Manual install of proprietary Nvidia 177 driver -> X doesn't start [solved]

[azenz]

There is a ton of information about Nvidia manual driver updates out there so excuse this post, but I cannot make sense of it all!

I want the latest 177.80 driver which the tool EnvyNG doesn't provide yet, so only manual install is the option (right?). I run Hardy on a 64 bit system with the Nvidia 8600 GT.

I followed this instruction:

1) Download NVIDIA display driver from www.nvidia.com

2) Install packages:
linux-kernel-devel
pkg-config
xserver-xorg-dev

3) Uninstall packages:
nvidia-glx
linux-restricted-modules
linux-restricted-modules-common

4) Delete files (if exist):
/etc/init.d/nvidia-glx
/etc/init.d/nvidia-kernel
/lib/linux-restricted-modules/.nvidia_new_installed

5) Exit X
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop
Press "Ctrl+Alt+F1" - log in

6) Install NVIDIA display driver - sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64...

7) Restart X - sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart

I get this error message: EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to load the NVIDIA kernel module! and get stuck at the command prompt.

Below is the complete xorg.log & xorg.conf files, your help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
XORG.CONF:
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder58) Wed Oct 1 15:12:53 PDT 2008

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 30.0 - 110.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 150.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection


XORG.LOG (only last bit otherwise post too long)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(II) NVIDIA(0): enabled.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to load the NVIDIA kernel module!
(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(II) UnloadModule: "wfb"
(II) UnloadModule: "fb"
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

[Snowhog]

Re: Manual install of proprietary Nvidia 177 driver -> X doesn't start

HOWTO: Install and use the Envy script installer for video drivers

[azenz]

Re: Manual install of proprietary Nvidia 177 driver -> X doesn't start

EnvyNG doesn't support the latest 177 driver, that's the one I'm after here.

I think there must be some old stuff hanging around in my system becuase I now get an error about 169.12, which is a previous version of the driver. This whole thing is just absolutely mindboggling, really.

[Snowhog]

Re: Manual install of proprietary Nvidia 177 driver -> X doesn't start

See dibl's Re: Nvidia driver 177.80 release announcement Keep in mind, he is running a 64-bit system.

[azenz]

Re: Manual install of proprietary Nvidia 177 driver -> X doesn't start

Thanks, I had a look at that link, does it mean the latest driver only works with certain kernels? I run 2.6.24-21-generic. I think there must be something wrong but I cannot figure out what it is, and why a manual driver upgrade is so full of problems...I heard that the new driver has a much improved performance.

[azenz]

Re: Manual install of proprietary Nvidia 177 driver -> X doesn't start

To update: I resolved the issue by completely removing traces of old driver installations & following instructions at: http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=72490.

The new 177.82 driver solves the 2D performance issues that many people have reported, together with the suggestions for improved xorg.conf settings posted at http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=118088. Finally!!!