All things come with practice... and help from good knowledgeable folks in doing so.

    Again, any help is much appreciated.


    Thanks,
    Visible Spirit
    "Not everything that can be counted counts, ... and not everything that counts can be counted."
    1879 ~Albert Einstein~ 1955

    Ubuntu user #23155 ______________ Linux user #475466

  4. #4
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    Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Hi.

    I have not had an issue with simply installing the new drivers.

    If you would like to switch, you can go to System >> Administration >> Hardware Drivers and if you want pick an older one. Which generally lists the recommended one from the repositories.

    If you would like to remove the installed driver here are the steps:


    Before removing, reset original and backup Xorg:
    Code:
    $ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.original
    $ sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
    Install package dependencies:
    Code:
    $ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
    Remove old driver:
    Code:
    $ sudo apt-get --purge remove $(dpkg -l | grep nvidia | awk '{print $2}')
    Getting Driver from command line (of course insert correct url to driver version you need the one I have is just an example and intentionally wrong.)
    Code:
    wget ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/NVIDIA-Linux-x86/123-45/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.42-pkg2.run -O NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.42-pkg2.run
    To install follow the directions from my previous post.


    To be on the safe side, you can reboot:
    Code:
    sudo reboot
    If for some reason during the driver install NVIDIA didn't configure X you could do this:
    Code:
    sudo nvidia-xconfig
    But I have yet to encounter this.
    Last edited by AmbientOcclusion; November 6th, 2009 at 07:59 PM.

  5. #5
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    Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    You may reference it as well:
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=990978

    I think the mention of mandatory removal is just a means to ensure no problems occur. But good advice.
    Last edited by AmbientOcclusion; November 6th, 2009 at 07:59 PM.

  6. #6
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    Smile Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Quote Originally Posted by AmbientOcclusion View Post
    You may reference it as well:
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=990978

    I think the mention of mandatory removal is just a means to ensure no problems occur. But good advice.

    Thank you so much for your help. I looked at the thread you linked and will tackle this later this evening or sometime over this coming weekend. I'm very busy with other things at the moment, but wanted you to know I greatly appreciate all your help here.

    I'll post my results when completed.

    Again, thanks!


    Regards,
    Visible Spirit
    "Not everything that can be counted counts, ... and not everything that counts can be counted."
    1879 ~Albert Einstein~ 1955

    Ubuntu user #23155 ______________ Linux user #475466

  7. #7
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    Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Okay good luck!

  8. #8
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    Question Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Well... I'm in the process of doing this now and ran into a problem. I hope I didn't screw things up. Please look at the terminal sessions posted below. Things don't look right to me and my big concerns are in session #2 where it says;

    "E: Couldn't find package linux-headers-uname -r"

    and.....

    "The following packages will be REMOVED:
    linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-24-rt*
    linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-25-rt* linux-restricted-modules-rt*
    linux-rt* nvidia-kernel-common* nvidia-new-kernel-source* nvidia-settings*
    0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 7 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
    After this operation, 104MB disk space will be freed.
    Do you want to continue [Y/n]? n
    Abort."

    The two kernels listed are the only two I have installed. This doesn't make sense to remove them on top of the fact that it didn't install the "build-essential linux-headers-'uname -r'" as well. Something just doesn't look/feel right here.

    Code:
    Terminal Session 1:
    -------------------
    
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-glx* nvidia-kernel-common nvidia-settings
    [sudo] password for XXXXXXXXXX: 
    Reading package lists... Done
    Building dependency tree       
    Reading state information... Done
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-legacy-envy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-dev-envy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-dev for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-new for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-new-envy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-src for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-new-dev-envy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-legacy-dev for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-new-dev for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-envy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-legacy-dev-envy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx-legacy for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    Note, selecting nvidia-glx for regex 'nvidia-glx*'
    E: Couldn't find package nvidia-glx*
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove
    Reading package lists... Done
    Building dependency tree       
    Reading state information... Done
    The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
      gcjwebplugin-4.2
    The following packages will be REMOVED:
      gcjwebplugin-4.2
    0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
    After this operation, 65.5kB disk space will be freed.
    Do you want to continue [Y/n]? Y
    (Reading database ... 264230 files and directories currently installed.)
    Removing gcjwebplugin-4.2 ...
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ exit
    
    *Note: autoremoved file via synaptic while purging repository version of nvidia video driver <sudu apt-get autoremove>: gcjwebplugin-4.2
    
    
    Terminal Session 2:
    ------------------
    
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.config etc/X11/xorg.config.original
    cp: cannot stat `/etc/X11/xorg.config': No such file or directory
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
    xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwriting possibly-customised configuration
       file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.20091111135547
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-'uname -r'
    Reading package lists... Done
    Building dependency tree       
    Reading state information... Done
    E: Couldn't find package linux-headers-uname -r
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get --purge remove $(dpkg -l | grep nvidia | awk '{print $2}')
    Reading package lists... Done
    Building dependency tree       
    Reading state information... Done
    Package nvidia-glx-new is not installed, so not removed
    The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
      dpatch
    Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
    The following packages will be REMOVED:
      linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-24-rt*
      linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-25-rt* linux-restricted-modules-rt*
      linux-rt* nvidia-kernel-common* nvidia-new-kernel-source* nvidia-settings*
    0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 7 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
    After this operation, 104MB disk space will be freed.
    Do you want to continue [Y/n]? n
    Abort.
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove
    Reading package lists... Done
    Building dependency tree       
    Reading state information... Done
    0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
    XXXXXXXXXX@ubuntu:~$ exit
    Initially I disabled the old nvidia video driver via '>System >Administration >Hardware Drivers', which removed it at that time. Session #1 was to make sure it was removed completely. At this time I'm running in the default mode of things relative to video. All's good relatively speaking, just no effects (i.e... no Avant Window Navigator, Compiz, etc.) which is to be expected at this point. Do I need to fix or reverse anything and/or start over? Any help/suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.


    Regards,
    Visible Spirit
    Last edited by Visible Spirit; November 11th, 2009 at 10:38 PM. Reason: Fixed typo and made additional comments.
    "Not everything that can be counted counts, ... and not everything that counts can be counted."
    1879 ~Albert Einstein~ 1955

    Ubuntu user #23155 ______________ Linux user #475466

  9. #9
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    Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    *Bump*


    Any help/suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated.


    Thanks,
    Visible Spirit
    "Not everything that can be counted counts, ... and not everything that counts can be counted."
    1879 ~Albert Einstein~ 1955

    Ubuntu user #23155 ______________ Linux user #475466

  10. #10
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    Question Re: I need nVidia driver update help please.

    Okay, I need this answered asap tonight please.

    I re-enabled my original video drvr right after the last "BUMP" posting above and all is/was well. Tonight I'm at this again, have followed AmbientOcclusion's instructions to-the-letter in his second posting illustrating how to remove the v169 nvidia driver, and have reached the same impasse/dilemma as before and need an answer asap from someone please.

    Here's where I'm at;
    Code:
    The following packages will be REMOVED:
      linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-24-rt*
      linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-25-rt*
      linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-26-rt* linux-restricted-modules-rt*
      linux-rt* nvidia-glx-new* nvidia-kernel-common* nvidia-new-kernel-
      source* nvidia-settings*
    0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 9 to remove and 0 not upgraded. After this operation, 169MB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
    ...and am confused about what to answer here. Y/n? I realize it says remove "restricted-modules", but I'm concerned whether or not this can/will harm my installed system-kernel(s)? This is my main box and I can't afford any screw ups or inability to re-boot after-the-fact.

    Someone knowledgeable about this process/stage of things please help with a quick response so I can resolve this dilemma. I'm writing this post on my laptop and have my desktop idling hoping for a quick response here asap.


    Thanks,
    Visible Spirit
    Last edited by Visible Spirit; December 21st, 2009 at 02:40 AM.
    "Not everything that can be counted counts, ... and not everything that counts can be counted."
    1879 ~Albert Einstein~ 1955

    Ubuntu user #23155 ______________ Linux user #475466

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