lightdm xdm gdm 15.10 15.04 Xubuntu Lubuntu Kubuntu Lubuntu.
GeForce GTX 5 6 7 8 and 100 200 300 400 300 600 700 Series in Linux.
REVIEWED 02/23/2016
Advice (words of wisdom)... READ ALL THE GUIDE. You will lose more time if you don't follow this guide correctly.
Tested in Xubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.10, Lubuntu 13.10 32 bits and 64 bits:
- GeForce 8800 GTX
- GeForce GTX750ti
- Gtx 880 ti
- Gtx 980 ti
Nvidia drivers requires no X server running at your Linux Box. To make this happen you have to stop the service that runs it.
Step 0: Try running this command first as root, or with sudo without quotes:
sudo "service [xdm|gdm|lightdm|kdm] stop"
*the square brackets indicates that you can use only one of service names only don't type them!.
Only if that worked and the screen goes black.
Hit Ctrl+Alt+F1-6 to go to a native bash prompt log in and continue with what your driver installation guide.
Alternate solution.
If you are having problems in getting the above done (stopping one of those services lightdm kdm gdm or whatever) KEEP READING.
The next step will explain an alternate way which probably will get things done in a safer manner.
We will make linux not to run the X server, only text mode. (totally reversible after reboot)
STEP 1: REBOOT your pc.
STEP 2: Move to the menu entry you normally use.
STEP 3: Type "E" at the keyboard.
STEP 4: Find the line that says: (could be a different vmlinuz file version)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-18-generic root=UUID=65e06adb-22b1-4da6-8370-3232e98624ff3 ro quiet splash
STEP 5: Add "text nomodeset" after splash (without quotes).
STEP 6: Hit F-10 to boot with that line modified (this changes will last until you restart your pc again)
STEP 7: There you are... A text only terminal. Log in and continue with your Nvidia Driver Installation.
STEP 8: Run as sudo or root the following command:
sudo ./theNvidiaDriverYouDownloaded.run and continue with the installation.
*make sure this file has the executable flag...
chmod +x ./theNvidiaDriverYouDownloaded.run
STEP 9: REBOOT YOUR COMPUTER.
If you are having problems after reboot, let's say you see something like like this, not a correctly display, artifacts or the resolution the video card is sending to the monitor is bad:
or this (some error about NOUVEAU E[ PMC] [0000:01:00.0] ):
then continue.
STEP 10: Repeat the above steps and from a text terminal edit "/etc/default/grub" as root or with sudo.
sudo [nano|vi|vim] /etc/default/grub
STEP 11: Find the line that says.
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
and replace it for:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"
STEP 12: Save the changes in the file (if you used nano for editing Ctrl+o and Enter to save, Ctrl+X to quit).
STEP 13: Apply the edited file to your grub menu. As root, or with sudo type:
sudo update-grub
STEP 14: Restart your pc.
Now your pc will load the correct parameters at grub point, starting your X server loading the Nvidia Driver!
If this helped you please, promote this solution.
