Help with NVidia video driver installer

[Mr_Eko]

Hi all,

Right I've been using windows for over 9 years now and Mac osx for the past year odd which I'm both very familiar with, however I want to get to grips with Linux I have installed the latest kubuntu 6.10 and to be honest I haven't a clue what to do now...

I have tried looking up information on my problems but half of what I find I don't understand.

Firstly how do I install applications, I have just install kubuntu so its all on basic settings so far, I need to set up my wireless ADSL modem connection so I can then get on the internet.

secondly if someone could give me some basic information on how to go about installing so I can set my self away, as hoping to get my NVIDIA drivers sorted and set up a nice fancy interface with Beryl.

Thank's

Mr eko

[arochester]

Re: help a complete noob.

"how do I install applications" See "How to install ANYTHING in Ubuntu!" at http://cutlersoftware.com/ubuntuinstall/

"hoping to get my NVIDIA drivers sorted " Check out the script "Envy" at http://www.albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html. It finds what card is installed and downloads and installs the correct driver. It doesn't seem to work for 100% of people but it is worthwhile giving it a try...

"set up a nice fancy interface with Beryl" Still a bit experimental and not fully stable

[Mr_Eko]

Re: help a complete noob.

ahh nice one cheers well im at work at the moment il try it when i get home later.

whats that program called for wireless routers which allows you to use your windows drivers or some thing along those lines it begins with a N lol

once again cheers

[arochester]

Re: help a complete noob.

ndiswrapper

Not all cards need it.

[Mr_Eko]

Re: help a complete noob.

thanks for your fast responce you have been a great help cheers

[Mr_Eko]

Re: help a complete noob.

back again.. any way im learning however stuck a new problem, im trying to install the latest nvidia drivers im using these instructions...

. 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/Ubuntu 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 any of the errors below, ignore them and continue:

Now when doing ctrl alt and f1 then the sh NVIDIA-which ever version.run it states i need to be in root.. now i cant switch to root in kubuntu and i cant work out how.. i have messed about with init 3 but nothing appears for that :s ... HeLp!!!

also why is it ever time i log into linux there is a .directory file on my desktop?

cheers lew

[arochester]

Re: help a complete noob.

Try the script "Envy". It will find out what Nvidia video card is installed, download and install the correct driver. Read about it at http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

It appears that it doesn't work for everyone though.

[mchuskie]

Re: help a complete noob.

Mr_Eko: The script way is probably the easiest way, but for reference I'll comment on the instructions you posted.

They would work on, say, SuSE, but Debian/Ubuntu/Kubuntu set things up a little differently. Use Ctrl+Alt+F1 to get to a console and log in; then (as Kubuntu uses K Desktop Manager not Gnome Desktop Manager) sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop will get rid of the GUI. Kubuntu by default doesn't have a 'root' user enabled for login, so anything that you need to be root for, just put 'sudo' before (sudo ./NVIDIA-WHATEVER.run)

[fdv]

Re: help a complete noob. [Envy installer script]

I have been threadfollowing and tried JamesM's advice.

Use Ctrl+Alt+F1 to get to a console and log in

Worked OK

then (as Kubuntu uses K Desktop Manager not Gnome Desktop Manager) sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop will get rid of the GUI.

Worked OK

I then typed "Envy". Just "Envy". I hoped that the script was in a path my system recognized (it is on my desktop, and it is saved as envy_0.8.2-0ubuntu1_all.deb) and I hoped that the system would magically understand that "Envy" means envy_0.8.2-0ubuntu1_all.deb.

I hit Enter, and nothing happened. I typed "envy_0.8.2-0ubuntu1_all.deb" and nothing happened. I typed "67yheiyh4yj74gfw765lyrherfgbhvef" and nothing happened.

The system would let me type... and that's it. Now, I am listening to Lenny Kravitz sing "You Were In My Heart," so I'm feeling a little better about things, but I'm that combination of pissed and puzzled that all n00bs get after we're told a magic code and nothing even remotely close to what is billed as what's going to happen actually does

Q1. What happened?
Q2. How do I get Envy to execute sans GUI?
Q3. If I want out of CTRL+ALT+F1, how do I get back into the GUI? I have tried startx and that doesn't work.

[kubicle]

Re: help a complete noob. [Envy installer script]

Q1. What happened?

I'm not familiar with envy, but the .deb file you downloaded is not a script, it's a deb package which you can install by right-clicking on it and choosing KubuntuPackageMenu>InstallPackage.

Q2. How do I get Envy to execute sans GUI?

Install the package first, then you should be able to run the script like you described.

Q3. If I want out of CTRL+ALT+F1, how do I get back into the GUI? I have tried startx and that doesn't work.

Ctrl+Alt+F7
(For historical reasons the 1-6 virtual terminals are reserved for text terminals and 7+ are for X-sessions)

EDIT: if you've killed the x-session with

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

then you can start it again with

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start

[Mr_Eko]

Re: help a complete noob.

> argh! i gone and messed up kubuntu i need help again.

basicly i was using envy to try update my graphics driver, so i clicked 1 for nvidia drivers and i recived the error message " not a reconised OS or your Os is not envy compatable" this probs because i updated to the latest kubuntu??..so im guessing, well it was some thing along those lines any way.

Right so i then tried a different option.. the one that said restart Xserver, Kubuntu then restarted and loads as normal however it just freezes at black blank screen with a white flashing cusure in the top left corner of the screen (bugger).

is there a command to put it all back to normal.

many thanks

Mr Eko

[monte48lowes]

Re: help a complete noob.

Mr_Eko,

When this happens have you tried Ctrl-Alt-F7 or Ctrl-Alt-F1?

Mike

[Mr_Eko]

Re: help a complete noob.

yup it just stays the same with ctrl alt f7 and with others like f1 f2 ect it takes me to a command prompt terminal however i dont know what do do to get it back on

[monte48lowes]

Re: help a complete noob.

Mr_Eko

You may need to reconfigure your xserver

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Mike

[Mr_Eko]

Re: help a complete noob.

yo mike i tried what you said and same again dosent work