SOLVED Setting Run Level

[windcheetah]

Hi, I'm trying to install a new NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-177.82-pkg2.run driver for my new card.

Is says when I run it, the X server must be shutdown.

The Nvidia help pages say you do this by editing the /etc/inittab and specify the new run level.

I don't seem to have a /etc/inittab.

Can any one offer a crumb of help

Thanks loads
martin

[toad]

Re: Setting Run Level

I think you would be better off installing envy.

sudo apt-get install envyng-qt

It will find the correct package for your card and install it.

[dibl]

Re: Setting Run Level

For Kubuntu, the command to shut down the X server is:

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

for Ubuntu it is the same but "gdm stop".

In other Debian distributions, you can (in root mode) do

init 3

but for some reason that kinda blows up when you do it in *buntu, and doesn't necessarily shut down X in the process.

[askrieger]

Re: Setting Run Level

With regard to run levels: *buntu doesn't use them any more. See this article on the subject. I'd just reboot the system to restart the xserver (if your version of *buntu still uses an xserver)

[dibl]

Re: Setting Run Level

Also, relative to installing Nvidia drivers, see these:

To install and use EnvyNG:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...2816#msg152816


To get the latest beta driver:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...7166#msg157166

[toad]

Re: Setting Run Level

Ubuntu doesn't use run levels any more Wow. I feel all old fashioned, positively ancient (well, hence the Catweazle avatar I suppose).

[windcheetah]

Re: Setting Run Level

I think you would be better off installing envy.

sudo apt-get install envyng-qt

It will find the correct package for your card and install it.

Thanks, I've just done as you said, but it didn't change the display. Does it mean that I was running the best one??

[windcheetah]

Re: Setting Run Level

For Kubuntu, the command to shut down the X server is:

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

for Ubuntu it is the same but "gdm stop".

In other Debian distributions, you can (in root mode) do

init 3

but for some reason that kinda blows up when you do it in *buntu, and doesn't necessarily shut down X in the process.

Thanks for that, just tried, but get left with a text screen, what do I do to restart the server

[windcheetah]

Re: Setting Run Level

With regard to run levels: *buntu doesn't use them any more. See this article on the subject. I'd just reboot the system to restart the xserver (if your version of *buntu still uses an xserver)

Thanks for the info, I'm not sure that I understand what it is on about.
As for "if your version....." I assumed it did, as that was what I was asked to shut down.

Is it possible to restart the computer without the X server??
Yes, startX

[toad]

Re: Setting Run Level

Is it possible to restart the computer without the X server??

Aye, so it is. The X server is just a necessary evil these days which slows everything down.

kdm for kde or gdm for gnome are the graphic login managers which use X. To access them you type sudo /etc/init.d/kdm (or gdm) followed by a space and then the action, i.e. stop, start or restart. In plain speak it you want

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start

[dibl]

Re: Setting Run Level

Right -- as toad says.

Or, at the user$ prompt,

startx

will start it.

[cantab]

Re: Setting Run Level

I think you would be better off installing envy.

sudo apt-get install envyng-qt

It will find the correct package for your card and install it.

Thanks, I've just done as you said, but it didn't change the display. Does it mean that I was running the best one??

You need to restart the X-server afterwards. Logout, then Ctrl+Alt+Backspace.
If you see an nvidia logo, then you have the proprietary drivers. If not, you may still have the proprietary drivers since the logo can be turned off. One way to tell is to run a 3d game and see if it runs nicely or like a dog.

[windcheetah]

Re: Setting Run Level

Right -- as toad says.

Or, at the user$ prompt,

startx

will start it.

Thanks, I found that in another thread

[windcheetah]

Re: SOLVED Setting Run Level

Thanks everyone, to sum up......

Press CTRL-ALT-F1 to get to the command line interface
Enter sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop to stop the X server
Enter sudo sh <path>/name_of_driver
sudo startx to restart the X server

[dibl]

Re: SOLVED Setting Run Level

sudo startx to restart the X server

NOT "sudo" startx, just startx at the user prompt.