nvidia 8800 gt problems

[midnight0000]

Ok, for being a complete ubuntu noob, I managed to get most things set up properly. However, I want to have the cool little desktop compiz/beryl effects enabled.

This is where I hit a wall. I have an NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT graphics card and the last time I tried to install the drivers for it, my screen freaked the hell out and I had to go into restore mode to fix broken stuff and restart X, all that good stuff.
For the record, it messed up my screen even when I booted to windows instead of ubuntu.

Is there a way that I can get my 8800 to work on my computer without any major problems like this again? I tried a program, downloading drivers, etc... said it can't detect and that its restricted.

Thanks for any help

[Unix_Slayer]

Is there a way that I can get my 8800 to work on my computer without any major problems like this again? I tried a program, downloading drivers, etc... said it can't detect and that its restricted.

You might want to print this out.


Download the latest driver from NVidia:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Step 1
in terminal window

sudo apt-get install build-essential

Then :

sudo apt-get remove nvidia*

[this should get rid of all unwanted NVidia drivers. please check /lib/linux-restricted-modules/2.6.24.xx-generic/video and make sure there's no nvidia directory in there. There shouldn't be.] [xx = kernel version]


Step 2
on your keyboard

ctrl+alt+backspace

Wait for the drop out of X11.

Step 3

Login into terminal as yourself. Go to the directory where you downloaded the newest NVidia driver.

type :

chmod a+x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run = name of the file you downloaded. If it's different, then make corrections.


Step 4

type in :

sudo sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

Follow directions on the screen.

Step 5

Reboot, and you should be good as new. I don't use Envyng, or Compiz. I like a nice clean install of my devices.

Good Luck

[midnight0000]

is there a way to stop X without it logging me out?
whenever i do the stop command or ctl-alt-backspace method, it just logs me out and tells me to log back in, which doesnt help with the install

[peitschie]

Hi!

Short answer, no there is no way to restart X without logging out and in again.

Also, there is an easier method available. You want to use a nifty little script called "Envy" (http://www.albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html) which automates the above steps and is written specifically for Ubuntu.

To install this, open a terminal and do

sudo aptitude install envyng-gtk

Then launch it by entering the following:

sudo envyng -g

And select to install the Nvidia driver. It should automatically download the driver, fix your xorg.conf, and then ask you to restart

Come back and ask if you have any issues . Good luck!

[Unix_Slayer]

is there a way to stop X without it logging me out?
whenever i do the stop command or ctl-alt-backspace method, it just logs me out and tells me to log back in, which doesnt help with the install

After Step 1, you have to conrtol+Alt+Backspace. It takes you out of X11, otherwise you won't be able to install the NVidia driver.

[Unix_Slayer]

Please do not install Envyng. My way works flawlessly. Envyng just causes more problems, and won't install the newest driver above 169.

[midnight0000]

Please do not install Envyng. My way works flawlessly. Envyng just causes more problems, and won't install the newest driver above 169.

if i ctl alt backspace, it logs me out. how do i install the driver while logged out? if i log back in, it starts x11 back up again.

[Unix_Slayer]

if i ctl alt backspace, it logs me out. how do i install the driver while logged out? if i log back in, it starts x11 back up again.

To install the driver, you have to logout, and do it before the X11 start. If X11 is running, you can't install the driver. Remember, we are dealing with Linux here, not Windows. When you install a driver for video in Windows, you have to reboot before the changes take effect. If you follow my steps it will work. I've used this method, and installed many different NVidia cards without a problem.

Step 1
in terminal window <== means while in X11, in a terminal window. Not out of X11.




Step 2
on your keyboard

ctrl+alt+backspace

Wait for the drop out of X11. <===== this is where it needs to drop.

[jocko]

ctrl+alt+backspace will RESTART xorg, not just kill it.
To kill xorg without restarting it, you need to type this command:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

Or:

sudo killall gdm

[Unix_Slayer]

ctrl+alt+backspace will RESTART xorg, not just kill it.
To kill xorg without restarting it, you need to type this command:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

Or:

sudo killall gdm

I'm using KDE4. Mine just dies on command. And restarts in term with a X.