||<>|| {{attachment:IconsPage/warning.png}} '''This is not the recommended way to install the NVIDIA drivers - please see [[BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia]] for the supported method'''. Any problems that occur after using the following instructions should '''not''' be reported to the launchpad bug area. If the drivers were downloaded from the NVIDIA web site then the [[http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=14|NVIDIA Linux web forum]] is an appropriate place to report issues. Other places for binary driver manual installation support can be found on the [[http://www.ubuntu.com/support/communitysupport|Community Support page]]. {{attachment:IconsPage/tip.png}} Sometimes using the drivers in the Ubuntu repositories is not the best option. Here are some reasons to install the NVIDIA restricted drivers manually: * your card is too new, and is not supported by the Ubuntu provided binary packages. * bugs are present in provided packages that are fixed in later drivers not yet distributed by Ubuntu. * newer drivers provide a new feature not yet available in the Ubuntu packages. The purpose of this page is to detail the necessary work to install the [[http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html|official NVIDIA Linux driver from www.nvidia.com]]. Note that this will not fix resolution problems, for that you need to see the FixVideoResolutionHowto. ||{{attachment:IconsPage/note.png}}||When using manually installed NVIDIA binary drivers you will need to redo some of the following steps '''every time''' packages related to {{{mesa}}} or {{{linux-image}}} are updated (see the [[#kernelandmesa|Kernel and Mesa Updates]] section for details). Attempts to revert to the Ubuntu provided NVIDIA binary drivers may prove troublesome and upgrades to the next Ubuntu release (e.g. from Ubuntu 7.04 to 7.10) may fail unless the manual install is correctly uninstalled first.|| = Complete Manual Install = == Obtaining Needed Software == ||{{attachment:IconsPage/warning.png}}||Before you begin, it is strongly advised that your already have Xorg working acceptably with the 'nv' drivers included.|| First, make sure that your {{{/etc/X11/xorg.conf}}} is backed up. {{{ sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup }}} Next, download the right drivers for your platform from the [[http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx| driver download page]] or the [[http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html|NVIDIA Unix Driver portal]] and save them to your home directory. Open a terminal, and run the following command: {{{ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` }}} If you receive the "Unable to locate package" error, run the command: {{{ uname -r }}} and insert the output into the "uname -r" portion of the former command. It should then look something like this: {{{ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-2.6.35-22-generic }}} Or you can use simply run this: {{{ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-"$(uname -r)" }}} ||{{attachment:IconsPage/tip.png}}||'''This next step is optional.''' Most people will not need it, and it takes a fair amount of bandwidth and diskspace. It installs the Linux kernel source. If later steps fail, consider this a last resort.|| {{{ sudo apt-get install linux-source-`uname -r` cd /usr/src sudo tar xvjf linux-source-`uname -r` sudo ln -s linux-source-`uname -r` /usr/src/linux }}} The above command might print an error similar to the following: {{{ E: Couldn't find package linux-source-2.6.20-16-386 }}} In such case you could try following {{{ sudo apt-get install linux-source }}} The following command will then probably need adjustment also. == Disable Conflicting Software == Using [[SynapticHowto| Synaptic]] or [[AptGet/Howto| apt-get]], uninstall {{{nvidia-glx}}}, {{{nvidia-glx-legacy}}}, {{{nvidia-glx-new}}} and {{{nvidia-settings}}} if they are installed. Open or create the {{{/etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common}}} file with an editor, in Ubuntu use {{{ gksudo gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common }}} and in Kubuntu use {{{ kdesu kate /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common }}} and find the line: {{{ DISABLED_MODULES="" }}} replace it with: {{{ DISABLED_MODULES="nv nvidia_new" }}} Note: In Ubuntu 7.04 the {{{nvidia_new}}} is explicitly required in addition to {{{nv}}} on the {{{DISABLED_MODULES}}} line. See this [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20/+bug/105756|launchpad bug about lrm-manager failing to disable the nvidia_new module when nv is specified alone]]. Additionally you may need to manually remove the hidden {{{/lib/linux-restricted-modules/.nvidia_new_installed}}} file. ||{{attachment:IconsPage/warning.png}}||'''Warning:''' Be wary of uninstalling {{{nvidia-kernel-common}}} or packages starting with the name {{{linux-restricted-modules}}}. Doing so will cause '''all''' restricted drivers to be uninstalled which may result in other hardware (e.g. certain wireless cards) or other software (e.g. VMware) failing to work after a reboot/kernel update. If you revert to use Jockey, reinstalling DKMS is needed to get all relevant drivers to be available by Jockey.|| == Prepare Configuration Files == The next step is to edit your xorg.conf file. This may not be needed in Hardy Heron and newer, but check anyway, esp. if you have upgraded from older versions of Ubuntu. In Ubuntu: {{{ gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf }}} Or in Kubuntu: {{{ kdesu kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf }}} Find the section {{{Module}}} and comment out DRI using the # symbol, such as in the following example. {{{ Section "Module" Load "bitmap" Load "dbe" Load "ddc" # Load "dri" <------ this is 'commented' Load "extmod" Load "freetype" Load "glx" Load "int10" Load "record" Load "type1" Load "vbe" EndSection }}} Now find the section {{{Device}}}, and change the Driver from '''nv''' (or vesa, fb, etc) to '''nvidia''', as in the following example, and then save it. {{{ Section "Device" Identifier "Card0" Driver "nvidia" #This is where you change it EndSection }}} Now that your Xorg.conf is saved, we need to shutdown the X11 server so that we can install the new drivers. To do this, save your work and press {{{ctrl-alt-f1}}}, and log in. Then run the following command to shutdown X11. '''Make sure your work is saved, Gnome/KDE is going to shutdown too'''. For Ubuntu 11.04 or lower: {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop }}} For Ubuntu 11.10 or higher: {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm stop }}} For Kubuntu: {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop }}} == Install the Driver == {{attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png}} Useful tip, typing the first few letters and hitting the {{{Tab}}} key will auto-complete the name, saving you from using wildcards like * First navigate from the tty to the directory where you saved the install file (I will use {{{/path/to/installer}}}), then set executable permissions on it: {{{ cd /path/to/installer sudo chmod +x NVIDIA* }}} You can start the install script with the following command: {{{ sudo sh NVIDIA* }}} The installer will now walk you through the steps required. Assuming success, you can now restart your X11 server using: For Ubuntu 11.04 or lower: {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start }}} For Ubuntu 11.10 or higher: {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm start }}} For Kubuntu: {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start }}} == Configure == You can now change settings for your video setup. In Ubuntu, go to '''Applications->System Tools->NVIDIA X Server Settings''' (or sometimes '''System->Administration->NVIDIA X Server Settings''' depending on the driver and/or install method). Alternatively, use the terminal: For Ubuntu: {{{ gksudo nvidia-settings }}} For Kubuntu: {{{ kdesu nvidia-settings }}} For setting up dual head, see [[NvidiaMultiMonitors]]. == Load driver on boot == The X server will start in low-resolution if the nvidia driver is not loaded on boot, so {{{ $ sudo gedit /etc/modules and add a line containing nvidia }}} <> == Kernel and Mesa Updates == Every time a new kernel comes out you will probably have to manually rebuild the NVIDIA binary driver kernel module. This can be done by booting to the new kernel and then running: {{{ sudo sh NVIDIA* -K }}} on the previously downloaded NVIDIA installer file. Additionally, any time that the mesa packages are updated you will have to reinstall the NVIDIA .pkg again. == Uninstalling the Driver == Sometimes it is necessary to uninstall the driver, like before a version upgrade of Ubuntu or if the installation fails or is no longer needed. For a manual install, you can remove the driver using the installer file: {{{ sudo sh NVIDIA* --uninstall }}} You will probably be asked to reboot the computer. == It didn't work! (Troubleshooting) == When trying to start X, if you get an error about nvidiactl (you will need to see the X log), try the following: * sudo update-rc.d -f nvidia-kernel remove If you want to go back to the Restricted Manager method after performing the above instructions, do this * sudo update-rc.d nvidia-kernel defaults If the installer fails, go through the following checklist * Was Xorg already properly configured for the {{{nv}}} driver? * Did you disable the loading of Ubuntu provided NVIDIA drivers using {{{DISABLED_MODULES="nv nvidia_new"}}} in {{{/etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common}}} ? This is a common cause of driver mismatch errors on manual installations due to conflicts with the Ubuntu provided NVIDIA binary driver. * You may need to remove the file {{{/lib/linux-restricted-modules/.nvidia_new_installed}}} * Did you remove the {{{nvidia-glx/nvidia-glx-legacy/nvidia-glx-new}}} and {{{nvidia-settings}}} packages? * Did you read the log found in {{{/var/log/nvidia-installer-log}}} for errors that can guide you? * Did you check the output of {{{dmesg}}} ? * Did you install the kernel headers (and possibly source package)? * Did you check the NVIDIA readme found on their site to make sure your card is supported with that version of driver? * Did you check the [[http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=14|NVIDIA Linux Forums]] for any current 'known issues' with the latest drivers? * Did you ask in #ubuntu on irc.freenode.net or any of the other places mentioned on http://www.ubuntu.com/support/communitysupport ? = Installation with Envy/EnvyNG = Hardy Heron and newer use EnvyNG, older versions of Ubuntu use Envy Legacy - both can be found at http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html * directions are provided on that site for installing the correct version of Envy, as well as some general troubleshooting tips. ||{{attachment:IconsPage/warning.png}}||According to Envy's website, EnvyNG does '''not''' support Ubuntu 10.04 and newer, it is recommended to use Jockey instead. || EnvyNG is available in the Universe [[Repositories/Ubuntu| repository]] in Hardy Heron and later. Older versions of Ubuntu using Envy Legacy can download the .deb file from Envy's website. After installing, EnvyNG can be found from '''Applications->System Tools->EnvyNG''' in Ubuntu. You will want make sure you select NVIDIA drivers, not ATI: {{attachment:NvidiaMultiMonitors/envyng.png}} Navigate there and click Apply, and the program will do the rest. You can then configure your card as described under the complete manual install section above. == Uninstalling the Driver == Sometimes it is necessary to uninstall the driver, like before a version upgrade of Ubuntu or if the installation fails or is no longer needed. With Envy/EnvyNG, you can uninstall the driver directory from the program, see the above screenshot - it is the third choice. You will probably be asked to reboot the computer. = Free alternative = There is '''Nouveau''': an open source driver with acceleration for NVIDIA cards. Currently (2008), there is 2D-support, and a very limited 3D support for extremely lucky developers. See http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/. Users that have installed the proprietary driver can help the development of Nouveau by sending information about their cards, see http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/REnouveauDumps. = See Also = {{attachment:IconsPage/resources.png}} Here are some other resources of interest: * [[BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia]] * [[NvidiaMultiMonitors]] * [[http://www.albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html| Envy and EnvyNG]] - Automated script to build and install the latest official NVIDIA binary driver. * http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers * [[http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=72490|NVIDIA web forum Ubuntu installation notes]] - NVIDIA's guide to installing their binary driver .pkg on Ubuntu. ---- CategoryHardware CategoryXwindowSystem