Installing video driver for GEForce 7950 on Ubuntu 10.10

Asked by Phil Thomas

Hi all,my latest problem is this: I've just bought a GEforce 7950 video card, and like a fool I replaced my old card and started the computer.I was met by the command prompt asking me to log in,which I did with no problems. I'd downloaded the latest driver from Invidia and left it in Downloads(/home/Philip/downloads) but try as I might I just keep getting"no such file or directory" and back to the "philip@ubuntu" prompt again.Sorry for being so thick,but how do I get to the downloads folder to run the "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-260.19.29.run" file ?
Phil T

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Ted C (tedc) said :
#1

'cd /home/philip/Downloads'

Then 'ls' to make sure you're in the right directory .. and hopefully you'll see your "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-260.19.29.run" file.

Good luck with it!

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Phil Thomas (philipjthomas) said :
#2

Thanks Ted C,got me to the file! Now I typed in the NVIDIA instructions( # sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-260.19.29.run) but it returned me to the"Downloads"prompt with no action whatsoever. Where am I going wrong?
Regards,
Phil T

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Ted C (tedc) said :
#3

Phil - http://www.linuxforums.org/articles/installing-nvidia-3d-drivers_50.html

This is a 'chunk' of the initial how to from there - is for Suse but might give some hints.

Ted
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I find myself retelling how to manually install the NVIDIA 3D drivers an awful lot. Here's a short tutorial that should work on any distro, but is tailored in spots for SuSE...

Installing the Drivers

1. Make sure you have the kernel-sources, gcc and make packages installed.

2. Download the latest driver from Nvidia's site.

3. Go into runlevel 3 (no GUI). This can be acheived several ways:

a) By typing CTRL+ALT+F1(or F2-F6), then logging in as root and typing init 3

b) By typing a 3 at the GRUB boot prompt.

c) By editing your /etc/inittab. See below for details.

d) Debian users may need to use /etc/init.d/gdm stop instead.

4. Log in as root user, if you aren't already.

5. Find the driver you just downloaded and run it using something like sh NVIDIA-1.0.8174.run

6. If it gives you an error for rivafb support, ignore it.

7. Stay logged in as root and type modprobe nvidia

NOTE:As of version 8174 of the Nvidia driver, you no longer need to manually edit your xorg.conf file. Skip steps 8 and 9 if you are installing this version or newer.

8. Edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf in the section marked "Devices" that looks something like this:

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Nvidia Geforce 2"
    Driver "nv"

9. Change the "nv" line to "nvidia"

NOTE: Some distributions use XFree86 instead of X.org. The steps are the same, you're simply editing a different file: the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file.

10. Log out as root, and back in as a regular user, then type startx

11. If you see the Nvidia logo flash then you're done. If not your X Windows will error out. Start a thread, post the errors, and we'll try and help you from there.

**Editing your /etc/inittab**
Some distributions require you to edit your /etc/inittab file in order to boot in to non-graphical mode, which is required in order to install the Nvidia drivers. Here is how you do it:

1. Log in as root user from a console window by typing su and your root (administrator) password when it prompts you.

2. Open up your /etc/inittab file with a simple text editor. Any one will do but I like pico, so for example purposes that's what I'll use:

pico /etc/inittab

3. Look for a line that looks something like this:

id:5:initdefault

  4. Change the 5 to a 3

5. Save the file and reboot.

6. Once Linux goes through its regular boot screens you should be greeted with a simple text login screen. Continue from step 4 above.

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Ted C (tedc) said :
#4

From - http://www.tips-linux.net/en/linux-ubuntu/linux-driver/nvidia-driver-32-bits-part-1

More recent [and simple -you never know!]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Do you need 3D acceleration? Here is the Nvidia linux drivers for linux

1 Install dependencies

Discover your kernel version

# uname -r

2.6.26-1-686 // the result

# apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.26-1-686 binutils make

2 Install the linux drivers

# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-71.86.13-pkg1.run

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Phil Thomas (philipjthomas) said :
#5

Hi Ted and all,
I don't really need the 3D in Ubuntu,so your last post worked a treat! Thanks!