need help with nvidia 9400 gt setup

When you go into Synaptic can you ensure you have these installed (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager).

To search for a package click on "Search" and search for this term: nvidia

Look for the following packages and "mark them" (right click on them and go to "Mark for Installation" OR just double click on them). It's as easy as that. What you're looking for are:

nvidia-180-kernel-source
nvidia-180-modaliases
nvidia-glx-180

I believe clicking on nvidia-180-kernel-source will "prompt" you for the other dependent packages (such as nvidia-180-modaliases, and possibly others). If so, let it and click ACCEPT.

Please also make SURE to install:
nvidia-settings
xserver-xorg-video-nv (this package *may* automatically be "marked" for installation after you do the above, so just see if it is -- it will have a green box next to it).

You may also need:

nvidia-180-libvdpau

After everything is installed, you MUST restart.

After you restart fire up a terminal or go to System > Preferences > NVidia Settings (I believe). If not, fire up a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and type:

sudo nvidia-settings

And if you have dual monitors (in the settings "tab" on the left hand side) you will want to always use TwinView for your NVidia card. If not, this is where you adjust your NVidia's card settings. At the end of adjusting please hit "Write to Xorg File." Make sure to back it up and test it first. There is an option.

Sincerely,

Craig

P.S. - Some people have a problem with the nvidia-180 driver. If you have this problem, uninstall and just follow the same steps above but instead of using the nvidia-180 driver -- go back into Synaptic and install the nvidia-173-kernel-source, nvidia-173-modaliases, etc. etc. (including nvidia-glx-173). Just mainly substituting "180" with "173." This should solve any issues.

I'm surprised you were not prompted with a dialog box, in the upper right hand corner, to install a "restricted" driver for your NVidia card. If so, you can always do this as well and just "check off the box." Your system should have dedicated it automatically after install as it usually does with NVidia cards.

(Look for a little box/icon in your panel that indicates "Restricted Drivers Ready to Install" -- they just need your permission). After that, you just restart.

Then go and grab the only last package you need:

nvidia-settings

Then run the rest of the guide above (Terminal > type: sudo nvidia-settings) And set it up.

Cheers,

Craig

Here is a guide:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia

I'm sorry, the packages you need are the *173 nvidia drivers (not -180). I am running a different version than you most likely and sometimes I overlook that fact, so make sure you get the 173 drivers. They are more stable anyway.

If you have multiple monitors this is great guide to supplement the above:

http://www.thecrumb.com/2008/01/22/ubuntu-nvidia-and-two-monitors/

Let me know if you have any questions.

The easiest thing for you, for all you've been through are those 2 guides and *one* package (how about that?):

Package name: nvidia-common

It's description:

This package will find obsolete NVIDIA drivers in use,
detect the hardware and recommend the most appropriate
driver.

Also, please be sure to read the above guides. They offer a wealth of information.

thanks craig.

i will soon try to follow your instructions soon ( i am not doing it immediately, though i want to, because i don't have access to internet on my pc). i hope it will work. i am also trying to get certain other things going, like local repositories and stuffs like that (main motive being the lack of internet connection). i you have any experience regarding this or if you know some download sources then i will be more than happy if you could share it with me.

again thanks.

PS. since i won't be able to follow the instructions immediately, i am maintaining the unanswered status. Of course, other replies are always welcome.

Burn the latest DVD (*not CD*) as your install disk and use it as your "repository." It will remain this option until unchecked.

the synaptic is not showing the modaliases package. it is not showing 173 either (i.e. if i search nvidia-glx-173 in synaptic it comes out blank). i tried installing the packages manually (downloaded them from archive.ubuntu.com and installed them with gdebi package installer), but i am getting stuck at nvidia-glx-173, because of an unsatisfiable dependency 'python-xkit' which i could not find anywhere on archive.ubuntu .

right now all i can do is download all the packages with nvidia in it and try some permutation-combination till it works (of course along with their dependencies as suggested by gdebi package installer if they can be found).

and by the way i found the dvd version for repository, thanks.

if you could just give me some links for the packages and the sequence in which i should install them, then even that is fine with me. or i can create and burn an aptoncd with all the necessary packages and use it to install the drivers.

if you know a source for such aptoncd s then it would be really helpful if you share it with me. i can download the aptoncd from there itself, if any.

thanks again, waiting for reply.

by the way, i am using ubuntu server for US in my synaptic (archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu) . server for india is not connectable for some reason.

http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/180.44/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.44-pkg1.run

Go to the directory, in a terminal, where you installed the file.

Type:
sudo chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.44-pkg1.run

Then

Type:
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.44-pkg1.run

to install the driver.

OR run ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.44-pkg1.run
if the above command didn't work

You can run:

nvidia-xconfig

After you after finished with the installation to configure your NVidia card (I believe this will require a reboot after you run the package).