Can't get the video driver to install

**NCJason** · April 29th, 2008

I have just upgraded from 7.10 Server Edition to 8.04 Server Edition and have never gotten my nVidia 6100 video driver to install. I have tried suggestions that I found online with no luck. After the upgrade I tried to use Envy with no success and tried to follow the directions to use system>administration>Restricted Devices Manager but I don't have that listed.

I am stuck at 800x600 and would really like something bigger.

I welcome any and all suggestions.

Thanks!
Jason

**Zorael** · April 29th, 2008

Could you post the contents of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file?

**NCJason** · April 30th, 2008

I tried to follow the instructions from the sticky about installing nvidia drivers and got an error about having a Xen kernel and the nvidia drivers I downloaded from the site not working with that kernel. I am using the default kernel so I don't know why I got the error.

I have done something that has distorted my display and made the system unusable. I have 3 copies of the screen displayed side by side with lines in them making them unreadable. I guess that is what I get for trying to fix it on my own.

**NCJason** · May 2nd, 2008

OK, got the display reset so I can see everything again.

Here is the requested information:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Boardname "vesa"
Busid "PCI:0:5:0"
Driver "vesa"
Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Vendorname "Generic CRT Display"
Modelname "Monitor 1280x1024"
Horizsync 31.5-81.0
Vertrefresh 50-75
modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
modeline "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -vsync -hsync
modeline "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -vsync -hsync
modeline "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
modeline "832x624@75" 57.284 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x960@75" 129.86 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1200@65" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1600 1200
Modes "1024x768@75" "1024x768@70" "832x624@75" "1024x768@60" "800x600@60" "1152x864@75" "800x600@75" "1280x1024@75" "800x600@72" "1280x960@60" "800x600@56" "1280x1024@60" "640x480@75" "1280x960@75" "640x480@72" "1400x1050@60" "640x480@60" "1600x1200@65" "1600x1200@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
Load "GLcore"
Load "v4l"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

**Zorael** · May 2nd, 2008

Give this a go. This assumes you have the nvidia-glx-new (or nvidia-glx, or nvidia-glx-legacy) package installed, else grab it via Synaptics.

Code:

$ sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.backup0805
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
$ sudo nvidia-xserver -d 24 --allow-glx-with-composite --add-argb-glx-visuals --randr-rotation

Then restart X with Ctrl+Alt+Backspace.

**NCJason** · May 2nd, 2008

When I do

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

I get the error md5sum: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: No such file or directory
FATAL: Error inserting battery (/lib/modules/2.6.24-16-server/kernel/drivers/acpi/battery.ko): No such device

I have tried a lot to get this resolved and don't know for sure that I have not done something to mess it all up.