Ubuntu
xorg package

Problem installing Nvida Driver with SH

Asked by jdbrown

Hello all.

I downloaded the newest Nvida driver and have a problem.

Details:
HP a305w
2.4Ghz AMD
1.0GB Ram
80GB HDD for Ubuntu (Installed and working)
NVIdia FX 5200

This is a new istallation.
I am new to Linux of course

In trying to install using sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.12-pkg1.run

I get the following

nvidia-installer: Error opening log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for writing (Permission denied); disabling logging.
jdb@jdb:~/Desktop$

Uncompressing NVIDIA Accelerated Graphics Driver for Linux-x86 173.14.12.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
nvidia-installer: Error opening log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for writing (Permission denied); disabling logging.
jdb@jdb:~/Desktop$

Then I get a message "Must be Installed in root"

The file is sitting on the desktop.

Warning NOOB question.
<old windows hack says:
How do I move this file to the root directory?
Is this what it means when it says "Must be installed in root?"

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Revision history for this message
Edgy (edgefree) said : 		#1

It is privilege issue. Please change your role to root or use "sodu" to install the driver. I think it would work.

Edgy

Revision history for this message
Andre Mangan (kyphi) said : 		#2

Welcome jdbrown,

It takes a while to forget the ways you used to do things in Windows. There was no need to download this driver.

Go to System (on top panel) then Administration then Hardware Drivers. Put a tick into the box to enable the nVidia driver.

There is also no need to get "the latest" driver. When that has been fully tested and found to work in Ubuntu without any mishaps then it will be released.

Revision history for this message
jdbrown (jdbrown-chef) said : 		#3

Thanks for the replies.

This may branch off into another issue.
I first tired the enable Nvidia driver approach. It installed, and brought up a configuration screen, but I could not make any changes, and it locked me in 640 by 480 mode, when originally I was in 800 by 600.
So it seemed to me, that there was a problem.
I went an researched the many ways to try to get Nvidia drivers to work but did not come across anything I could make sense of.
So I downloaded the new driver from Nvida, and tried to follow their instructions which is when I ran into the root issue problem.
So I did some more reading, after this post and using sudo I changed my role to "root" and got another error from the Nvidia install telling me I had to shut down the x-server...

Is there a better GUI or easier way to do this.
I

Revision history for this message
Andre Mangan (kyphi) said : 		#4

The easiest way, in steps, is this:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop (the screen will go black and there will be some writing in the top left corner)

Press Alt + F1 (you will be asked to log in)

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg (use your up/down keys to scroll through the resolutions and press the spacebar when you find the resolution you want.

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

After logging in you should be able to select your desired resolution via System, Preferences, Screen Resolution.

Revision history for this message
jdbrown (jdbrown-chef) said : 		#5

Great,

Do this WITH the nvida restricted drivers installe?

Revision history for this message
Andre Mangan (kyphi) said : 		#6

Yes

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