NVIDIA: Failed to load the NVIDIA kernel module

[ncpokrt]

I spent quite a lot of time jumping from one thread to another trying to fix a problem with my NVIDIA drivers in Lucid. I was getting the error message on startup: NVIDIA: Failed to load the NVIDIA kernel module ...Failed to load module "nvidia" (module-specific error, 0) No drivers available".

After a lot of trial and error, this is what worked for me (I have updated this thread following http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1467074):

- Download the latest NVIDIA driver from www.nvidia.com/page/drivers.html

- In the terminal cd to the directory where you downloaded the driver package (e.g., $ cd Downloads)and make it executable (e.g., $ sudo chmod +x ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.53.run)

- Edit blacklist.conf
$ gksu gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
and add the following lines to the end of the file:

#recommended by http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1467074
blacklist vga16fb
blacklist nouveau
blacklist rivafb
blacklist nvidiafb
blacklist nvatv

Then save and quit

In the terminal
$ sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-*
$ sudo reboot

When you restart you will get an error message. Choose console login from the menu.
- cd to the directory where the driver is located and
- Run the driver installer
e.g., $ sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.53.run

Note: When I ran this I got an error message "Unable to find kernel source tree", so I ran:
$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers -`uname -r'
(for which I am grateful to hdog at this thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=843914) and then reran the installer.

- Start X
$ sudo service gdm start

I hope I remembered all of the steps correctly. Corrections are welcome.

[lecneri]

hi,

your post didnt worked for me. The solution I've found that worked out was in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1467074

[ncpokrt]

Thank you for posting that. I wish I had found that thread before I went through my ordeal. Just to document my problem for others who might have a similar one...

I thought I solved my problem with the solution that I originally posted. I was able to use Blender for hours without a crash and it was fast. The problem came when I went on the internet. The system would freeze completely. I had to shut down the computer power and restart. I thought it was a problem with Chrome so I switched to Firefox. Same thing. I had to shut down the power.

I went back to this thread (using another computer) and I followed the instructions in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1467074. Now Blender is working and I am on the internet!!

I have updated my original post with the better procedure.