[HOWTO] Install NVIDIA drivers manually on Lynx

[Linuxforall]

Word to the wise: The Ubuntu X Updates PPA regularly adds new NVIDIA drivers within a couple days of their release.

https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/x-updates

Not really but for Lucid this has been an exception and lets hope it stays that way so we can all be happy and not have to resort to manual ways.

[go2arslan]

i was in the same situation as denali. after researching a little, this method let me install nvidia drivers. I hope it can help some of you


sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

blacklist vga16fb
blacklist nouveau
blacklist rivafb
blacklist nvidiafb
blacklist rivatv

(remember last space)

sudo gdm-stop
sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-*

RESTART

(after this ubuntu boots with some graphical errors like white lines and incorrect resolution)

sudo gdm-stop
sudo apt-get --purge remove xserver-xorg-video-nouveau

RESTART

(after this, ubuntu boots with no graphical errors BUT CANT GET INTO TERMINAL with gdm stopped so cant install nvidia drivers)

So heres the tricky part

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-framebuffer.conf

and you need to comment 'blacklist vesafb' and add 'blacklist vgafb16' (both without quotes)

sudo nano /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

and add 'fbcon' and 'vesafb' (dont forget last space)

sudo update-initramfs -u

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

search for 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=' and ADD (dont delete) vga=771 or 795 (according to your resolution)

sudo update-grub

RESTART

sudo gdm-stop

now can enter terminal and install NVIDIA drivers. and they will install without errors.

Thanks Buddy !!!

[anamtamrin]

go2arslan, please explain to me what this line means:

you need to comment 'blacklist vesafb'

I'm a beginner

thank you

[Linuxforall]

go2arslan, please explain to me what this line means:

you need to comment 'blacklist vesafb'

I'm a beginner

thank you

Hi,

Since you are a beginner, its better for you to install the driver via xswat ppa which has the latest driver there.

All you do is open a terminal and type sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates

sudo apt-get update

and then go to system>administration>hardware drivers and install nvidia-current.

[UrbenLegend]

Why did you use vesafb (instead of uvesafb)?
uvesafb supports more resolutions than vesafb - like 1280x800.

I realized a broken framebuffer after the update to Lucid Beta2.

So I have written a tutorial in the German ubuntuusers.de forum, how you install and use uvesafb and get plymouth (new boot screen) displayed at start up correctly.

The translation:

Add or replace in /etc/default/grub for 1280x1024 @ 32bit color range (replace with your favorite resolution)

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1280x1024x32
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="video=uvesafb:mode_option=1280x1024-32"

. Then run

update-grub

. In /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-framebuffer.conf you add the line

blacklist vga16fb

and add in /etc/initramfs-tools/modules the line

uvesafb

. Finally run

update-initramfs -u

.

In some cases you need to install the package v86d from the repository.

A fix for get plymouth before the X server starts:

sudo su
echo FRAMEBUFFER=y > /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash
update-initramfs -u
exit

Without that fix you see plymouth only a few seconds and at the longest time a black screen.

PS: All commands needs root privileges (sudo) and
don't forget to save the changes!
Use your favorite text editor: gedit, vim, nano etc.

The changes will be activated at the next boot.

I hope you understand translation.

PPS: I don't know how often the nvidia-current package will be updated, but I think a stable and tested driver is better then a new and 'not tested' driver.

Thanks for the tip! Seems to have fixed the offcenter splash screen issue that randomly appears at times with vga16fb.

Also if you're using video=uvesafb:mode_option=1280x1024-32, you do NOT need GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1280x1024x32

EDIT: You also don't need the uvesafb line in /etc/initramfs-tools/modules. You just need to install v86d.

EDIT2: It turns out you DO NEED GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1280x1024x32 only if you're not using the FRAMEBUFFER=y option.

[Philippo.co]

Thank you so much AndyBoy_LV and trespuntos!!

maybe this page would be useful for some people
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/vga-boo...en-resolution/

[AndyBoy_LV]

You are welcome, Philippo.co


A small update for those, who are having trouble installing the driver on the latest kernel:

If you get an error saying

Error: unable to find the kernel source tree for the currently running kernel. Please make sure you have installed the kernal source files for your kernel and that they are properly configured...

Than all that you should do is install the latest kernel headers (2.6.32-22 in my case)
Login into your newest kernel. Go to terminal and type

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

After installation finishes, proceed with the Nvidia driver installation as usual.
Good luck

[Philippo.co]

Thank you again.

I had remember some threads about installing nvidia video cards and I found these:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1125400 (previous way to install drvs)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=835573 (interesting one about how can auto-install drivers with any kernel update)

I tested last one and works fine.

See you

[AndyBoy_LV]

Thank you again.

I had remember some threads about installing nvidia video cards and I found these:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1125400 (previous way to install drvs)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=835573 (interesting one about how can auto-install drivers with any kernel update)

I tested last one and works fine.

See you

Wow, very useful one. Thank you! I`ll have to test it out on the next kernel update.

[coolcaseley67]

hi

I am still geting errors saying i can not open it !

any thoughts