Edubuntu -- Nvidia driver setup

Abarbarian

Abarbarian

Acruncher
Joined
Sep 30, 2005
Messages
11,023
Reaction score
1,223
I'm playing around with the Edubuntu version of Ubuntu and have found it remarkably easy to set up and use. Except for getting and using the latest Nvidia drivers. Well getting the drivers was not really a problem as they are on the Nvidia site, the one I got was for a GFX 5200 but it is also used for much newer cards. As the install is a bit tricky I thought I would post my findings here.
Drivers I used,

NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.4.05-pkg1.run

Download them to your desktop.

The open up a terminal and,

sudo apt-get install build-essential

sudo apt-get remove nvidia

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

As I was not going to write a walkthrough I did not pay attention to this command and can not remember if I did "sudo" at the font or whether I just put "cd" as the starter. So if it does not work with "sudo" start with "cd".

sudo cd /home/your user name/Desktop

chmod a+x Nvidia-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

sudo sh ./Nvidia-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

Now I did alll the above and every time I strated the pc I had a problem as the system had lost the way to the drivers and I had to fafh around to get a usable screen again.

So add this to the end of the above procedure,

sudo nano /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

Alter the entry to,

DISABLED_MODULES= "nv nvidia_new"

To save the entry in nano press ctr+o and the exit by ctr+x.

Close the terminal if it is still open.

You should now have the latest drivers installed and useable and they should be ok when you reboot.

happywave.gif
 
Well I had a small problem when I updated, I lost the use of my Nvidia drivers. I thought I would have to do all of the above.
But.
I only had to download the latest drivers from Nvidia,

NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14..12-pkg1.run

and do ,

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

sudo cd /home/your user name/Desktop

chmod a+x Nvidia-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

sudo sh ./Nvidia-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

and the drivers did everything else. Booted into the pc and there were my new drivers doing thier stuff.
So thats a small improvement from Nvidia and Ubuntu. Thanks to all who made this improvement.

Penguins are persistent.

:thumb:
 
abarbarian said:
Penguins are persitent
Click to expand...

That they are.

But, and this is something I've often wondered, how would the average person know how to do:

abarbarian said:
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

sudo cd /home/your user name/Desktop

chmod a+x Nvidia-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

sudo sh ./Nvidia-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run
Click to expand...

This is why lots of people are scared of Linux.

I mean, I get by, but only because I know people online I can ask and can use Google.

I've actually had erroneous advice in this Forum about installing UT2003 patches, it is so very easy to mess things up.

Still, I will persist, I just posted this so people are aware of what they're getting into should they choose the Linux path.
 
floppybootstomp said:
But, and this is something I've often wondered, how would the average person know how to do
Click to expand...

Linux distros have improved a lot and Ubuntu is right at the top when it comes to using Linux, still I agree there are things which average joe cannot accomplish.

By the way Flops, did you try Ubuntu Studio? :cool:
 
floppybootstomp said:
This is why lots of people are scared of Linux.
Click to expand...
I agree. Which is why I advise against getting the "latest and greatest" from Nvidia... besides, in this case - assuming Abarbarian is using (ED)ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid" - the exercise has been futile. The "nvidia" driver that gets installed via System -> Admin -> Hardware Drivers with a single click of a mouse is currently @177.80 [vs. Abarbarian's 173.14]. The package manager in older Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy" offers version 169.12, btw.

The point here is that it's OK to make things the hard way, but whether or not it makes sense is another thing; I wouldn't touch the drivers from Nvidia's page without a darned good reason (= a brand new card working ONLY with a bleeding edge driver not in repositories).
 
Last edited:
In answer to flops,

It took me ages to find out the info and my writ up still has bits of info missing. Like when the screen goes black after stopping the X-server thingy, you need to press Ctrl+ Alt+ F1 to get a command line. So yes it is hard but I'm finding it a fun way to learn.

Urmas,

I'm using Eduuntu Hardy 8.04. Even afte doing all the automatic updates I could not get my card to work properly as the window was not centered properly. So I used the Nvidia drivers and all was fine. Then I got a shock when the auto updates screwed the settings. So once again I had to use the Nvidia drivers which are much more user friendly and require less steps to install. It certainly was not through personal choice that I wanted to go through all of that.
So I am a bit puzzled as to how the latest drivers offered by Edubuntu do not work with my lowly 5200 card.

As to whether Linux is easier or harder to use and maintain than Windows is anyones guess. From my own experience Windows System Restore has not worked on several of my problems leaving me with the only option as a full re-install, painful and time consuming. Linux crashes have been resolved so far by going back to a previous installed kernal or by a little manipulation with the command line, slightly frustrating for me as I'm new to linux and have to do quite a bit of research. So with the Windows crash you waste time and get a new install and with the linux crash you waste time and get a new install but the bonus is that you have learnt something useful that will be usefull in the future aswell.

If all folk want to do is surf the net play music and vidioes and a bit of general letter writing and e-mailing then in my opinion Linux is the winner hands down. As it is free and if you choose the right distro is as easy if not easier to set up and use than Microsoft Windows.

If you want to play the latest games Windows is the winner hands down. It also wins out with lots of othere software aswell, at the moment.

Perculiarly pleasing penguins is.

:D

happywave.gif
 
Abarbarian said:
I'm using Eduuntu Hardy 8.04... ,,, So I am a bit puzzled as to how the latest drivers offered by Edubuntu do not work with my lowly 5200 card.
Click to expand...
VENERABLE, you mean?
laughingsmiley.gif


I have the very same card, and it works purr-fectly in my Hardy. Go figure.
 
Abarbarian said:
If all folk want to do is surf the net play music and vidioes and a bit of general letter writing and e-mailing then in my opinion Linux is the winner hands down. As it is free and if you choose the right distro is as easy if not easier to set up and use than Microsoft Windows.
Click to expand...

Oh, I think there's more to it than that :)

Gimp is every bit as good as Photoshop, you have a complete free Office Suite and there are programs available for audio and video editing. Whether they're open source or not I don't know.

As far as I can see the only area where Linux Distros lack is games and I'm managing to play PREY & UT2004. And, of course, there's always WINE.

The point I was trying to make is that I reckon at some time or other every Linux user is going to have to use console commands and that without online help and some willing, friendly, knowledgeable folk to help out, he or she will be stuffed.

Linux takes a steep learning curve and some patience and all most people want to do is perform tasks with their computer straight out of the box.

Mind you, when most Linux distros are working they work extremely well.

I've never done a Windows system restore but I have undertaken many fresh installs, probably 100's with Win98 and perhaps dozens with XP. So far with Vista, 12 months down the line - no restores or reinstalls.

I've never been able to repair a broken Win XP either, and I have tried. All those console commands 'fix mbr' and the like, have never ever worked for me.

I'm not knocking Linux, far from it, I like it a lot, I'm just being brutally honest.
 
I just like talking around subjects as you get to learn a lot and have fun along the way.

I think the Gimp is lacking in that it will not handle RAW files, I think thats its missing part :confused: I know it is something that a lot of profesional photographers use. If it had the feature then Photoshop would have a real fight on their hands for the market.

:D Don't have to tell me about the steep learning curve. Thats why I took the time to post some easy to follow walkthroughs. It is nice to have this part of the site showing some real and current life.
All your audio and video stuff can be done on open source software and most of them can be found in Synaptic or its equivalent.

Urmas venerable indeed. I'll have you know I bought that card new only 3 years ago for the flat pack pc I was upgradeing. Venerable huh !

:p
 
Urmas said:
VENERABLE, you mean?
laughingsmiley.gif


I have the very same card, and it works purr-fectly in my Hardy. Go figure.
Click to expand...

I have an FX5200 that MadX gave me in my crappy media centre in the bedroom, using Ubuntu Hardy Heron, it installed the graphics drivers for me.

I must admit after installing VLC Media Player i haven't touched anything else.

So is the one i use the same as this one?
 
Back
Top