Please help... installing an nvidia driver

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vonAtlas

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Hi there all...
I installed ubuntu jaunty and downloaded the 173.14.18 driver for my nvidia geforce fx 5200 gfx card from nvidia.com. I ran the file and was told that I must turn off the x server to install. How do turn off the xserver or boot straight to the terminal to install the driver. please excuse if this comes out wrong as im posting from my phone. any help would be appreciated.
 
To install the file, do the following:
sudo bash <filename.bin>
sudo apt-get install nvidia-xconfig
Then do a restart and boot your recovery kernel (in grub there is kernel xxx and below it xxx-recovery). Select the fix xserver/ reconfigure xserver/ xorg. This will configure your nvidia drivers.

Alternatively, install envy from Synaptic/Adept. It allows you to install the newest driver for your graphics card.

I'm not sure if this is possible without root access, but try the following:
Ctrl+alt+F1
log in with your username and password
cd to the location of your driver file
sudo bash <filename.bin>
sudo /etc/init.d gdm restart (if you use Gnome, or kdm if KDE)
Then press Ctrl+alt+f7 to return.
Otherwise if you can't get back, run "sudo shutdown 0".
 
Thank you for responding froot. My ubuntu machine doesnt have an internet, so i'Ll go with the last option. I'll go through it tomorrow. thanks again
 
In Jaunty you use the "Hardware Drivers" under Administration menu. This will bring in all your required dependencies and is very stable. When trying to compile I tend to find issues when you upgrade your kernal.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
In Jaunty you use the "Hardware Drivers" under Administration menu. This will bring in all your required dependencies and is very stable. When trying to compile I tend to find issues when you upgrade your kernal.
Click to expand...

Yeah, true. I tend to forget about this one - I'm so used to bashing the driver from the command line.
 
/greets froot
/shivers over the thought of fixing Ubuntu without Internet connection.
 
This is how I did it last week:

1. Get your root a password by going to System > Administration > Users and Groups
2. Log out
3. Press Ctrl +Alt + F1
4. Log in with username = root and the password you gave it.
5. Stop x by typing /etc/init.d/gdm stop
6. Install the package by typing sh your directory/your nvidia file name.run
7. After installation start up x again by typing /etc/init.d/gdm start

When I installed it I had to install another package called linux-libc-dev. It might be deferent in your case though...
 
Good morning everyone.
Thanks for your input. I was able to install the driver.
I followed froots' suggestion by Ctrl+Alt+F1 and that did not work as the xserver was still running.

I booted into recovery mode and then into the root shell.
When to the location of the file and started the installation process.
I first got a runlevel issue, I was at runlevel 1 when I should be at runlevel 3, I ignored that.
As cbrunsdonza pointed out, I had to upgrade the kernel... Ignored that as well.
Accepted the License agreement and continued.
Got a warning that my ubuntu installation may be messed up if I continued.

Hey, what's the worse that could happen... I'd have to reinstall ubuntu.
Took a deep breath and continued.

Installation went through without a hitch, rebooted and logged into my desktop.
Went to System > Administration > Hardware drivers did not see a my card listed.
Opened the terminal and entered sudo nvidia-settings.
Change resolution and refresh rate from the default to that of my monitors and rebooted.
All is good

Thanks again for all of your assistance.
 
Morning all
Thank you all for your input.
The Ctrl+Alt+F1 did not work as I got a message that the xserver is still running
However, I took a different approach.

Booted into recovery mode and started the root shell.
Started the install process.

1. Got a runlevel issue, runlevel 3 is required I was at runlevel 1, ignored that
2. Another issue arises with regard to a kernel update, with no internet connection,
I had to ignore that.
3. Got a warning that ubuntu may be massacred after installation, took
a deep breath and ignored that as well.
4. Driver was installed and rebooted.
5. Ubuntu booted up normally and I logged in, my graphics card was not listed in
hardware drivers (expected that)
6. In the terminal I entered sudo nvidia-settings and changed the resolution and refresh
rate from the default to that of monitor saved the settings and rebooted.

All is well in ubuntu land, the driver seemed to have worked and I'm using desktop effects.
Thanks for all your assistance.
 
froot said:
Yeah, true. I tend to forget about this one - I'm so used to bashing the driver from the command line.
Click to expand...

I use to also do the command line till Intrepid. I even see that under Jaunty it actually compiles the driver for my card. Works really well. No more issues as I'm too tired at night to want to poke around to get things working.

But this is why LINUX is awesome, you get a choice on how to resolve an issue. :D
 
cbrunsdonza said:
I use to also do the command line till Intrepid. I even see that under Jaunty it actually compiles the driver for my card. Works really well. No more issues as I'm too tired at night to want to poke around to get things working.

But this is why LINUX is awesome, you get a choice on how to resolve an issue. :D
Click to expand...

Yup, it's simply awesome how you can do this in several different ways. I didn't even kill X... I installed it from the recovery console and rebooted at a later stage.
 
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