how to install latest NVIDIA graphic card driver (NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.44.run) downloaded from the NVIDIA website

http://de.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/256.44/README/installdriver.html

So reading the http://de.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/256.44/README/installdriver.html#BeforeYouBegin89f39

Open a terminal and type:

sudo -i

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter, to get plain root access...

Then change dir to the downloaded installer file NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.44.run

cd /home/....

and run it:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.44.run

This is the message I'm getting

hltechie@hltechie-desktop:~$ sudo -i
[sudo] password for hltechie:
root@hltechie-desktop:~# cd /home/
root@hltechie-desktop:/home# sh NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run
sh: Can't open NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run
root@hltechie-desktop:/home#

please get the result of this terminal command:

find . | grep NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run

I get nothing back

hltechie@hltechie-desktop:~$ find . | grep NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run
hltechie@hltechie-desktop:~$

and

root@hltechie-desktop:/home# find . | grep NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run
root@hltechie-desktop:/home#

if you get no result from previous command... please copy and paste this row into terminal:

find /home/. | grep NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run

to discover the save path of the NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run

then you must change directory where is the file NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run was saved before to run the:

sh NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run

result

root@hltechie-desktop:/home# find /home/. | grep NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.44.run
/home/./hltechie/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.44.run

ok so please close all terminal to be sure you start from a clean state...

1) open a terminal and type:

sudo -i

2) change directory to /home/hltechie/ type:

cd /home/hltechie/

then type:

sh NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run

Thank you for all your help, I got the driver installed. I had one final problem but I got around that. When I tried to install the driver from the terminal it said that I couldn't do it because server x was running and I needed to stop server x. So I went to Ctrl + Alt + F1, ran sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop then sudo -i then cd /home/hltechie/ then sh NVIDIA-x86_64-256.44.run (the installation was successful) then finally sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

This final note is really to say everything got working and for anyone evls having trouble.

Thank again!!

So this is so frustrating. I have tried the instructions on this page, as well as nvidias guide, taking into account the difference in versions for the driver I downloaded from the nvidia website. I have even copy and pasted exact commands, with no success. Doesnt give me feedback, just starts a new command line, the exact same as the one I commanded from... WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT!!!!

Can you copy and paste the exact information you are putting into the terminal and the output?

Also the version of Lunix you are running.

And just to verify this is for the NVIDIA GT 120 correct?

At the time I was running an outdated version of Ubuntu and when I updated to the newest version this problem was solved. The default driver that Ubuntu downloaded worked, although I still had problems running Windows games (but that is a different problem really).

Hi !
After going through many forums and installation notes I am tired also with this nvidia card... with ATI I have never had any issues but now.... H E L P !!

1. Ubuntu 10.10 (64 bit)
2. Lenovo Thinkpad T520
3. Nvidia NVS 4200M

4. Installed driver from: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux-display-amd64-295.20-driver.html
5. System -> Administration -> Additional Drivers - there I can see installed driver so I enabled it...
6. reboot and my X does not start...
7. This is my X.log after reboot :
var/log/Xorg.0.log.old
[ 55.627]
X.Org X Server 1.9.0
Release Date: 2010-08-20
[ 55.636] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 55.639] Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-29-server x86_64 Ubuntu
[ 55.642] Current Operating System: Linux gucBuntu 2.6.35-32-generic #66-Ubuntu SMP Mon Feb 13 21:04:32 UTC 2012 x86_64
[ 55.645] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-32-generic root=UUID=2ead8bf5-ab5b-4ec9-aa07-71035e8b2e52 ro splash quiet vga=773 quiet splash
[ 55.652] Build Date: 20 October 2011 03:12:38PM
[ 55.655] xorg-server 2:1.9.0-0ubuntu7.6 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 55.659] Current version of pixman: 0.18.4
[ 55.662] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 55.669] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
 (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 55.681] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sat Mar 3 16:46:21 2012
[ 55.685] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
[ 55.689] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 55.692] (==) ServerLayout "Layout0"
[ 55.692] (**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
[ 55.692] (**) | |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
[ 55.693] (**) | |-->Device "Device0"
[ 55.693] (**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
[ 55.693] (**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
[ 55.693] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 55.693] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 55.693] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 55.693] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 55.693] (==) FontPath set to:
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
 /var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,
 built-ins
[ 55.693] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 55.693] (WW) AllowEmptyInput is on, devices using drivers 'kbd', 'mouse' or 'vmmouse' will be disabled.
[ 55.693] (WW) Disabling Keyboard0
[ 55.693] (WW) Disabling Mouse0
[ 55.693] (II) Loader magic: 0x7d0200
[ 55.693] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 55.693] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 55.693] X.Org Video Driver: 8.0
[ 55.693] X.Org XInput driver : 11.0
[ 55.693] X.Org Server Extension : 4.0
[ 55.693] (--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:1057:17aa:21cf rev 161, Mem @ 0xf2000000/16777216, 0xe0000000/268435456, 0xf0000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x00005000/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/524288
[ 55.693] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
[ 55.693] (II) LoadModule: "extmod"
[ 55.693] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
[ 55.694] (II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 55.694] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.0.0
[ 55.694] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 55.694] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension DPMS
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension XVideo
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension X-Resource
[ 55.694] (II) LoadModule: "dbe"
[ 55.694] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
[ 55.694] (II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 55.694] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.0.0
[ 55.694] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 55.694] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 55.694] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
[ 55.694] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 55.694] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[ 55.701] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 55.701] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[ 55.701] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 55.701] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module 295.20 Mon Feb 6 21:28:16 PST 2012
[ 55.701] (II) Loading extension GLX
[ 55.701] (II) LoadModule: "record"
[ 55.701] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
[ 55.701] (II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 55.701] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.13.0
[ 55.701] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 55.701] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 55.701] (II) Loading extension RECORD
[ 55.701] (II) LoadModule: "dri"
[ 55.702] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
[ 55.702] (II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 55.702] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.0.0
[ 55.702] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 55.702] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
[ 55.702] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
[ 55.702] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
[ 55.702] (II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 55.702] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.2.0
[ 55.702] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 55.702] (II) Loading extension DRI2
[ 55.702] (II) LoadModule: "intel"
[ 55.702] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/intel_drv.so
[ 55.702] (II) Module intel: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 55.702] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 2.12.0
[ 55.702] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 55.702] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 8.0
[ 55.702] (II) intel: Driver for Intel Integrated Graphics Chipsets: i810,
 i810-dc100, i810e, i815, i830M, 845G, 852GM/855GM, 865G, 915G,
 E7221 (i915), 915GM, 945G, 945GM, 945GME, Pineview GM, Pineview G,
 965G, G35, 965Q, 946GZ, 965GM, 965GME/GLE, G33, Q35, Q33, GM45,
 4 Series, G45/G43, Q45/Q43, G41, B43, B43, Clarkdale, Arrandale,
 Sandybridge, Sandybridge, Sandybridge, Sandybridge, Sandybridge,
 Sandybridge, Sandybridge
[ 55.702] (--) using VT number 8

[ 55.711] (EE) No devices detected.
[ 55.711]
Fatal server error:
[ 55.711] no screens found
[ 55.711]
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
  at http://wiki.x.org
 for help.
[ 55.711] Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[ 55.711]

8. I tried all 3 options from BIOS
 -> Optimus - disabled/enabled
 -> Discrete Graphics
 -> Integrated

Non of them works.... all the time my X won't start...
Any ideas ??