How to get NVIDIA drivers installed on Ubuntu?

[Yin]

Hello TPU'ers

I just attempted to install Ubuntu and Nvidia graphics drivers and I am running into a brick wall now.
I got Ubuntu 7.10 installed and just before it starts up it prompts me with a msg saying it can't detect my video card and I have to run it in 800x600.

So I searched around for a guide on how to do so and I came across this one.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4119312

I followed the instructions and after the reboot I still get the same msg and I try to install them again but as I run the Nvidia file

sudo sh (driver name)

the screen pops up and goes I've installed the drivers already.

what should I do?

Thanks

 

[xfire]

press ctrl+alt+F1 or open a terminal.
Then type

 sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

to get a wizard to set your GUI up. Follow it. At one point it asks which drivers to use. Select it as nvidia. You have do all of this with the keyboard.

 

[Yin]

Thanks I've just tried that and I'm gonna reboot see if it works

 

[Yin]

I've just rebooted and I am still stuck on a 800x600 reso.

Just curious about this when I go to
Applications>Systems Tools>Nvidia X Server Settings
a prompt comes up saying
"You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run 'nvidia-xconfig' as root), restart the X server.

So I opened a terminal and typed 'nvidia-xconfig'

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"

ERROR: Unable to write to directory '/etc/X11'.

 

[xfire]

x11 is owned by the root and only root has permission to write to it.
To login as root restart the computer and while grub starts press esc to get the menu. Select recovery mode. when it starts it asks for username and password.
The usrname is root and password would have been set by you while installing. If you have doubt about the password, go to user management and set the password for root.
After you login (it will be a cui) type that command or start x to start the GUI.

Alternatively(before trying the above method) type

sudo nvidia-xconfig

remember that sudo is for running a command with root priviliges.

 

[Yin]

oh so root is basically an admin user? and sudo is a command for that?

okay I'll try that now

 

[xfire]

Yup. Root is made so that one doesn't screw up the system. Ubuntu takes it to one step extra where it doesn't allow root and other super powers users to login from the main login screen. Oh and to restart only the x-server(GUI) ctrl+alt+bckspace does it.

 

[Yin]

oh I was gonna say it didn't work but I didn't restart it
So back to recovery mode and sudo nvidia-xconfig then ctrl+alt+backspace?

I find this strange when I was installing Ubuntu it was working perfectly on 1280x1024 (live mode) but when I install it, i get this msg saying it can't detect my graphics card and monitor.

 

[Yin]

shrugs still not working, maybe I should start from step 1 again =/

 

[xfire]

With sudo you don't need recovery mode.
Just open terminal and type sudo nvidia-xconfig
then press ctrl+alt+backspace.

 

[xfire]

$ glxinfo | grep direct

try the above command and tell me the output.

 

[Yin]

okay it said it replaced the file and after i restart the x-server, login and go to the nvidia x server settings its still saying the same thing, so i went to the nvidia site and theres some x config file which i just downloaded.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_169.09.html

 

[xfire]

Just try restarting once if it still doesn't work try
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
again.
You have to run the wizard totally. It even asks for your monitor settings.

 

[Yin]

after typing
glxinfo | grep direct

Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Error: couldn't find RGB GLX visual
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".

that looks like a problem

 

[xfire]

just run
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
again and again. You'll get it right(use up and down arrow keys to view previously typed commands in terminal)

 

[Yin]

ok i ran it again and it finishes after i choose my colour bit (16 and 24) i picked 24
then i typed
glxinfo | grep direct
same results

 

[xfire]

did you enable higher resolutions?

 

[Yin]

did you enable higher resolutions?

I think so?
when in the "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" interface I picked 1280x1024@60hz 24-bit Colour and I picked the Nvidia graphic driver

 

[xfire]

So did it work after restarting(higher resolution)?
Maybe its better if you try Ubunutu forums.

 

[Yin]

nope I'll go and ask more places, thanks for the help

 

[xfire]

The thing is I've never used Nvidia are you sure you don't get the option for higher resolution.
Also did you get a message to enable restricted drivers?

 

[BXtreme]

ya, the restricted driver manager allows to download/install those drivers automatically, as on my dell 1520. I connected an external display, and p00f 1440x900@75hz was infront of me. Installing the driver manually may also force the user to do the settings manually, well it might be a different case here, or a corrupted X11 file...there can be many other cases too....

 

[xfire]

installing manually gives the control panel.
CCC for ati.

 

[BXtreme]

installing manually gives the control panel.
CCC for ati.

too bad i don't use the panel anyway, most ppl who tend to switch to linux for whatever reason other than gaming only look for 'how to change the res to the native on of the monitor', so automated is ieasy for them. so, what options does the cp offer ? esp. in nvidia ? same as windows ?

 

[Yin]

I GOT IT WORKING!
and I gotta say its thanks to this little program called ENVY.

http://albertomilone.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Envy-InstructionsForUbuntu

I would highly recommend this program if your new or if you can't get it to work.