Ubuntu

Installing Nvidia Graphics for GeForce 8800 GTS on Ubuntu 7.04

Asked by Dave Hart on 2007-07-22

I am trying to get my Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GTS to work to its full potential with my Samsung Synchmaster 226BW LCD screen (Actually I'd be happy just to get the resolution set to the screen's native resolution of 1680x1050) .

MyCompetency Level: Linux Newbie, (ab)user of applications (rather than programmer / developer), fairly uncomfortable in command line mode.

O/S: Ubuntu 7.04
Kernel: 2.6.20-16-lowlatency

Hardware:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700
RAM: 2GB Kingston DDR2-800
M/B: Asus P5B Deluxe WiFi-AP
Graphics: Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GTS
Screen: Samsung Synchmaster 226BW LCD
Disks: 2 x Seagate 320GB SATA

I've tried to use the nvidia-glx and nvidia-kernel-common packages supported by Ubuntu but get an error message that the Nvidia graphics device failed to initialise. Tried reinstalling these - with the same result.

I have reinstated the original /etc/X11/xorg.conf file which uses the "versa" driver and will not provide more than 1024x768 screen resolution (even after adding a higher resolution to the xorg.conf file).

Looking at the guidelines for installing the Nvidia supplied driver package:
http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/100.14.11/README/chapter-02.html

I have worked through the compatibility checks listed there but several of the checks do not result in a positive result:

Software Element Min Requirement Check With...
XFree86/X.Org 4.0.1/6.7 XFree86 -version/Xorg -version
Both alternative checks result in a "no such file or directory" response
Q1: How do I confirm the version of X.Org installed?

Kernel modutils 2.1.121 insmod -v
"insmod: can't read '-v' : no such file or directory"
Q2: Looks like the command is incomplete???

glibc 2.0 ls /lib/libc.so.* > 6
results in no response.
Modifying the command to "ls /lib/libc.so.*" results in "/lib/libc.so.6" being listed.
Q3: How does this relate to the Nvidia minimum requirement for version 2.0?

The Nvidia guide also recommends changing the run level during the installation but I can not find the file referred to in the guide: /etc/inittab
Q4: Is this setting addressed elsewhere or is the file hidden some where else?

Question information

Language:: English Edit question

Status:: Solved

For:: Ubuntu Edit question

Assignee:: No assignee Edit question

Solved by:: Dennis Dirdjaja

Solved:: 2007-07-28

Last query:: 2007-07-28

Last reply:: 2007-07-28

Dennis Dirdjaja (dcd-ditsch) said on 2007-07-22:

Hi Dave,

your card should be supported by the nvidia-glx-new package.

Hope this helps,
dennis

Dave Hart (hartdg) said on 2007-07-22:

Dennis,

Thanks for this suggestion - I had not seen this being offered in Synaptic when I searched for "nvidia" although I have seen similar posts with the same advice (but now I've found it).

I notice that there are 2 different versions being offered:
1.0.9755+2.6.5-16.29 (feisty security), and
1.0.9755+2.6.5-15.20 (feisty)

while other files associated with the package are:
linux-image-2.6.20-15-386 (version 2.6.20-15.27)
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20-15-386 (version 2.6.20.5-15.20)
nvidia-glx-new (1.0.9755+2.6.5-16.29)
nvidia-kernel-common (version 20051028+1ubantu7)
nvidia-settings (version 1.0+20060516-3ubantu1)

I do not know anything about the differences between the different versions but I do want to make sure that I don't mix-'n-match anything that's not compatible.

My current kernel is 2.6.20-16-lowlatency & this looks as though I'm "going back" to version 2.6.20-15.27.

Dave

Dennis Dirdjaja (dcd-ditsch) said on 2007-07-22:

The kernel module for nvidia-glx-new is in linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20-16-lowlatency in your case so no need to go back.

Dave Hart (hartdg) said on 2007-07-22:

I've now selected for installation:

linux-restricted-module-2.6.20-16-lowlatency
nvidia-glx-new (1.0.9755+2.6.5-16.29)
nvidia-kernel-common (version 20051028+1ubantu7)
nvidia-settings (version 1.0+20060516-3ubantu1)

received an error message:
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/nvidia-settings_1.0+20060516-3ubuntu1_i386.deb: trying to overwrite 'usr/bin/nvidia-settings', which is also in package nvidia-glx-new

Look like I should not have included the nvidia-settings package (seem to remember a post about that somewhere...).

From the "Changes Applied" summary looks like everything except for the "nvidia-settings" package were unpacked.
(don't seem to be able to copy / paste the "details" from the 'terminal' panel to a text file...)

I see the linux-image-2.6.20-16-lowlatency (ver. 2.6.20-16.29) does not carry the ubuntu friendly logo...

(deep breath, deeper gulp of fortifying wine, reboot & hold thumbs that this all works)...

Well, I'm back in Gnome Desktop Manager - so at least my xorg.conf settings have not messed-up anything...

... ah, wait I see that nothing has changed in /etc/X11/xorg.conf it still refers to a "generic video card" and a "versa" driver...

Damm! I just tried activating the "restricted drivers" and watched it uninstall nvidia-glx-new and reactivate nvidia-glx ...

Back into Synaptic: remove nvidia-glx, restore nvidia-glx-new, confirm that the linux-restricted-module-2.6.20-16-lowlatency, nvidia-kernel-common (version 20051028+1ubantu7) and linux-image-2.6.20-16-lowlatency are still present...

It's not clear to me whether I also need to install nvidia-xconfig or whether it, like nvidia-settings, has been incorporated into nvidia-glx-new.... what the heck - let's live dangerously and install it...

NOPE! - E: /var/cache/apt/archives/nividia-xconfig_1.0+20051122-2_i386.deb: trying to overwrite '/usr/bin/nvidia-xconfig' which is in package nvidia-glx-new [another great save by the guys and gals who try to make software foolproof! what a pity we (fools & newbies) are all so ingenious and can find so many ways to screw up...]

From a terminal window: sudo nvidia-xconfig
- it says it's backed-up xorg.conf and written a new config file to xorg.conf
- looking at the file I can see:
Load "glx"
Driver "nvidia"
(screen resolutions still show a max of "1024x768")

I guess the next thing to do is to logout and restart xserver & gdm (Cntrl-Alt-Backspace) ...

...(EE) Failed to load module "wfb" (module does not exist, 0)
   (EE) NVIDIA (0): Need libwfb but wfbScreenInit not found
   Fatal server error:
   AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0

Well getting new error messages is progress...
... the detailed log file shows that the card and monitor have been correctly identified - another small victory!'

but I'm not sure what the next step is?
(and now I'm not even being kicked-out into command line mode. Aside from echoing my keystrokes I seem to have lost all access into linux... so I'll have to go into some sort of recovery mode using the LiveCD)

Dennis Dirdjaja (dcd-ditsch) said on 2007-07-23:

Hi Dave,

could you provide your /etc/X11/xorg.conf? What is the current status of the installed packages? Do you have nvidia-glx or nvidia-glx-new right now? Maybe you just need to invoke sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg.

Hope this helps,
dennis

Dave Hart (hartdg) said on 2007-07-27:

Dennis,

1) Copy of /etc/X11/X11/xorg.conf

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Mon Feb 26 23:38:46 PST 2007
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "Default Layout"
    Screen "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
    InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
    InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
    InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "Files"
# path to defoma fonts
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
    FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load "i2c"
    Load "bitmap"
    Load "ddc"
    Load "extmod"
    Load "freetype"
    Load "glx"
    Load "int10"
    Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver "kbd"
    Option "CoreKeyboard"
    Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Configured Mouse"
    Driver "mouse"
    Option "CorePointer"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "stylus"
    Driver "wacom"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option "Type" "stylus"
    Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "eraser"
    Driver "wacom"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option "Type" "eraser"
    Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "cursor"
    Driver "wacom"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option "Type" "cursor"
    Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Generic Monitor"
    HorizSync 28.0 - 51.0
    VertRefresh 43.0 - 60.0
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Default Screen"
    Device "Generic Video Card"
    Monitor "Generic Monitor"
    DefaultDepth 24
    Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
    Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
    Option "NoLogo" "True"
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 1
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 4
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 8
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 15
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 16
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

End of Copy of /etc/X11/X11/xorg.conf
*******************************************************************************
From LiveCD
rename /etc/X11/X11/xorg.conf to xorg.conf.backup2

reinstate "vanilla" xorg.conf (so that I can get back into Linux off my hard drive)

reboot from hard disk...

2) confirmed nvidia-glx-new is installed (is there a way of producing a file with a listing of installed packages?)

3) run the command: sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
Select Nvidia
Identify card as Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS
Leave memory option blank
Use kernel framebuffer device interface: No (accept default)
Autodetect keyboard layout: No (keep current layout)
Keyboard layout: US
XKB rule set to use: xorg
Keyboard model: pc105
Keyboard variant: (left blank)
Keyboard options: (left blank)
Mouse port: /dev/input/mice
Mouse protocol: ImPS/2
Emulate 3 button mouse: yes
Xorg modules: bitmap, ddc, dri, extmod,freetype, glx, vbe
(Not sure about this lot!!! Can not relate the list presented with all the list loaded in the xorg.conf shown above)
Write default files section to config file: yes
Accept monitor autodetection: yes
etc....

4) rerun sudo nvidia-xconfig

This is what the "guts" of my /etc/X11/xorg.conf file looks like:

Section "Module"
    Load "bitmap"
    Load "ddc"
    Load "extmod"
    Load "freetype"
    Load "glx"
    Load "int10"
    Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver "kbd"
    Option "CoreKeyboard"
    Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "stylus"
    Driver "wacom"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option "Type" "stylus"
    Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"
# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "eraser"
    Driver "wacom"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option "Type" "eraser"
    Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"
# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "cursor"
    Driver "wacom"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option "Type" "cursor"
    Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"
# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Samsung SynchMaster 226W"
    HorizSync 28.0 - 49.0
    VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Default Screen"
    Device "Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS"
    Monitor "Samsung SynchMaster 226W"
    DefaultDepth 24
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 1
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 4
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 8
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 15
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 16
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

End of Copy of /etc/X11/X11/xorg.conf
*******************************************************************************
6) reboot

7) unfortunately: exactly the same result as before:

  (WW) Warning, couldn't open module wfb
....
...(EE) Failed to load module "wfb" (module does not exist, 0)
   (EE) NVIDIA (0): Need libwfb but wfbScreenInit not found
   Fatal server error:
   AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0

but this time I can get back to command line mode.

Looks like the main issue is module wfb which could not be opened.

Where is this module, how is it called and how do I get it opened?

Dave

Dave Hart (hartdg) said on 2007-07-28:

Looking for more info on wfb I found Bugs #98641 and #103050 which appear to be related to the problem I'm experiencing. I don't yet understand exactly what I need to do to fix the problem but I'll study the discussions more closely.

Any "idiots guide" level advice will help.

Dennis Dirdjaja (dcd-ditsch) said on 2007-07-28:

You were right, there is a fix in #98641 provided by jakethecak3, just run the commands in a terminal:

wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/1.0-9755/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1 -x
sudo cp -f NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libnvidia-wfb.so.1.0.9755 /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so
startx

I'll link the bug to this.

Dave Hart (hartdg) said on 2007-07-28:

"Houston - we have lift-off!!!"

Just 1 small variation from your instructions:

I needed to use:
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run -x
not
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1 -x

A quick edit of my xorg.conf file to add to the required screen resolution options & I now have gnome working on my screen in 1680x1050 resolution.

Am I correct in assuming that there is some risk of an update changing any of these file / configuration & that I may have to repeat some of the steps in the future?

Dennis: thanks very much for your help on this issue!

regards,

Dave

Dave Hart (hartdg) said on 2007-07-28:

#10

Thanks Dennis Dirdjaja, that solved my question.

RGilbert (rob-gilbert) said on 2008-01-19:

#11

envy python linux script does a reasonable job installing NVIDIA driver.

michael morgan (michaelrmorgan) said on 2008-06-08:

#12

Does this fix apply to the latest version of ubuntu?

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Installing Nvidia Graphics for GeForce 8800 GTS on Ubuntu 7.04

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