OK, so I had Ubuntu 18.04 LTS working well (kernel 4.18.0-25) with nvidia drivers 340.
Then something took it into its head to push out kernel 5.0.0-21 (unclear why, it wasn't me i.e. it wasn't something that I specifically installed).
That's a problem because nvidia 340 does not seem to be compatible with that kernel. During install it fails with something like
Building for 5.0.0-21
ERROR (dkms apport) kernel package linux-headers-5.0.0-21-generic is not supported
Kernel 5.0.0-21 (by then the default) then fails to be usable. The early boot is OK but the computer then goes into la la land once it tries to start using graphics i.e. GUI never comes up. Just black screen with 'cursor' in top left.
By using GRUB I can select the previous kernel and that still works well.
From that I tried to install nvidia drivers 430. That installed OK without error (i.e. looks like it's compatible with 5.0.0-21) but doesn't actually work - in the sense that the computer comes up in VGA mode (640x480) i.e. clearly something still wrong. That is good enough access to the computer in order to wipe out '430' and go back to '340' (the network comes up OK too) - and I get back to square 1. Obviously this access is extremely tedious, some applications don't work at all (too wide or too deep or both), others work but not well i.e. it all makes it difficult to debug what is going wrong.
In Ubuntu 16.04 LTS there was a GUI application to manage (nvidia) drivers i.e. show what is installed, which is being used, what is recommended. I can't find that any more in 18.04 LTS. Hints?
Laptop is bonp5. (That's a 1920x1080 screen i.e. nothing too demanding. It's a bit old but I would like to get some more years from it if I can.) I often have an external monitor - 1920x1080 - plugged in, and ideally would use that instead of the built-in display when it is connected.
I think that kernel 5.0.0 is what comes with Ubuntu 19.04 (Disco Dingo). So it looks as if there is some pain in my future when I upgrade from 18.04 to 19.04.
What versions of nvidia drivers actually work at all? What versions of nvidia drivers work with Disco Dingo?
If the answer to either question is 'none', what open source drivers work well enough to a) boot, and b) avoid the dreaded VGA mode.
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