Ubuntu

Driver Issues

Asked by davidzaq1

Hello,

I have Ubuntu 14.04. I am having some driver issues. I have the Nouveau drivers on the computer but when I use them,
my computer, (laptop) runs slower than using the Nvidia drivers. So, I have been running the Nvidia drivers which make the system
run a little faster.

The problem I am having is when the computer tells me there is a software update for the Nvidia drivers., I have problems when it has finished downloading the updates. I usually get one of two problems. Either the system completely shuts down and I cannot get back in at all and have to re-install the system or when the computer reboots, I have the desktop login screen but when I try to login, the screen flashes and goes back to the login again. Basically it won't let me login.

The only other thin I can do at that point is to go to the terminal and try to load a different Nvidia driver so I can login into the computer again.

This just happened again after the last software update.

My question is, I know the Nouveau drivers come with Ubuntu but as I said it makes my computer run slow.
If I use this driver, is there a way to make it run better or to update it or am I stuck with the way the programmers have designed it and just have to deal with it?

Or, is there a way to find an Nvidia driver that will work and won't lock me out when the updates come around?

Thank you,
David

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Which Nvidia GPU do you have?

Revision history for this message
davidzaq1 (david3a9x) said : 		#2

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

I do not know what a GPU is.

I am sorry I cannot answer this question.

Do you mean which Nvidia driver version do I have, like 340?

Thank you

Revision history for this message
michael (yellupcm-gmail) said : 		#3

lspci -v -s $(lspci | grep VGA | cut -d" " -f 1)

From site.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/5417/how-to-get-gpu-info

Revision history for this message
davidzaq1 (david3a9x) said : 		#4

Ok,

Here is the output from above command.

~$ lspci -v -s $(lspci | grep VGA | cut -d" " -f 1)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G86M [GeForce 8400M GS] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
 Subsystem: Dell Device 0228
 Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 29
 Memory at fd000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
 Memory at f4000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
 Memory at fa000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32M]
 I/O ports at df00 [size=128]
 [virtual] Expansion ROM at fea00000 [disabled] [size=128K]
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: nvidia

Thank you

Revision history for this message
Albert Narh (antdeshak) said : 		#5

I was also getting the login screen in a loop after login. Follow these steps to help you with the drivers and the login.
1. sudo apt-get purge nvidia*
2. sudo reboot
3. type "Additional Drivers" in the search box. Or System Settings => Software and Updates => Additional Drivers.
4 Select one of the options from below in the driver list and apply changes. The one that works for you.

If you get locked back into the login screen loop, appy stet 1 & 2 to exit the loop. Then try another driver from the "Additional Drivers".

Revision history for this message
davidzaq1 (david3a9x) said : 		#6

Thank you for the help but this really did not answer my question.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask davidzaq1 for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.