How do I install a nvidia .run installer file?

Hi Georgina,

Linux, and all unix OSs (incl. mac) are case sensitive. You almost have the sequence right, but the Downloads directory has an initial captial.

the bit at the beginning of your terminal line "gv@ubuntu:~$ " gives you a bit of information; specifically the bit after the ":" is "~", which is a shorthand for /home/YOURUSERNAME. This is the current directory, so if you type

./nameoffile

it means to run the file as a program, which is located in the current directory (the ".").

Try running this command sequence

cd ~
cd Downloads
./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-275.28.run

If you get really stuck you can just move the NVIDIA .run file, you can post back here and we will try to help you further

Thank you mycae, I think I am almost there. I changed the directory to my downloads file, that went well. then I ran the command
sudo sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-275.28.run
AND I get a terminal response such as:

ERROR: You appear to be running an X server; please exit X before
         installing. For further details, please see the section INSTALLING
         THE NVIDIA DRIVER in the README available on the Linux driver
         download page at www.nvidia.com.

                                       OK

I didn't know I was running an X server, how do I exit from it?

This is the installation error log that may help you or anyone else. I've looked at the README files at nvidia.com and can't find anything relevant. I've also executed some commands found on the internet to stop the x server - but it still comes up with the above error message.

nvidia-installer log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log'
creation time: Sun Sep 11 14:13:08 2011
installer version: 275.28

PATH:
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin

option status:
  license pre-accepted : false
  update : false
  force update : false
  expert : false
  uninstall : false
  driver info : false
  precompiled interfaces : true
  no ncurses color : false
  query latest version : false
  no questions : false
  silent : false
  no recursion : false
  no backup : false
  kernel module only : false
  sanity : false
  add this kernel : false
  no runlevel check : false
  no network : false
  no ABI note : false
  no RPMs : false
  no kernel module : false
  force SELinux : default
  no X server check : false
  no cc version check : false
  run distro scripts : true
  no nouveau check : false
  run nvidia-xconfig : false
  sigwinch work around : true
  force tls : (not specified)
  X install prefix : (not specified)
  X library install path : (not specified)
  X module install path : (not specified)
  OpenGL install prefix : (not specified)
  OpenGL install libdir : (not specified)
  utility install prefix : (not specified)
  utility install libdir : (not specified)
  installer prefix : (not specified)
  doc install prefix : (not specified)
  kernel name : (not specified)
  kernel include path : (not specified)
  kernel source path : (not specified)
  kernel output path : (not specified)
  kernel install path : (not specified)
  precompiled kernel interfaces path : (not specified)
  precompiled kernel interfaces url : (not specified)
  proc mount point : /proc
  ui : (not specified)
  tmpdir : /tmp
  ftp mirror : ftp://download.nvidia.com
  RPM file list : (not specified)
  selinux chcon type : (not specified)

Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> The file '/tmp/.X0-lock' exists and appears to contain the process ID '931'
   of a runnning X server.
ERROR: You appear to be running an X server; please exit X before installing.
       For further details, please see the section INSTALLING THE NVIDIA DRIVER
       in the README available on the Linux driver download page at
       www.nvidia.com.
ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see the file
       '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details. You may find suggestions
       on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux
       driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

If you have a graphical interface, you have a X server running.

It's strange you need to shutdown the X server to do the installation.

Anyway to shutdown the X server,
- log-out of your X session
- simultaneous press 'ctrl+alt+F1' to get a virtual console.
- enter your username at the prompt and then your password
- 'sudo service gdm stop' (if you're running the standard display manager.
- the run the installation file, still in the console.

I'm not sure it's the best way for you to go.
Installing drivers outside the package management system could break your config and you could end up with a non working X server and be stuck with no graphical interface.
It is recoverable but it's not trivial.

Sorry Paul - I did as you said but it still didn't work. Thanks anyway, Terminal said: Can't open sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86.275.28.run.

Had difficulty getting back into the graphical interface as you said, but I managed.

Try
sudo sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86.275.28.run
I presume you need administrator privileges to install a new driver.

Thanks delance I've already done that numerous times and it doesn't work. Since then I've realized what my problem actually is. I have a hybrid switchable graphics card which runs both Intel hd and nvidia geforce 525m, alternatively. The trouble is I don't know how to switch Intel hd off so I can use and install nvidia drivers in linux. In windows it's different you just go into the nvidia graphics display and select which graphics card you want to use.

I've googled the net and found out that Linux is working on this problem so for now I wait - within time they will find a solution and I will be able to install my nvidia drivers and get nvidia xorg up and running. For now Intel hd is okay but I wanted to downgrade compiz in ubuntu classic and use it because I think compiz is cool. It's a pity ubuntu 11.10 doesn't allow you to select ubuntu classic anymore. But I'm running ubuntu 11.04 for now.

The new Linux Mint, which be derived from 11.10, will continue to use the classical interface Gnome 2.
The new Xubuntu, Kubuntu and Lubuntu, for what I presume, will continue to use interface more close to Gnome2.