how do I update the nvidia graphics driver for ubuntu hardy heron?

Try here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FixVideoResolutionHowto
there should be some useful information for you.

The best way to get the 173 driver is to use the following URL:

     http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

When you state that you cannot figure out how to update that driver, you do not say what you are updating from.
The nVidia driver available from System, Administration, Hardware Drivers works fine and has been fully tested for Ubuntu.

Andre,
Thanks for making an attempt to help me.
This morning I took the plunge and installed ubuntu. I have no experience
with Linux other than the fairly successful loading of the new OS today.
I am used to windows and with my graphics cards I go to the nvidia site and
download the latest, and it "installs".
What came up default was not satisfactory. Based on your comment I must
have done something wrong as 600 x 800 screen is not what I am used to with
my graphics card on this system in windows. So I thought I should do same
as I do with windows and downloaded the linux driver from Nvidia.
When I click on it, nothing happens. I do not know how to install it.
Another respondent suggested a bunch of stuff, but none of it makes sense to
me. They keep referring to sudo... commands. I do not know how to make one
of those work. Sorry, complete newbie...however, I can usually figure
things out if there are instructions. What am I missing?

Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
Andre Mangan
Sent: August 17, 2008 7:27 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #42405]: how do I update the nvidia graphics driver
forubuntu hardy heron?

Your question #42405 on nautilus in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nautilus/+question/42405

Andre Mangan proposed the following answer:
The best way to get the 173 driver is to use the following URL:

     http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

When you state that you cannot figure out how to update that driver, you do
not say what you are updating from.
The nVidia driver available from System, Administration, Hardware Drivers
works fine and has been fully tested for Ubuntu.

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nautilus/+question/42405/+confi
rm?answer_id=1

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nautilus/+question/42405

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subscriber of the question.

Frank,

First of all, welcome to Ubuntu.

Let's forget about the 173 nVidia driver for the moment and install the previous nVidia driver which works very well.

I assume that you installed Ubuntu and not Kubuntu - they are different desktop environments.

The strips on the top and bottom of your screen are called panels. On the top panel click on System and then Administration. Scroll down to where it says Hardware Drivers and click on that. You will be asked for your password which is your login password since you are going to make a system change.

On the Hardware Drivers screen enable the NVIDIA driver by placing a tick into the box.

Close that screen and then go to System, Preferences, Screen Resolution to change your resolution.

The term "sudo" means super user do" and is the first command to use in conjunction with other commands when you work from the terminal. The terminal you will find under Applications, Accessories. The terminal is a Command Line screen.

Yes, Windows feeds you soup; Linux also feeds you soup but it lets you cook it.

It would seem that xorg cannot detect the possible resolutions when using the "nvidia" driver.
Try to fix it like this:

1) Make a backup of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file:
open a terminal, from 'Applications' -> 'Accessories' and type this command:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.custom

You'll be asked for your password, type it and be aware tha you won't see anything when you type it.

2) Open /etc/X11/xorg.conf file with this command:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

3) Add the following line to your existing "Screen" section:

Option "UseEdidFreqs" "false"

If all else fails, try running the following command:

sudo nvidia-settings

Under Video Configuration set your resolution and refresh rate, click apply, then save X Config.

Frank,
Ubuntu has a file called xorg.conf. This file tells it's program called "x" about the hardware and drivers that it iws suposed to use. Windows has a similar file called system.ini . just different names of things for diferent geeks. The driver that ubuntu uses natively is usualy the best for compatability however they have several available in the apt (software manager) That will give you open gl ability. Too bad for me as this old heap can not use them. Using the sudo is just a mater of thelling the machien I an boss u do this.

The comand line will look like this "sudo nano etc/x11/xorg.conf"

sudo neans I am boss do this now

nano is a text editor like note pad

etc is a file on the hard drive

x11 is a file in the larger file etc

xorg.conf is the configureation file to load into the text editor

scrole down through nano with the arow keys

looking for something like "driver nv"

and change it to read "driver nvidia"

and exit nano saving the file.

be sure to install the driver first

comand line "sudo apt-get install invidia-glx"

and read everything to make sure it nistalls or says already latest greatest version

If everything fails and the driver dose not work you wil be left with no gui

you must log in to the terminal and re edit xorg.conf back to readin just "nv" and it will go back to working as it did.